Michigan Senate Bill 1137 comprehensively revises state civil procedure laws to expand protections for individuals with consumer debts by increasing the value of property exempt from seizure, such as raising the homestead exemption to $125,000 and the household goods exemption to $5,000. The bill establishes a new cap on wage garnishment, limiting creditors to seizing only 15% of an individual's weekly earnings or the amount exceeding 35 times the minimum wage, whichever is less. It also introduces specific procedural safeguards, including requirements for financial institutions to identify and protect exempt funds in deposit accounts and mandates that courts provide debtors with clear notices about their rights before property can be seized. Additionally, the legislation creates a mechanism for periodic inflation adjustments to these exemption amounts and restricts the state from intercepting tax refunds to satisfy consumer debts when the refund includes specific earned income tax credits.
Michigan House Bill 6230 comprehensively revises the state's civil procedure laws regarding debt collection, garnishment, and property exemptions to better protect individual consumers. The bill significantly increases the dollar amounts of protected assets, such as raising the household goods exemption from $1,000 to $5,000 and the homestead exemption to $125,000, while also establishing a new earnings protection that limits wage garnishment to the lesser of 15% of weekly income or the amount exceeding 35 times the minimum wage. It introduces specific protections for financial accounts by requiring banks to identify and shield funds originating from exempt sources like public assistance or tax credits over a 90-day period, and it mandates that courts provide debtors with clear notices about their rights to claim exemptions before any property seizure occurs. Additionally, the legislation creates a mechanism for periodic inflation adjustments to these exemption limits and restricts the state treasurer from intercepting specific earned income tax credits when collecting consumer debts.
Michigan employers licensed to sell alcohol, such as bars and restaurants, can claim a $250 tax credit for each employee who completes required training on preventing positional asphyxiation. This training is specifically designed for staff members, including bouncers, whose job duties involve the potential restraint of other individuals. The bill mandates that employers cover the costs of this instruction to qualify for the credit against their state income tax withholdings. These provisions are set to take effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, provided two related bills from the current legislative session are also enacted into law.
HB 6233 allows specific state law enforcement officers, including corrections staff, conservation officers, and certain state police personnel, to voluntarily transfer from the general state employees' retirement system to the Michigan State Police Retirement System. Eligible employees must submit a written election between August 4, 2027, and October 17, 2027, which becomes effective on January 3, 2028, and is irrevocable once filed. The bill permits these individuals to transfer their personal contributions and vested employer contributions from the general system to purchase service credit in the state police system. This legislation only takes effect if two related bills, HB 6234 and HB 6235, are also enacted into law.
Senate Bill 1134 allows specific state law enforcement employees, including corrections officers, conservation officers, and certain state police personnel, to voluntarily transfer from the general state employee retirement system to the Michigan State Police Retirement System. Eligible employees must submit a written election between August 2 and October 15, 2027, to become effective members of the new system on January 1, 2028. The bill permits these individuals to transfer their personal contributions and vested employer contributions to purchase service credit in the police retirement plan. This legislation is tied to two other bills and will not take effect unless all three are enacted into law.
Michigan House Bill 6311 amends the state's unemployment insurance laws to establish specific deadlines and content requirements for notifying claimants and employers about benefit determinations. The bill mandates that the unemployment agency must notify affected parties within 14 days of a decision, providing details on the reasons for the ruling, the facts relied upon, and instructions for filing an appeal. It also allows for electronic delivery of these notices if the claimant has consented or used the agency's online portal, while requiring mailed copies if electronic delivery fails. Additionally, the legislation requires the agency to send written notifications regarding claimant rights and responsibilities within two weeks and six months after initial benefit payments are issued.
HB 6234 allows certain law enforcement officers who were first hired after a specific date to purchase service credit for time previously worked under the state employees' retirement system. This provision applies to members covered by sections 4(1)(b), (d), and (f) of the State Police Retirement Act, enabling them to count their prior civilian service toward their law enforcement retirement benefits. To qualify, officers must pay an amount equal to the actuarial value of that service, with payments made through tax-deferred or additional payment methods established by the retirement system. The bill sets a deadline of October 17, 2027, for initiating these purchases and requires completion within four years, while also stipulating that this act overrides any conflicting provisions in collective bargaining agreements.
HB 6235 expands the definition of who can join Michigan's state police retirement system to include certain law enforcement officers hired after June 7, 2027, as well as those who previously left the state employees' retirement system. The bill allows these new members to purchase credit for prior service under the state employees' retirement system and treats them as if they first became members after June 9, 2012. This change ensures that officers in eligible positions, such as conservation officers and state police motor carrier officers, have access to specific retirement benefits and tier structures similar to those available to earlier hires.
House Resolution 342 urges the U.S. House of Representatives to reject Amendment 041 to the BUILD America 250 Act, a provision that would shield rideshare and delivery companies from vicarious liability for injuries or damages caused by their drivers. The resolution argues that this amendment would prevent victims from holding platforms accountable under state law unless the company is found to be grossly negligent or criminally wrongdoers, citing concerns about sexual assault cases on these apps. By blocking this federal preemption, the bill aims to preserve states' authority to regulate liability and ensure companies can be held responsible for harms arising from their operations.
Michigan House Bill 6237 amends the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act to modify how public employers pay for employee medical benefits. The bill retains existing options that cap employer contributions at specific dollar amounts or limit them to 80% of total plan costs, with annual adjustments based on healthcare inflation. Starting in 2027, the legislation introduces new requirements mandating that public employers pay a minimum amount toward these plans, effectively establishing a floor for employer contributions rather than just a ceiling. These changes apply to state and local government employees and elected officials, while existing collective bargaining agreements are generally exempt until they expire or are renegotiated.
