HB 4506 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Criminal procedure: sentencing; guidelines for sentencing individuals aged 18 to 21 to life without parole; provide for. Amends 1927 PA 175 (MCL 760.1 - 777.69) by adding sec. 25b to ch. IX.

HB 4506 would have established new sentencing guidelines to prevent life without parole sentences for individuals aged 18 to 21. The bill amended Michigan’s sentencing law (MCL 760.1-777.69) by adding a specific provision for this age group, requiring judges to consider mitigating factors like youth and development. It directly affected young adults in the criminal justice system facing potential life sentences without parole. The bill was defeated in the legislature on July 24, 2025, with 55 votes in favor and 43 against.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jul 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 21, 2025 Last action Jul 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill Substitute (H-1) · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amendment changes the age eligibility criteria for a new sentencing provision from being 18-20 years old to specifically being 18, 19, or 20 years old at the time of the offense. It also reduces the minimum prison term from 80 years maximum/35 years minimum to 60 years maximum/25 years minimum if life without parole is not imposed.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed slightly by clarifying the specific ages (18, 19, or 20) rather than the broader range (more than 18 but less than 21), and the sentencing thresholds were lowered.
ELIGIBILITY

Changed age eligibility from 'more than 18 but less than 21' to specifically '18, 19, or 20 years of age' at the time of the offense.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced mandatory prison sentence terms from 80 years maximum/35 years minimum to 60 years maximum/25 years minimum when life without parole is not chosen.

Added new language requiring consecutive sentences for multiple violations involving death arising from the same incident.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes including document title updates and line number adjustments.

Floor votes · House Jul 24, 2025

How they voted

5640
Passed
Total votes 96
Jul 24, 2025
D Democratic40
40 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican56
56 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Jul 24, 2025
Introduced
amended
lower
Jul 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
substitute (H-1) adopted
lower
Jun 25, 2025
Committee
referred to second reading
lower
Jun 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported with recommendation without amendment
lower
May 21, 2025
Committee
referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
May 21, 2025
Introduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Sarah Lightner
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner
RRepublican
MI
45