Rep. Phil Skaggs

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 4608 amends Michigan's Mental Health Code (MCL 330.1800) by changing the term "parents" to "parent" in the definition of "parents" for minors under 18. This technical correction removes gendered language from the law, ensuring the definition applies equally to all legal guardians regardless of gender. The bill directly affects how the state defines financial responsibility for mental health services provided to minors. It makes a narrow, non-substantive change to existing code language without altering program requirements or service provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 4611 updates Michigan's 1975 property law to replace gender-specific terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language ("spouses") in rules governing property held as tenants by the entirety. This change ensures the law's wording is inclusive but does not alter the existing equal rights of married couples to manage and share income from such property. The bill requires a related constitutional amendment to take effect, as noted in its enacting section.

Maddy summaryHB 4606 updates Michigan's property law to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with "spouses" in rules about terminating tenancies by the entirety. This means married couples owning property under this arrangement can now have their rights clarified without gender-specific language, allowing either spouse to transfer their interest to the other. The bill directly affects married couples holding property as tenants by the entirety, ensuring the legal process reflects modern relationships. The change is contingent on a related constitutional amendment (HJR F'25) being adopted.

Maddy summaryHB 4605 updates Michigan's Regulatory Loan Act to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language such as "spouses" in Section 17 (MCL 493.17). This change affects married borrowers who must sign liens on household goods, ensuring the requirement applies equally regardless of gender. The bill revises the law's wording to remove outdated references while maintaining the existing requirement for both spouses' signatures. The amendment is contingent on a related constitutional change being adopted, as specified in the enacting section.

Maddy summaryHB 4614 updates Michigan law to replace gender-specific terms in property deed rules. It revises Section 2 of 1861 PA 21 (MCL 565.602) to change "husband and wife" to "spouses," ensuring deeds executed jointly by couples through a joint power of attorney are valid regardless of gender. This directly affects married or domestic partners using joint power of attorney to transfer property, making the law inclusive for all couples. The bill requires approval of a constitutional amendment (via HJR F'25 or S00781'25) before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4610 amends Michigan’s insurance code (sections 2207, 2209, 3110, and 3402) to replace gendered terms like "husband," "wife," and "children" with gender-neutral language (e.g., "spouse" or "partner"). It directly affects life insurance policies where beneficiaries are named as spouses, descendants, or trustees for their benefit, ensuring the code uses inclusive terminology. The bill updates the legal language but does not change beneficiary rights, exemption rules for insurance proceeds, or creditor protections. This is a procedural language update, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4617 amends Michigan's property tax deferment law (MCL 211.764) to update gendered language, replacing references like "husband and wife" with neutral terms such as "spouses" for joint ownership. This change directly affects homeowners applying for deferment of special assessments on their homestead properties, particularly those owning property jointly. The bill modifies only the language in Section 4 of the 1976 law, leaving all existing eligibility rules, affidavit requirements, lien warnings, and mortgage consent procedures unchanged. It does not alter the financial mechanisms or eligibility criteria for the deferment program itself.

Maddy summaryHB 4618 updates Michigan's Limited Liability Company Act to replace gender-specific terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language like "spouses" in Section 504. This change directly affects married couples who own LLC membership interests jointly, aligning the law with modern language standards. The bill modifies the provision governing how spouses can hold LLC interests in joint tenancy, removing outdated phrasing while maintaining the same legal rights and survivorship rules. The amendment does not alter any substantive rights or create new obligations for LLC owners.

Maddy summaryHB 4607 amends Michigan’s farmland tax credit statute (MCL 324.36109) to replace gendered language like "he" or "his" with gender-neutral terms. The bill does not change eligibility rules or credit amounts - it only updates the statutory language to be inclusive for all landowners, including farmers, partnerships, corporations, trusts, and life estate holders who qualify for the property tax credit under existing farmland preservation programs. This change affects anyone claiming the credit for farmland subject to development rights agreements or conservation easements, ensuring the law applies equally regardless of gender. The bill is purely procedural and does not alter the policy or financial provisions of the tax credit.