Michigan Legislative History: Floor Debates & Bill Analyses

Use the House and Senate Journals to locate the date(s) a certain bill was debated.

Videotapes of floor debates from 1996 forward may be available for a fee from MGTV (currently transitioning to an online platform).

House of Representatives

• The State Archives used to have recordings of House sessions 1970-1980.  It is unclear of their current status.
• The Clerk of the House has recordings of House sessions 1981-present.

Senate

• The Secretary of the Senate has tape recordings of Senate sessions from 1970-present. (Available with the approval of Majority leader)

Bill analyses are analyses of pending legislation. The statement includes:

• The problem being addressed;
• Arguments for and against the bill; and
• Other background information.

Bill analyses are written by the following state agencies:

• The House Legislative Analysis Section - (517) 373-6466
• The House Fiscal Agency - (517) 373-8080
• The Senate Fiscal Agency - (517) 373-2768
• Legislative caucus staffs

Bill analyses from 1997 to the present can be found on the Michigan Legislature website.

The Library of Michigan has a bill analyses collection beginning around 1968.

The UM Law Library has bill analyses from 1973-1985 bound with the bill being analyzed.

From 1985 to 1996, they are bound separately by House and Senate.

Limited to 1996-Present

MI Legislature Website

Legislative material including:

• MI Constitution
• MI Compiled Laws
• House Journal
• Senate Journal
• Bills
• Public Acts
• Resolutions
• Legislative Analysis
• Committee Records
• Fiscal Analysis

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