Michigan House Bill HB4619

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/10/25
• Refer: 6/10/25

Caption

Family law: marriage and divorce; certain references in the provision related to marriage license; make gender neutral. Amends sec. 1 of 1887 PA 128 (MCL 551.101). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

Summary

House Bill 4619 amends Michigan’s marriage-license statute to replace gendered language with gender-neutral wording. In the current law, the statute refers to “the man or woman” seeking to marry and to a “clergyman”; the bill changes those references to “all parties,” “party,” and “clergy person,” while keeping the basic licensing process the same. The bill still requires parties intending to marry to obtain a marriage license from the county clerk, with the county determined by the residence of either party, or, if both parties are nonresidents, by the county where the marriage will be performed. The bill is tied to a separate constitutional amendment proposal, and it would not take effect unless that related joint resolution becomes part of the Michigan Constitution. As drafted, it does not create a new marriage process or alter who may marry; it updates terminology in the existing statute to be gender neutral and consistent with modern drafting practices.

Impact

HB4619 would amend MCL 551.101, the section of Michigan’s marriage law governing where and how a marriage license is obtained and delivered before a marriage ceremony. The practical legal effect is limited to revising statutory language from gender-specific terms to gender-neutral terms, while preserving the existing county-clerk licensing framework for residents and nonresidents. Because the bill is tie-barred to a constitutional amendment proposal, it would only take effect if the related resolution is adopted into the state constitution.

Sentiment

Based on the bill title and text, the measure appears largely technical and noncontroversial, focused on modernizing statutory language rather than changing substantive marriage law. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. The tie-bar suggests the bill is part of a broader package, but the bill itself reads as a narrow drafting update.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the bill’s tie-bar to a separate constitutional amendment proposal, meaning its effectiveness depends on action outside the bill itself. Any disagreement would likely center on the broader constitutional or policy package rather than the gender-neutral wording in the marriage-license statute. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments are included in the provided record.