Here is an update of matters before the Michigan Legislature impacting Christian people. We hope you find in helpful.
Special Concern
In an important development, the US Supreme Court recently agreed to decide an abortion case that could reverse Roe v Wade. We are involved in this case and promise to keep you updated.
If the Court reverses Roe, Michigan’s existing abortion law, already the strongest in the nation, becomes much stronger. Our law expressly protects unborn life from conception, and the Michigan Supreme Court says it bans all abortions except as limited by the U.S. Supreme Court. If the U.S. Supreme Court removes Roe’s limits on State enforcement of early abortions, we can begin protecting all unborn babies again in Michigan without enacting new legislation. Understanding this truth, pro-abortion legislators in the State House and Senate recently introduced legislation to repeal Michigan’s strongest in the nation law. Additionally, the Detroit News and Free Press reports that Michigan’s Governor seeks to repeal every other law protecting unborn children and pregnant mothers – and replace these pro-life policies with abortion on demand.
As reported, the proposed legislation seeks to repeal:
- Our law requiring informed consent,
- Our law requiring a 24-hour waiting period,
- Our laws that prohibit telemedicine,
- Our laws that limit insurance coverage for abortions procedures, and
- Our law requiring parental consent for minors.
We promise to update you with information on this challenge to the sanctity of life. Check back to this website often.
State of Michigan – Legislative Branch
(House actions in lowercase, SENATE ACTIONS IN UPPERCASE)
Bills or Resolutions House:
HR 0072 (Rep. Wittenberg)
A resolution to declare May 2, 2019, as Holocaust Remembrance Day
Last Action: 5/2/2019 – adopted
Crimes; internet; penalties for coercing vulnerable adult into providing sexually explicit visual material; provide for. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 – 750.568) by adding sec. 145g.
Last Action:
1/23/2019 – referred to House Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors
6/19/2019 – referred to House Committee on Judiciary, with subs H-2
Liquor; licenses; posting to warn of the potential problems of drinking alcohol during pregnancy; require on premises of retail liquor licensees. Amends 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1101 – 436.2303) by adding sec. 905a.
Last Action:3/12/2019 – passed House; given immediate effect Roll Call # 14 Yeas 100 Nays 10 – transmitted
3/13/2019 – REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM
Requirement for health warning labels on marihuana products sold in Michigan; provide for.
Last Action:
9/10/2019 – passed House by 3/4 vote; transmitted to Senate
9/11/2019 – REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Labor; youth employment; parent or legal guardian of a minor being educated at the minor’s home; allow to issue a work permit for the minor (Allows parents of homeschool students to sign work permit). Amends sec. 2 of 1978 PA 90 (MCL 409.102).
Last Action:
2/26/2019 – referred to House Committee on Education
6/4/2019 – referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Gambling; Gaming; lawful internet gaming act; create. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4308’19
Last Action:
3/7/2019 – referred to House Committee on Regulatory Reform
3/19/2019 – referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Health; funding; prohibition for state to contract with providers that offer abortion services; provide for. Amends title & sec. 1 of 2002 PA 360 (MCL 333.1091).
Last Action:3/12/2019 – referred to House Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors
Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for the crime of disclosing confidential information regarding abortion; eliminate. Amends sec. 13k, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.13k). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4417’19
Last Action:3/21/2019 – referred to House Committee on Health Policy
Health; abortion; additional abortion complication reporting; require. Amends secs. 2835 & 2837 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2835 & 333.2837) & adds sec. 2839.
Last Action:3/21/2019 – referred to House Committee on Health Policy
Civil rights; speech and assembly; campus free speech act; create. Creates new act.
Last Action:4/9/2019 – referred to Committee on Oversight
Civil rights; speech and assembly; safeguards for exercise of free speech rights on community college and university campuses; provide for. Creates new act.
Last Action:4/9/2019 – referred to Committee on Oversight
8/29/2019 – referred to Committee on Judiciary, with substitute (H-2)
Children; protection; allow for surrender of newborn to a newborn safety device (baby dropbox); Amends secs. 5, 7, 10, 17 & 20, ch. XII of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 712.5 et seq.) & adds sec. 3a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4524’19
Last Action:
4/30/2019 – referred to Families, Children, & Seniors
Health; abortion; Creates new law protecting unborn life when fetal heartbeat detected with various exceptions; Current law protects all unborn life from point of conception except to save life of mother.
Last Action:5/23/2019 – referred to Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors
Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crime of performing an abortion without testing for a fetal heartbeat, performing an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, and performing an abortion without obtaining informed consent after a fetal heartbeat is detected; create. Amends sec. 13k, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.13k). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4664’19
Last Action:
5/23/2019 – referred to House Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors
Civil rights; general discrimination; sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; include as categories protected under the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act. Amends title & secs. 102, 103, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 302, 302a, 402, 502, 504, 505 & 506 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2102 et seq.).
Last Action:
6/4/2019 – referred to House Committee on Government Operations
Bills or Resolutions Senate:
Repeals Michigan’s law banning all abortions from conception except to save life of mother. Crimes; abortion; penalty for administering with intent to procure miscarriage; repeal. Repeals sec. 14 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.14).
Last Action:
1/23/2019 – REFERRED TO SEN JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
1/29/2019 – referred to House Committee on Health Policy
Civil rights; general discrimination; sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; include as categories protected under the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act. Amends title & secs. 102, 103, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 302, 302a, 402, 502, 504, 505 & 506 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2102 et seq.).
Last Action:6/5/2019 REFERRED TO SEN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Health; abortion; pain-capable unborn child protection act; enact. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 – 750.568) by adding sec. 325.
Last Action:3/5/2019 REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY AND HUMAN SERVICES\
Health; suicide; provides for suicide prevention commission; Creates new act.
Last Action:
5/7/2019 – SEN PASSED
5/7/2019 – read a first time; referred to House Committee on Health Policy
9/19/2019 – substitute (H-3) adopted by House
9/24/2019 – House passed; given immediate effect; title amended; returned to SENATE
10/2/2019 – LAID OVER ONE DAY UNDER THE RULES
Health; abortion; partial-birth abortion provision; modify to include dismemberment abortion; (bans dismemberment abortion). Amends sec. 90h of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.90h).
Last Action:5/14/2019 – SEN PASSED ROLL CALL # 63 YEAS 22 NAYS 16
5/14/2019 referred to House Committee on Judiciary
5/14/2019 House passed; given immediate effect
5/16/2019 – REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for the crime of dismemberment abortion; enact. Amends sec. 16d, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.16d). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0229’19
Last Action:
5/14/2019 – SEN PASSED ROLL CALL # 64 YEAS 22 NAYS 16
5/14/2019 – referred to House Committee on Judiciary
Prohibits placements and adoptions by a child placing agency based on religious or moral convictions. (Repeals religious liberty protections for adoption and foster care agencies) Repeals secs. 14e & 14f of 1973 PA 116 (MCL 722.124e & 722.124f). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0273’19, SB 0274’19
Last Action
4/17/2019 – REFERRED TO SEN FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND VETERANS
4/17/2019 – referred to House Committee on Government Operations
Children; adoption; Provide for second parent adoption (Permits unmarried, second parent adoption) Amends secs. 24, 41 & 51, ch. X of 1939 PA 288 (MCL 710.24 et seq.).
Last Action:
4/17/2019 – REFERRED TO SEN FAMILIES, SENIORS, & VETERANS
4/17/2019 – referred to House Committee on Families, Children, and Seniors
Mental health; children; Prohibits conversion therapy; (Prohibits conversion therapy for minors) Amends 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1001 – 330.2106) by adding sec. 901a.
Last Action:
4/24/2019 – REFERRED TO HEALTH POLICY & HUMAN SERVICES
4/25/2019 – referred to House Committee on Health Policy
Individual income tax; deductions; definition of dependent; include unborn child.
Last Action:
8/20/2019 REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
9/3/2019 – referred to House Committee on Tax Policy
Civil rights; privacy; parental eavesdropping; allow under certain circumstances. Amends sec. 539g of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.539g).
Last Action:8/28/2019 REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Children; other; consideration of best interests of the child in all parental termination cases, child custody cases, and out-of-home placement cases; require. Amends sec. 28, art. I of the state constitution.
Last Action:8/20/2019 REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND VETERANS
Courts; judges; gubernatorial appointment of supreme court justice; amend constitution to require advice and consent of the senate. Amends sec. 23, art. VI of the state constitution.
Last Action:8/20/2019 REFERRED TO SEN COMMITTEE ON ADVICE AND CONSENT
Special FEDERAL Update
HR 5, a bill before Congress, targets Christian people and our sincerely held Christian values. It compels Christian people to endorse, accept, and embrace anti-Biblical sinful sexual conduct. Now before the House of Representative, HR 5 forces churches to wed same-sex couples and hire cross-dressing teachers. It permits men to use women’s restrooms and dressing rooms, If your church refuses, it loses its tax-exempt status. Under the bill Churches also face expensive litigation, fines and financially crippling court judgments. Most troubling, under the provisions of HR 5, your free exercise of religion is no longer a defense.
Under HR 5 Churches must host same-sex ceremonies. Nonconforming Churches lose tax-exempt status. Nonconforming Colleges lose accreditation. The bill prohibits nonconforming educational institutions at all level rom receiving students loans. Inevitably, Christian institutions will either cease to exist or bow to a secular god by compromising their core Christian mission.
The implications are real. If Christians schedule a mission trip, the proposed law prohibits the Christian organization from separating rooms by biological sex. Thus, men must have access to the women’s showers and bathrooms. Additionally the proposed law prohibits churches from following Biblical precepts on sexuality when hiring church ministry and staff. Thus, it violates the proposed law to consider whether a candidate openly engages in sinful sexual conduct. The bill allows lawsuits by someone who believes a church did not hire or select them due to their sexual lifestyle. Thus, even if the church denied the job for other reasons, it could face costly “damages” in a court judgment.
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