Bill > HB4619

This bill amends Michigan's marriage license law to make its language gender neutral. Specifically, the bill replaces gendered terms like "man or woman" with more inclusive language such as "party desiring to be married" and "clergy person" instead of "clergyman". The core requirements remain the same: parties intending to marry must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk where either party resides, and must provide that license to the officiating clergy person or magistrate before the marriage can be performed. For nonresident couples, the license must be obtained from the county where the marriage will take place. Notably, the bill is tied to a constitutional amendment (via Senate or House Joint Resolution) and will only take effect if that constitutional change is approved. This legislative update reflects a broader trend toward using gender-neutral language in legal documents to ensure inclusivity and avoid discriminatory terminology.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4619