LANSING, Mich. (March 19, 2026) — Today, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety heard testimony on Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) F, introduced by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield) late last year. This would place on the ballot the removal of Michigan’s archaic ban on same-sex marriage from the Michigan Constitution, defending and enshrining those rights in perpetuity.
“During a time of continuous attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, and with similar discriminatory rhetoric coming from the White House, we cannot take our current freedoms for granted or leave the future of equality in the hands of the federal government,” said Sen. Moss. “Our state constitution should align with the Obergefell ruling from more than a decade ago. We must ensure Michigan remains a place of safety for all residents, and that same-sex couples’ rights are protected the same as heterosexual couples.”
SJR F proposes amendments to the state constitution of 1963 — more specifically, amending section 1 of article X, and repealing section 25 of article 1. These changes would strike the outdated, divisive, and unconstitutional 2004 language in order to protect same-sex marriage.
Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. In November of 2025, there was a chance to review the landmark decision, but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case. If Obergefell is overturned under a future Court, existing marriages would be protected under the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, but Michigan’s marriage ban would resume, and no new same-sex marriage licenses would be issued in the state.
That very real risk has been magnified in Michigan, with state Rep. Josh Schriver and other Michigan House Republicans introducing House Resolution 28 calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage. While Sen. Moss successfully pushed back against House Republicans to win the messaging battle for marriage equality, SJR F will help secure the much-needed legal victory as well.
“It is important that Michigan lawmakers prioritize the protection of the rights of every Michigander and stand against discrimination,” said Sen. Chang, Chair of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety. “I am honored to help advance this important change to our constitution to ensure that Michigan LGBTQ+ individuals can marry who they love. We must ensure Michigan remains on the right side of history regarding human rights and equality.”
SJR F remains in the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety for further deliberation. It would require two-thirds of both legislative chambers to place it on the ballot for Michigan voters to decide.