Michigan House Bill HB4631

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

Caption

Public employees and officers: compensation and benefits; certain references in the public safety officers benefit act; make gender neutral. Amends sec. 2 of 2004 PA 46 (MCL 28.632). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

Summary

HB 4631 amends the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act to update definitional language in section 2 of the act. The bill revises several terms used to determine eligibility for death and disability benefits for public safety officers, including “dependent,” “firefighter,” “law enforcement officer,” “line of duty,” “medical benefit plan,” “member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew,” “permanent and total disability,” “public safety officer,” and “surviving spouse.” The changes are largely stylistic and clarifying, with the bill caption indicating the purpose is to make certain references gender neutral. The bill does not appear to change the core benefit structure of the act, but it would update statutory language that governs who is covered and how key terms are interpreted for benefit administration. It also includes a tie-bar provision making the amendatory act contingent on adoption of a related constitutional amendment, meaning the bill would not take effect unless the referenced joint resolution becomes part of the state constitution.

Impact

If enacted, HB 4631 would amend MCL 28.632, the definitional section of the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act, which affects how state death and disability benefits are administered for eligible public safety officers and their families. The bill would update statutory references used by agencies and claimants in determining eligibility, including coverage for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, rescue squad or ambulance crew members, dependents, and surviving spouses. Because the bill is tied to a separate constitutional amendment, its legal effect is contingent and would not occur unless that amendment is approved.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is generally noncontroversial and technical in nature. The stated purpose is to make references in the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act gender neutral, and the text primarily modernizes terminology rather than altering substantive benefit rights. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence of organized opposition or support beyond the bill’s administrative and clarifying character.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is not the benefit changes themselves, but the bill’s tie-bar to a constitutional amendment. Because HB 4631 would only take effect if Senate Joint Resolution ____ or House Joint Resolution F is adopted, any debate would likely center on the broader constitutional change rather than the definitional updates in this bill. Otherwise, the bill appears to be a technical cleanup measure with no major substantive disputes evident in the provided materials.