Michigan lawmakers have introduced legislation addressing sentencing, prison conditions, housing access, and other policies affecting people impacted by the criminal legal system.

Voting Access For All Coalition (VAAC) follows these issues as part of our policy advocacy and systems change work, with a focus on the people and communities directly affected by incarceration.

Our partners at the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration (MI-CEMI) maintain a legislative tracker that follows criminal legal system reform proposals, legislative actions, and related developments throughout the state.

We’ll be using these updates to help community members understand the legislation under consideration, follow its progress, and identify opportunities to participate in the legislative process.

Legislation VAAC Is Following

VAAC’s Policy Advocacy and Systems Change page identifies several proposals addressing sentencing, political representation, housing, and voting rights.

End Juvenile Life Without Parole

Legislation introduced in Michigan would change sentencing laws for people convicted of offenses committed before age 19, including restrictions on life sentences without the possibility of parole and opportunities for parole review.

VAAC’s legislative page identifies Senate Bills 119 and 123 and House Bills 4160 and 4164 among the proposals addressing juvenile life without parole.

Good Time

Michigan’s Good Time proposals would establish opportunities for incarcerated people to earn reductions in their sentences through good behavior and participation in qualifying programs.

House Bills 4468 through 4471 address this issue.

Second Look Sentencing

Second Look legislation would create a process for courts to reconsider certain lengthy prison sentences after a person has served a substantial period of time.

VAAC is following House Bills 4556 through 4560 and Senate Bills 321 through 325, which address eligibility and procedures for sentence review.

Ending Prison Gerrymandering

Michigan currently counts incarcerated people at the location of the prison where they are confined for purposes of population-based political representation.

Senate Bill 33 would address this practice by requiring the reporting of incarcerated people’s pre-incarceration addresses for use in determining voting district populations.

VAAC has identified ending prison gerrymandering as an ongoing policy priority because of its implications for representation in communities affected by incarceration.

Fair Chance Housing

House Bill 4878, the Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act, addresses the use of criminal history in rental housing decisions.

Access to housing is a significant issue for people returning from incarceration, and VAAC has included fair chance housing among the policies it supports.

You can find additional details about these issues, including links to legislation and related advocacy resources, on VAAC’s legislation page.

Recent Developments: Fair Chance Housing in Lansing

Housing access has also been the subject of proposed changes at the local level.

In October, WILX reported that the Lansing City Council was considering a Fair Chance Housing Ordinance that would establish additional procedures for certain landlords using criminal background checks to evaluate rental applications.

Under the proposal, covered landlords intending to deny an applicant based on criminal history would have to provide the background report and allow the applicant 14 days to respond.

Applicants could use that period to correct inaccurate information or present evidence of rehabilitation, including employment, education, or treatment.

The proposed local ordinance is separate from Michigan’s statewide fair chance housing legislation, but both address how criminal records affect people’s ability to obtain housing.

Wrongful Conviction Reform and Court Fees

MI-CEMI’s recent updates have also highlighted legislation addressing wrongful convictions and the financial burdens associated with court costs.

In an October 23 Michigan Advance opinion piece, advocates discussed pending legislation intended to improve compensation for wrongfully convicted people and expand access to post-conviction DNA testing.

Senate Bill 909 addresses Michigan’s wrongful imprisonment compensation process, while Senate Bill 1035 and House Bill 6092 address access to DNA testing following conviction.

MI-CEMI has also reported on legislation concerning court fees. House Bill 5452 would extend the period during which trial courts can impose certain costs.

The collaborative has stated that any extension should be accompanied by standards for waiving court fees based on a person’s ability to pay. MI-CEMI also supports Senate Bills 1089, 1090, and 1091, which address the process for determining when financial hardship qualifies someone for a fee waiver.

These proposals remain part of Michigan’s broader legislative discussion about criminal legal system policies.

Where Does the Legislation Stand?

In the update provided ahead of the November 3 election, MI-CEMI reported no new legislative action on the bills it was tracking.

As lawmakers return to legislative business following the election, community members can follow committee hearings, bill amendments, and votes through the MI-CEMI legislative tracker and the Michigan Legislature website.

The current legislative session continues through the end of 2026. Bills that have been introduced may advance, remain pending, or fail to pass before the session concludes.

Following the Issues and Engaging With Lawmakers

Legislative decisions affect sentencing, access to housing, conditions of incarceration, reentry, and opportunities for people impacted by the criminal legal system to participate in their communities.

VAAC encourages community members to learn about the bills under consideration and communicate with their elected representatives about the issues that matter to them.

You can find your Michigan State Senator and Michigan State Representative, contact their offices, and sign up for their newsletters to learn about legislative activity, coffee hours, and opportunities for public participation.

VAAC’s policy advocacy work also includes expanding jail voting access, addressing prison gerrymandering, and supporting civic participation among people impacted by incarceration.

We’ll continue following Michigan’s legislative developments and sharing relevant information from MI-CEMI and other sources as these proposals move through the legislative process.