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HB4070 • 2026

Courts: other; Michigan indigent defense commission act; expand duties to include indigent defense of youth. Amends title & secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 & 23 of 2013 PA 93 (MCL 780.983 et seq.) & adds sec. 14.

Courts: other; Michigan indigent defense commission act; expand duties to include indigent defense of youth. Amends title & secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 & 23 of 2013 PA 93 (MCL 780.983 et seq.) & adds sec. 14.

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Sarah Lightner (District 45)
Last action
2026-06-16
Official status
placed on third reading
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on changes to the commission's operations, additional details for providing legal aid, or updates to funding and oversight rules.

Expanding Help for Poor Youth in Court

This law changes the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission's job to include helping young people who can't afford a lawyer when they are in trouble with the law.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds new duties to help youth who don't have money for lawyers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Young people in Michigan who can't afford a lawyer when they are accused of breaking the law.
  • The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, which will now help these young people.

Terms To Know

Indigent
Someone who does not have enough money to pay for basic needs like food and a lawyer.
Defendant
A person who is accused of breaking the law in court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill text doesn't say exactly how much it will cost or where the money will come from.
  • It's not clear what specific changes will be made to funding and oversight rules for youth defense services.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

H-2

8

substitute (H-2) adopted

Plain English: substitute (H-2) adopted 8

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-16 HJ 47 Pg. 0

    read a second time

  2. 2026-06-16 HJ 47 Pg. 0

    substitute (H-2) adopted

  3. 2026-06-16 HJ 47 Pg. 0

    placed on third reading

  4. 2025-03-12 HJ 26 Pg. 232

    reported with recommendation without amendment

  5. 2025-03-12 HJ 26 Pg. 232

    referred to second reading

  6. 2025-02-13 HJ 16 Pg. 113

    bill electronically reproduced 02/12/2025

  7. 2025-02-12 HJ 15 Pg. 110

    introduced by Representative Rep. Sarah Lightner

  8. 2025-02-12 HJ 15 Pg. 110

    read a first time

  9. 2025-02-12 HJ 15 Pg. 110

    referred to Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Courts: other; Michigan indigent defense commission act; expand duties to include indigent defense of youth. Amends title & secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 & 23 of 2013 PA 93 (MCL 780.983 et seq.) & adds sec. 14.