HB 4361 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Public utilities: other; guidelines for trimming trees and branches around power lines; modify. Amends sec. 10p of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.10p).

HB 4361 requires Michigan electric utilities to establish worker transition programs for employees during restructuring events, such as ownership transfers of divisions or facilities. It mandates that new owners must first hire existing non-supervisory workers and maintain their wages and benefits for at least 30 months, with dispute resolution mechanisms for workplace concerns. The bill also directs the Public Service Commission to set service quality and reliability standards for utilities, including outage response and maintenance, and to review annual reports from utilities on compliance. These changes directly affect electric utility workers, employers, and the Public Service Commission.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Apr 22, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute (H-1) → Substitute (H-1) - 2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The document was updated from a list of bills in the Rules Committee to the full text of Substitute H-1 for HB 4361. The bill amends the Public Utilities Act to require electric utilities to establish worker transition programs with skills training and job placement assistance when restructuring or selling assets, ensuring employees are offered comparable employment at similar wages for at least 30 months.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on electric utilities in Michigan, but the specific requirements for employee protection during ownership transfers or restructuring have been detailed and expanded.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates that electric utilities create industry worker transition programs including skills upgrades, apprenticeships, and job banks when restructuring or selling assets.

Requires acquiring entities to hire a sufficient number of existing employees to operate transferred facilities and prohibits hiring outside workers until current employees are offered jobs.

Establishes a 30-month protection period where acquired employees must be offered employment at no less than their previous wage rates and fringe benefits.

Requires a dispute resolution mechanism culminating in a binding decision by a neutral third party for employee complaints regarding wages and working conditions.

Directs the Public Service Commission to adopt service quality and reliability standards for electric utilities and requires annual reporting on performance.

Floor votes · House Jan 28, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #24 Yeas 98 Nays 5 Excused 0 Not Voting 7

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

substitute (H-1) adopted

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation with substitute (H-1)

lower

Dec 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

recommendation concurred in

lower

Dec 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation for referral to Committee on Rules with substitute (H-1)

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Committee

re-referred to Committee on Energy

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

motion to discharge committee approved

lower

Jul 24, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Government Operations

lower

Jul 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

motion to discharge committee approved

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Energy

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Phil Green

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors