This was not the only law that we have had that has endeavored to strengthen families. Even the tax code, which is now being used as an excuse to repeal this law, was structured to reward, enhance, and promote strong families, built on a foundation of marriage that has been provided for millennia across the world.
This bill is very representative of where we are as a nation and as a culture. It signifies the willingness to neglect a maintenance of effort for good policy by taking the easy way rather than doing the hard work. It also demonstrates the willful and persistent unwillingness to consider history. Finally, it shows a lack of understanding of the principles of government.
Senator Chang asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Chang’s statement is as follows:
I wasn’t anticipating a floor discussion about this bill, but figured I would take the opportunity to say a few things. This bill is not about a moral issue, it’s not about changing people’s behavior, it’s not about marriage rates; it’s really just about bringing us into the 21st century. Michigan is one out of only two states in this whole country that still has this law that prohibits people who are unmarried men and women from living together. This issue was actually brought to me not by folks who were concerned about people’s behavior; it was really, actually came from a tax professional. The accountant who came to me talked about how this was having real-life implications for the couples who choose to live together for whatever reason. Some people just don’t want to get married, but they are committed partners to one another.
As mentioned by an earlier speaker, the IRS tax code says that, “[a]n individual shall not be treated as a member of the taxpayer’s household if at any time during the taxable year of the taxpayer the relationship between such individual and the taxpayer is in violation of local law.” This law will help some individuals in our state by reducing their taxpayer burden, it’ll place unmarried Michigan taxpayers on equal footing with taxpayers in almost every other state, and, again as mentioned, it will bring us to our current century and really just update our laws. I would welcome your support.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 59, entitled
A bill to amend 1974 PA 258, entitled “Mental health code,” by amending section 100c (MCL 330.1100c), as amended by 2020 PA 285.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: