Michigan Legislature Advances Two Controversial Bills: Voter Citizenship Verification and Anti-Terrorism Update

Proof of Citizenship Bill Heads to House Floor After Committee Hearing

LANSING — A bill requiring voters to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote has advanced to the House floor for consideration after clearing the House Committee on Election Integrity with one hearing.

House Bill 4765, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell), would mandate that voter registration applications include proof of citizenship — such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization documents — before being processed. The bill would also prohibit applicants from being registered until that documentation is verified.

The proposal comes amid heightened national debates over election integrity, including efforts by President Donald Trump to advance similar federal requirements.

"Michigan residents deserve to know their votes are protected and that our elections cannot be manipulated," Woolford said in a press release. "Requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID is a commonsense safeguard that protects every legal voter. If you are legally allowed to vote, these requirements should be easy and straightforward. But we cannot stand by while loopholes threaten the integrity of our elections."

However, Democratic officials have raised concerns about the practical impacts on eligible voters.

"No eligible citizen should have to pay extra fees to exercise their constitutional voting rights," Michigan Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie said. "Michiganders deserve to have the facts. This bill is not about voter ID; it's a way to stop tens of thousands of eligible Michigan voters from casting their ballot."

The bill would also require voters to present a valid ID when casting a ballot and would mandate that voter registration applications clearly state they will not be processed until satisfactory proof of citizenship is provided.

Anti-Terrorism Bill Passes Senate Unanimously

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 502, introduced by state Sens. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Township) and Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills), has been passed unanimously in the Michigan Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.

The legislation would update the state's anti-terrorism statute by adding an intent requirement for prosecuting threats. The intent requirement clarifies that individuals can only be charged if they knowingly or recklessly make a terrorist threat, rather than based solely on how their statements are perceived.

The bill comes after the Michigan Court of Appeals raised concerns that the state's existing law lacked a clear intent standard, which limited prosecutors' ability to pursue certain cases. It also follows the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, which federal officials later described as a targeted, Hezbollah-inspired act against the Jewish community.

"With hate crimes, antisemitism, and extremist threats on the rise, we must do everything we can to keep our communities safe," Shink said following the bill's passage. "My bill would strengthen the state's ability to respond to threats of terrorism, which is more important now than ever."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also emphasized the importance of updating the current law.

"Michigan's existing anti-terrorism law has saved lives and has been instrumental in prosecuting threats against schools, law enforcement, judicial officers and elected officials on both sides of the aisle," Nessel said. "We cannot allow divided government to weaken our ability to respond to threats of terrorism, and I implore the House of Representatives to pass this bill urgently into law."

Both Bills Advance in Divided Legislature

The two bills represent different priorities in a divided legislature. The citizenship verification bill advances Republican priorities around election integrity, while the anti-terrorism update reflects Democratic concerns about protecting communities from hate crimes and extremist threats.

Both bills now face the challenge of gaining support in the other chamber. The citizenship bill moves to the House floor, while the anti-terrorism bill must clear the House before reaching the governor's desk.

The Michigan Legislature continues to balance competing priorities as it considers measures that could shape the state's approach to voting and public safety in the coming months.