Michigan House Democrats introduced two bills that would allow trans people to change their names without the need to "run a state and federal criminal background check."
The state’s House Judiciary Committee held the hearing on bills 5300-5303. There, Representative Laurie Pohutsky - who introduced the bill - declared that it "really doesn't matter" whether someone can change their sex without the need for a background check, and that this really is a "philosophical" discussion.
Democrats in Michigan introduced HB 5300-5303. The bills would make it easier for trans people to change their name and s*x marker and eliminates a background check. Trans people would be able to hide their identity and any criminal history.
When questioned, Rep. Laurie Pohutsky… pic.twitter.com/mEfPVT2QyE
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 18, 2024
Eliminate state and federal background checks
According to the text introduced, bills 5300 - 5303 would do all of the following:
- "Eliminate a presumption in law that a person who is seeking to change their legal name must be doing so for a fraudulent reason if they have a criminal record."
- "Eliminate the requirement that a person 22 or older who is seeking a name change must submit fingerprints for state and federal criminal background checks."
- "Expand reasons for which a court can waive publication requirements regarding a name change, notably to include affirmation of the person’s gender."
- " Eliminate the requirement for a doctor’s affidavit of surgery before a new birth certificate that shows a sex designation other than the one assigned at birth can be issued."
- "Allow a person to indicate a sex designation of "M", "F," or "X" for a driver's license, state personal ID card, or new birth certificate, without no additional documentation or certification required."
- "Allow driver's licenses and state personal ID cards to be reissued without charge to update a sex designation."
2023-HLA-5300-933B1C77 by Veronica Silveri on Scribd
Different groups and organizations such as Equality Michigan Action Network have supported the measure, calling previous requirements for legal name changes "obstacles."
This morning, the Michigan House Judiciary Committee held a hearing for House Bills 5300-5303, which remove barriers for legal name changes and accurate identification documents. pic.twitter.com/3za5VW1pd2
— Equality Michigan Action Network (@ActionEqmi) February 7, 2024
