Bill > HB4984

This bill amends Michigan's Revised Judicature Act to establish new rules for sealing eviction court records. Under the proposed legislation, when summary eviction proceedings are initiated, court records will initially be kept confidential until a judgment for possession is entered. After a judgment for possession is granted, the records will remain public for two years, after which they will automatically become nonpublic (confidential). For eviction cases involving serious issues like illegal drug activity, serious health hazards, physical violence, or forceful trespass, the records will remain public for three years instead of two. The bill also provides a mechanism for researchers, scholars, journalists, or government entities to access these nonpublic records for specific purposes, but with strict conditions: they must submit a written request, execute a detailed data use agreement that protects individual privacy, and ensure that personally identifiable information is not disclosed without court approval. The bill defines "nonpublic" as records maintained confidentially and accessible only to parties, their attorneys, and the court, and "records" as any documents filed with or maintained by the court clerk related to the eviction proceedings.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4984