The Michigan Legislature is now early in the first year of the new two-year session 2025-2026. All bills introduced in the first year carry over into this year. Any bills that do not pass in the second year must be reintroduced in the first year of the next legislative session.

Enacted/Passed Bills

Domestic Relations
None yet this session.

Juvenile/Abuse & Neglect
None yet this session.

In Committee/Other

Domestic Relations
SENATE BILL 82 JUDICIAL PROTECTION ACT
This bill would create a new Act called the Judicial Protection Act, which would permit judges to request from a public body that personally identifying information be removed from public view.

Status: This bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Civil Rights, and Public Safety on February 12, 2025, no action since.

Juvenile/Abuse & Neglect
SENATE BILL 18 FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES ACT
This bill would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act (MCL 722.951 to MCL 722.960) to require the Department of Health and Human Services to screen a child placed in foster care for eligibility for state and federal benefits within 90 days after placement and apply for any eligible benefits. The amendment also prohibits DHHS (with some exceptions)  from using those benefits to reimburse the Department for services provided and requires the Department to conserve any benefits and report on the status of benefits to the child or GAL.

Status: This bill was referred to the Committee on Housing and Human Services on January 22, 2025, no action since.

SENATE BILL 24 JUVENILE DIVERSION ACT
This bill would amend the Juvenile Diversion Act to allow an individual or organization to submit a research request for a juvenile record to the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) or an individual court and prescribe the conditions for the use and release of such information. The released data would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Additionally, the SCAO and each court, as applicable, would have to maintain certain records about the request and the released data. The bill would allow the SCAO to charge the researcher to cover costs incurred for processing the request.

Status: This bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Civil Rights, and Public Safety and a report was issued by the committee on February 11, 2025.

All of the above legislation can be accessed at: https://www.legislature.mi.gov.

The Michigan Legislature is now in the second year of the two-year session 2023-2024. All bills introduced in the first year carry over into this year. Any bills that do not pass in the second year must be reintroduced in the first year of the next legislative session.

Enacted/Passed Bills

Domestic Relations

• HOUSE BILL 5207 through 5215 ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND SURROGACY PARENTAGE ACT & RELATED AMENDMENTS (ALSO KNOWN AS THE MICHIGAN FAMILY PROTECTION ACT)​
  • The package of bills legalizes gestational surrogacy agreements where the surrogate has no genetic connection to the child. Surrogacy agreements meeting specific criteria are now enforceable by law. Children born via surrogacy agreements will be treated the same as other children for the purposes of Michigan law, including for birth records, intestate succession, and establishment of paternity. The package of bills allows for reasonable compensation to surrogates among other benefits. It also ensures that the intended parents are recognized as the legal parents of the child from birth. The Act includes LGBTQ+ families and ensures they are treated equally under the law.
  • Status: This package of bills was signed by the Governor on April 1, 2024.  The Michigan Family Protection Act is effective 91 days after adjournment of the 2024 regular session sine die.
• SENATE BILL 0209 PROHIBITION OF MARRIAGE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE
  • This bill amends MCL 551.51 to void any marriage contracted by an individual until 18 years of age. The previous age limit under MCL 551.51 was 16 years old.
  • Status: This bill was signed by the Governor on July 11, 2023 with immediate effect.
• SENATE BILL 0213 REVOCATION OF RIGHT OF EMANICPATED MINOR TO MARRY 
  • This bill amends MCL 722.4 & MCL 722.4e by eliminating the right of an emancipated minor to enter into marriage.
  • Status: This bill was signed by the Governor on July 11, 2023 with immediate effect.
• House Bill 4516 AMEND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT
  • The bill would amend the domestic violence prevention and treatment Act to allow Federally recognized Indian tribes that have trust land located in the State to receive assistance and funds for the establishment or maintenance of a shelter program for victims of domestic violence and their dependent children.
  • Status: This bill was signed by the Governor on November 7, 2023 immediate effect.

The Legislature is now in the second year of the two-year session. The bills introduced in the first year carry over to this year. The bills we need to pay close attention to are the joint custody / parenting bills.