SB 34 Michigan Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Civil rights: sex discrimination and harassment; definition of sex; modify to include lactating status for employment situations and include pregnancy and lactating status for places of public accommodation or public service. Amends secs. 201 & 301 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2201 & 37.2301).

Senate Bill 34 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to broaden the definition of "sex." For employment situations, it clarifies that "sex" includes pregnancy, lactating status, childbirth, termination of a pregnancy, or related medical conditions. For places of public accommodation and public service, the bill specifies that "sex" includes pregnancy or lactating status. This bill aims to expand civil rights protections for individuals based on these defined statuses.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Senate Introduced Bill As Passed by the Senate · 3 edits · Apr 17, 2025
MINOR
This bill amends the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to expand the definition of 'Employer' to include agents of employers and adds a new definition for 'Employment agency.' It also updates the definition of 'Labor organization' to explicitly include agents of such organizations. These changes broaden the scope of who is covered under the law's protections and obligations.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of covered entities by explicitly including 'agents' of employers and labor organizations within the definitions of 'Employer' and 'Labor organization,' respectively.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Employment agency' to clarify that persons procuring employees for employers are covered entities.

Modified the definition of 'Employer' to explicitly include 'an agent of that person,' expanding liability and obligations to cover representatives of employers.

Modified the definition of 'Labor organization' to explicitly include 'An agent of a labor organization,' ensuring agents are covered under the article's provisions.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 17, 2025

How they voted

2215
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 38
Apr 17, 2025
D Democratic19
19 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
3 Yea 15 Nay 1
78% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
referred to Committee on Health Policy
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
received on 04/17/2025
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED ROLL CALL # 56 YEAS 22 NAYS 14 EXCUSED 1 NOT VOTING 0
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT(S)
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
REPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 3/18/2025
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR STEPHANIE CHANG
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors