Michigan House convenes without quorum; committee reports, bill returns and introductions advance administratively

The Michigan House of Representatives convened on Aug. 13, 2025, at the State Capitol in Lansing but did not reach a quorum, prompting the chamber to carry out clerical and committee business without full membership present.

Because a quorum was not present, the clerk and committee chairs announced committee reports, referred bills to committee or the order of second reading, transmitted several Senate bills for first reading, and handled enrollment and presentation steps for bills previously passed by both chambers. The House adjourned until Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at 12:00 noon.

Committee reports and referrals: The Committee on Families and Veterans, chaired by Representative Schmaltz, reported several measures to the House. The committee reported House Bill 4517 without amendment with a recommendation that the bill pass; House Bill 4518 with a recommendation that substitute H-1 be adopted and the bill then passed; House Bill 4676 with a recommendation that substitute H-1 be adopted and the bill then passed; and House Bill 4677 without amendment with a recommendation that the bill pass. Each of those committee reports was referred to the order of second reading of bills, per the clerk’s announcements.

Messages from the Senate and enrollment steps: The clerk announced receipt of several messages from the Michigan Senate. The Senate returned House Bill 4003 and indicated it had passed; the clerk directed that the bill be referred for printing and presentation to the governor and that the full title be inserted pursuant to Joint Rule 20. The House likewise agreed to the full title and referred House Bill 4046 and another bill (identified in the transcript as 440C) for enrollment, printing and presentation to the governor. For House Bill 4047, the clerk announced the Senate had passed the bill with Substitute S-3 and the House recorded that the bill will lie over one day.

Senate bills transmitted for committee referral: The House transmitted Senate Bill 3409 (to amend the Revised School Code), Senate Bill 350 (to amend the State School Aid Act of 1979), and Senate Bill 435 (to amend the Income Tax Act of 1967). Each was considered read a first time by title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations for further consideration.

Introductions and committee referrals: Members introduced a slate of new House bills that were read a first time and referred to committees. Among those introduced were: - House Bill 4762 (to amend the Youth Employment Standards Act) — referred to the Committee on Economic Competitiveness. - House Bill 4763 (to amend the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act) — referred to the Committee on Insurance. - House Bill 4764 (to amend the Workers' Disability Compensation Act of 1969) — referred to the Committee on Insurance. - House Bill 4765 (to amend Michigan election law) — referred to the Committee on Election Integrity. - House Bill 4766 (to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act) — referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform. - House Bill 4767 (to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act) — referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism. - House Bill 4768 (to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act) — referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism. Representative Wilford (appearing in the transcript as “Somerset Wilford” in one line) offered a House Joint Resolution L proposing an amendment to the State Constitution of 1963 by adding Section 29 to Article 1; the resolution was read a first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Other notices and scheduling: The clerk announced that the House Committee on Rules will meet Thursday, Aug. 21, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 3428 of the State Capitol Building.

Discussion, directions and decisions: The session contained no recorded floor debate on the measures listed; the business conducted was procedural and clerical (committee reports, first readings, referrals, and enrollment steps). Formal committee recommendations forwarded bills for further House consideration; several bills returned from the Senate were sent to the clerk for enrollment and presentation to the governor. House Bill 4047 was recorded to lie over one day. The House adjourned because a quorum had not been reached and scheduled reconvening for Aug. 14 at 12:00 noon.

Ending: With little floor debate or member discussion recorded during this session, most measures advanced through routine procedural steps rather than full House action. The calendar and clerk actions preserved the legislative status of reported, referred and enrolled bills pending the chamber’s next convening.