HB 4981 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Health occupations: counselors; reference to limited licensed counselor; modify to limited licensed professional counselor. Amends secs. 16281, 16905, 18101, 18105, 18106, 18111, 18114 & 18117 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16281 et seq.).

HB 4981 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to update the terminology from "limited licensed counselor" to "limited licensed professional counselor" in multiple sections governing mental health licensing and client privileges. The bill directly affects counselors holding a limited license, ensuring consistent terminology in legal references to their practice and the associated client privilege protections. This technical correction standardizes language across the code without changing existing practice requirements or scope of services for these professionals. The change aligns with current regulatory terminology used in the state's licensing framework for mental health counselors.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Sep 18, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2026

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What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill → As Passed by the House · 6 edits · Feb 18, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends Michigan's Public Health Code to strengthen protections for licensed professional counselors and limited licensed counselors by clarifying their scope of practice, defining prohibited titles, and establishing supervision requirements. The changes ensure counselors cannot hold themselves out as psychologists or social workers and must complete specific training before supervising limited licenses. These updates aim to protect the public by maintaining clear boundaries between mental health professions while preserving confidentiality privileges for counselors in child abuse investigations.

Scope change

The bill expands the definition of 'practice of counseling' to explicitly exclude psychology, medicine, and social work, while adding specific prohibited titles that counselors cannot use. It also adds new requirements for supervision training and relicensure procedures.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures' including psychotherapy, assessments, psychoeducational consulting, and behavioral modification techniques

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that licensed professional counselors must complete supervision training before supervising limited licensed professional counselors

Added prohibition on counselors holding themselves out as psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or licensed social workers

ELIGIBILITY

Modified relicensure requirements to include verification of out-of-state disciplinary status and sanctions

ENFORCEMENT

Added immunity provisions for individuals who provide medical records in child abuse investigations in good faith

SCOPE

Added explicit exception that counseling practice does not include the practice of psychology, medicine, or osteopathic medicine

Floor votes · House Feb 18, 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 24, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #41 Yeas 109 Nays 0 Excused 0 Not Voting 1

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

referred to second reading

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation without amendment

lower

Nov 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

recommendation concurred in

lower

Nov 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

reported with recommendation for referral to Committee on Rules

lower

Sep 18, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Health Policy

lower

Sep 18, 2025

Introduced

introduced by Representative Rep. Parker Fairbairn

lower

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors