Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 1 R cosponsors

HB 4696 — Children: guardians; definition of relative under the guardianship assistance act; modify. Amends sec. 2 of 2008 PA 260 (MCL 722.872). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4697'25

Last action — REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced May 20, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill modifies the definition of 'relative' in guardianship assistance laws.

This legislation updates the definition of 'relative' under the Guardianship Assistance Act, expanding who may qualify for guardianship assistance. It specifies criteria based on relationships and emotional ties.

Summary

Children: guardians; definition of relative under the guardianship assistance act; modify. Amends sec. 2 of 2008 PA 260 (MCL 722.872). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4697'25

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

5 added · 4 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 4696, five new lines were added, while four lines from the earlier draft were removed. The changes likely reflect updates based on feedback or new insights since the bill was first introduced. These adjustments can impact how the law will be implemented or clarify its intent, ensuring it better serves the public or addresses specific concerns.

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Latest
HOUSE BILL NO.
HB-4696, As Passed House, April 16, 2026 HOUSE BILL NO.
(c) "Child placing agency" means that term as defined in OOI H02991'25_HB4696_INTR_1 9eqc31 1 section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.
(c) "Child placing agency" means that term as defined in OOI H02991'25_HB4696_APH_1 3zkjbr 1 section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.
(A) Related to the child within the fifth degree by blood, OOI H02991'25_HB4696_INTR_1 9eqc31 1 marriage, or adoption, including the spouse of an individual related to the child within the fifth degree, even after the marriage has ended by death or divorce, the parent who shares custody of a half-sibling, and the parent of a man whom the court has found probable cause to believe is the putative father if there is no man with legally established rights to the child.
(A) Related to the child within the fifth degree by blood, OOI H02991'25_HB4696_APH_1 3zkjbr 1 marriage, or adoption, including the spouse of an individual related to the child within the fifth degree, even after the marriage has ended by death or divorce, the parent who shares custody of a half-sibling, and the parent of a man whom the court has found probable cause to believe is the putative father if there is no man with legally established rights to the child.
S02992'25) or House Bill OOI H02991'25_HB4696_INTR_1 9eqc31 No.
S02992'25) or House Bill OOI H02991'25_HB4696_APH_1 3zkjbr No.
Final Page OOI H02991'25_HB4696_INTR_1 9eqc31
Final Page OOI H02991'25_HB4696_APH_1 3zkjbr
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Action History

  1. REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

passed; given immediate effect

Passed 101 Yea · 3 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 54300
Democrat 47000
Total 101300
% of votes cast 97%3%0%0%
How each member voted (104)
Member Party Vote
Alabas Farhat Democrat Yea
Angela Witwer Democrat Yea
Betsy Coffia Democrat Yea
Carol Glanville Democrat Yea
Carrie Rheingans Democrat Yea
Chedrick Greene Democrat Yea
Cynthia Neeley Democrat Yea
Denise Mentzer Democrat Yea
Donavan McKinney Democrat Yea
Dylan Wegela Democrat Yea
Emily Dievendorf Democrat Yea
Erin Byrnes Democrat Yea
Helena Scott Democrat Yea
Jason M Hoskins Democrat Yea
Jason Morgan Democrat Yea
Jasper Martus Democrat Yea
Jennifer Conlin Democrat Yea
Jimmie Wilson Jr Democrat Yea
Joey Andrews Democrat Yea
John Fitzgerald Democrat Yea
Joseph Tate Democrat Yea
Julie Brixie Democrat Yea
Julie M. Rogers Democrat Yea
Kara Hope Democrat Yea
Kelly A Breen Democrat Yea
Kimberly Edwards Democrat Yea
Laurie Pohutsky Democrat Yea
Mai Xiong Democrat Yea
Matt Koleszar Democrat Yea
Matt Longjohn Democrat Yea
Morgan Foreman Democrat Yea
Natalie Price Democrat Yea
Noah Arbit Democrat Yea
Penelope Tsernoglou Democrat Yea
Peter Herzberg Democrat Yea
Phil Skaggs Democrat Yea
Ranjeev Puri Democrat Yea
Reggie Miller Democrat Yea
Regina Weiss Democrat Yea
Samantha Steckloff Democrat Yea
Sharon MacDonell Democrat Yea
Stephanie A Young Democrat Yea
Stephen Wooden Democrat Yea
Tullio Liberati Jr. Democrat Yea
Tyrone Carter Democrat Yea
Veronica Paiz Democrat Yea
Will Snyder Democrat Yea
Alicia St. Germaine Republican Yea
Angela Rigas Republican Yea
Ann M. Bollin Republican Yea
Bill Schuette Republican Yea
Brad Paquette Republican Yea
Bradley Slagh Republican Yea
Brian BeGole Republican Yea
Bryan Posthumus Republican Yea
Cameron Cavitt Republican Yea
Curtis S VanderWall Republican Yea
David Prestin Republican Yea
David W. Martin Republican Yea
Donni Steele Republican Yea
Douglas C Wozniak Republican Yea
Gina Johnsen Republican Yea
Greg VanWoerkom Republican Yea
Gregory Alexander Republican Yea
Gregory Markkanen Republican Yea
James DeSana Republican Nay
Jamie Thompson Republican Yea
Jason Woolford Republican Yea
Jay DeBoyer Republican Yea
Jennifer Wortz Republican Yea
Jerry Neyer Republican Yea
John R. Roth Republican Yea
Joseph A. Aragona Republican Yea
Joseph Fox Republican Yea
Joseph Pavlov Republican Yea
Josh Schriver Republican Yea
Karl Bohnak Republican Yea
Kathy Schmaltz Republican Yea
Ken Borton Republican Yea
Luke Meerman Republican Yea
Mark A Tisdel Republican Yea
Matt Hall Republican Yea
Matt Maddock Republican Yea
Matthew Bierlein Republican Yea
Mike Harris Republican Yea
Mike Hoadley Republican Yea
Mike Mueller Republican Yea
Nancy DeBoer Republican Yea
Nancy Jenkins-Arno Republican Yea
Parker Fairbairn Republican Yea
Pauline Wendzel Republican Yea
Phil Green Republican Yea
Rachelle Smit Republican Yea
Rick Outman Republican Yea
Ron Robinson Republican Yea
Rylee Linting Republican Yea
Sarah Lightner Republican Yea
Steve Carra Republican Nay
Steve Frisbie Republican Yea
Thomas Kuhn Republican Yea
Tim Kelly Republican Nay
Timothy Beson Republican Yea
Tom Kunse Republican Yea
William Bruck Republican Yea

Official roll call →

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #113 Yeas 101 Nays 3 Excused 0 Not Voting 6

Passed 101 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 54300
Democrat 46000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 101300
% of votes cast 97%3%0%0%
How each member voted (104)
Member Party Vote
St. Germaine — Yea
Alabas Farhat Democrat Yea
Angela Witwer Democrat Yea
Betsy Coffia Democrat Yea
Carol Glanville Democrat Yea
Carrie Rheingans Democrat Yea
Cynthia Neeley Democrat Yea
Denise Mentzer Democrat Yea
Donavan McKinney Democrat Yea
Dylan Wegela Democrat Yea
Emily Dievendorf Democrat Yea
Erin Byrnes Democrat Yea
Helena Scott Democrat Yea
Jason M Hoskins Democrat Yea
Jason Morgan Democrat Yea
Jasper Martus Democrat Yea
Jennifer Conlin Democrat Yea
Jimmie Wilson Jr Democrat Yea
Joey Andrews Democrat Yea
John Fitzgerald Democrat Yea
Joseph Tate Democrat Yea
Julie Brixie Democrat Yea
Julie M. Rogers Democrat Yea
Kara Hope Democrat Yea
Kelly A Breen Democrat Yea
Kimberly Edwards Democrat Yea
Laurie Pohutsky Democrat Yea
Mai Xiong Democrat Yea
Matt Koleszar Democrat Yea
Matt Longjohn Democrat Yea
Morgan Foreman Democrat Yea
Natalie Price Democrat Yea
Noah Arbit Democrat Yea
Penelope Tsernoglou Democrat Yea
Peter Herzberg Democrat Yea
Phil Skaggs Democrat Yea
Ranjeev Puri Democrat Yea
Reggie Miller Democrat Yea
Regina Weiss Democrat Yea
Samantha Steckloff Democrat Yea
Sharon MacDonell Democrat Yea
Stephanie A Young Democrat Yea
Stephen Wooden Democrat Yea
Tullio Liberati Jr. Democrat Yea
Tyrone Carter Democrat Yea
Veronica Paiz Democrat Yea
Will Snyder Democrat Yea
Angela Rigas Republican Yea
Ann M. Bollin Republican Yea
Bill Schuette Republican Yea
Brad Paquette Republican Yea
Bradley Slagh Republican Yea
Brian BeGole Republican Yea
Bryan Posthumus Republican Yea
Cameron Cavitt Republican Yea
Curtis S VanderWall Republican Yea
David Prestin Republican Yea
David W. Martin Republican Yea
Donni Steele Republican Yea
Douglas C Wozniak Republican Yea
Gina Johnsen Republican Yea
Greg VanWoerkom Republican Yea
Gregory Alexander Republican Yea
Gregory Markkanen Republican Yea
Jaime Greene Republican Yea
James DeSana Republican Nay
Jamie Thompson Republican Yea
Jason Woolford Republican Yea
Jay DeBoyer Republican Yea
Jennifer Wortz Republican Yea
Jerry Neyer Republican Yea
John R. Roth Republican Yea
Joseph A. Aragona Republican Yea
Joseph Fox Republican Yea
Joseph Pavlov Republican Yea
Josh Schriver Republican Yea
Karl Bohnak Republican Yea
Kathy Schmaltz Republican Yea
Ken Borton Republican Yea
Luke Meerman Republican Yea
Mark A Tisdel Republican Yea
Matt Hall Republican Yea
Matt Maddock Republican Yea
Matthew Bierlein Republican Yea
Mike Harris Republican Yea
Mike Hoadley Republican Yea
Mike Mueller Republican Yea
Nancy DeBoer Republican Yea
Nancy Jenkins-Arno Republican Yea
Parker Fairbairn Republican Yea
Pauline Wendzel Republican Yea
Phil Green Republican Yea
Rachelle Smit Republican Yea
Rick Outman Republican Yea
Ron Robinson Republican Yea
Rylee Linting Republican Yea
Sarah Lightner Republican Yea
Steve Carra Republican Nay
Steve Frisbie Republican Yea
Thomas Kuhn Republican Yea
Tim Kelly Republican Nay
Timothy Beson Republican Yea
Tom Kunse Republican Yea
William Bruck Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4696 do?
Children: guardians; definition of relative under the guardianship assistance act; modify. Amends sec. 2 of 2008 PA 260 (MCL 722.872). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4697'25
Who sponsors HB 4696?
HB 4696 is sponsored by Luke Meerman (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4696?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced May 20, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 4696?
Track HB 4696 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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