LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

​BY DANIEL FERENCY (OAKLAND)

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.