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House approves change to competency timelines in mental health code after rights debate
Summary
The Michigan House passed House Bill 4596, amending the Mental Health Code to modify the timeline for defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial. Supporters said the change aims to increase trials by extending when the 15‑month countdown begins; opponents warned it risks prolonging criminal process and denying due process.
Lansing — The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4596 on third reading, 64-36, on Sept. 24, 2025, adopting an immediate-effect motion the majority leader offered.
The bill amends the state Mental Health Code to change how and when the 15-month statutory period for addressing competency to stand trial is applied for defendants deemed incompetent, a sponsor said. Representative Wirtz said the bill is intended to increase the likelihood defendants receive treatment and ultimately stand trial.
"This legislation is about ensuring justice for victims by increasing the likelihood criminals actually stand trial," Representative Wirtz said on the House floor. "[It] addresses when defendants are deemed incompetent to stand trial...by delaying the implementation of the 15-month period and to allow mental health treatment."
Opponents cast the bill as a threat to due process. Representative DeSena said the measure could leave people who have not been convicted of crimes detained while the system seeks treatment capacity.
"House Bill 45‑96 undermines that promise," Representative DeSena said. "It extends the timeline for which criminal charges may hang over the head of a person found incompetent to stand trial...This is punishment without trial."
Supporters said the change responds to shortages in treatment beds and administrative delays that can prevent timely treatment, which in turn can stall or prevent trial preparation. The sponsor argued that delayed treatment start often occurs so close to the statutory deadline that the system cannot complete competency restoration in time.
The clerk recorded 64 ayes and 36 nays. The majority floor leader then moved for immediate effect; members rose in favor and the immediate-effect motion was ordered.
No court deadlines, statutory text passages, or external agency approvals were presented on the floor during debate. The House debate focused on balancing victims' interests and defendants' constitutional protections; the transcript does not show amendments, nor does it show any implementation timeline or budgetary detail beyond the bill's change to the Mental Health Code timeline provisions.
The bill now proceeds to the next step in the legislative process after the House vote.
