HB 4931 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Civil rights: open meetings; remote meeting participation for licensing board meetings; allow. Amends sec. 3a of 1976 PA 267 (MCL 15.263a).

HB 4931 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to allow certain public bodies to hold remote meetings via video or phone under expanded circumstances. It specifically permits licensing boards (like those for healthcare, trades, or occupational professions) to meet remotely for any reason requiring accommodation of absent members - no longer limited to emergencies - after December 31, 2021. The bill requires 2-way communication during remote meetings, clear public notice (including how to participate electronically), and prohibits remote voting on rule processing matters by licensing board members. This change directly affects licensing boards managing professional credentials, while maintaining transparency requirements for public access.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Sep 11, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → Substitute (H-1) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to update the list of agricultural commodity groups eligible for electronic meetings and adds new definitions for licensing boards. It also clarifies exemptions for tax tribunal proceedings and adjusts the effective date references for certain provisions.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility for electronic meetings by adding four new agricultural commodity groups and redefining licensing boards to include additional regulatory bodies.

ELIGIBILITY

Added four new agricultural commodity groups eligible for electronic meetings: potato industry commission, Michigan bean commission, Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act, and mobile home commission act.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'licensing board' to include bodies established under additional acts including the skilled trades regulation act, ski area safety act, and construction code acts.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date reference for the joint agency provision from 'effective date of the amendatory act' to a specific date of February 13, 2024.

EXEMPTIONS

Added an exemption stating that prerequisite circumstances for electronic meetings do not apply to electronic proceedings under specific tax tribunal acts.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a typo in the legislative reference, changing '2023 PA 214' to '2025 PA 54' in the bill header.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

substitute (H-1) adopted

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation with substitute (H-1)

lower

Sep 11, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Regulatory Reform

lower

Sep 11, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Karl Bohnak

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors