HB 4609 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Property: ownership interests; rights and liabilities of married women act; revise gender-specific language. Amends secs. 1, 4, 5, & 6 of 1981 PA 216 (MCL 557.21 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

HB 4609 amends Michigan's 1981 Married Women's Property Act (1981 PA 216) to replace gender-specific language with neutral terms. It updates sections 1, 4, 5, and 6 to refer to "a person" instead of "a married woman," and removes references to "husband" or "spouse" where they are not legally necessary. The bill preserves all existing property rights for married individuals but modernizes the law's language to be inclusive. This is a procedural update, not a change to property rights, and depends on a constitutional amendment passing.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jun 10, 2025 Last action Jun 11, 2025