SB 287 Michigan Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Family law: marriage and divorce; authority to solemnize marriage; modify. Amends sec. 16 of 1846 RS 83 (MCL 551.16). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0285'25

SB 287 amends Michigan law to protect the validity of marriages performed by certain officials (like county clerks, judges, or authorized religious leaders) even if the officiant later lacks full authority. It ensures such marriages aren’t voided if both people believed they were legally married at the time. This directly affects couples who married under these circumstances, preventing future legal challenges based on officiant authority. The bill is contingent on companion bill SB 285 also passing, as noted in the enacting section.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced May 7, 2025 Last action Jun 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Senate Introduced Bill As Passed by the Senate · 2 edits · Jun 10, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted to remove a header dated May 7, 2025, and standardize the capitalization of the title and enacting clause. The substantive legal language regarding marriage validity remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL

Removed the introduction header containing the date and referring committee information.

Standardized the capitalization of the bill title and the enacting clause to match standard legislative formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 10, 2025

How they voted

2216
Passed
Total votes 38
Jun 10, 2025
D Democratic19
19 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
3 Yea 16 Nay
84% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Jun 10, 2025
Committee
referred to Committee on Government Operations
lower
Jun 10, 2025
Introduced
received on 06/10/2025
lower
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED ROLL CALL # 164 YEAS 22 NAYS 15 EXCUSED 0 NOT VOTING 0
upper
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT(S)
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
REPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 6/3/2025
upper
May 7, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
upper
May 7, 2025
Introduced
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VERONICA KLINEFELT
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors