This bill establishes the Michigan Voting and Elections Database and Institute by repealing an older act and creating a new entity to manage election data. The institute will be a partnership between the Secretary of State and public research universities, with the university selecting the director and funding most operations while the state covers initial setup costs. Its primary functions include collecting, archiving, and providing free public access to a wide range of nonpartisan election data, such as precinct-level results, voter registration lists, polling place locations, and district maps. The database must maintain this information for at least 12 years before public release and permanently for archival purposes, while also offering research, training, and technical assistance to local governments and scholars. Additionally, the bill mandates that the institute implement cybersecurity standards comparable to those used by the state's technology department.
HB 5581 sets a 500-square-foot minimum size requirement for new homes in Michigan, preventing local governments from imposing larger minimums through zoning ordinances. This directly affects homeowners, developers, and local municipalities that create zoning rules for residential construction. The bill amends Michigan’s zoning law by adding Section 205e, which explicitly prohibits zoning ordinances from requiring dwelling sizes greater than 500 square feet. It does not change other zoning regulations like land use types, building heights, or lot coverage. The bill is currently pending in the House Government Operations Committee.
HB 5585 modifies Michigan's zoning laws to make it easier to add secondary housing units and mobile homes. It prohibits local zoning rules from implicitly excluding mobile homes based on aesthetics or materials not tied to public safety, directly affecting mobile home residents and developers. For accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary housing units like backyard cottages - the bill automatically allows them in residential zones if they meet size limits (max 800 sq ft or 75% of the main house), maintain 5-foot setbacks, and are attached to or near an existing single-family home. ADUs under these rules no longer require public hearings or discretionary approval, and they do not count toward local density limits.
HB 5582 limits local zoning rules for multifamily housing and mobile homes in Michigan. It prohibits municipalities from requiring more than one parking space per dwelling unit (including guest spaces) in multifamily residential developments, except where required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill also prevents residential zoning from excluding mobile homes - defined under state law - through aesthetic or material restrictions not tied to public safety. These changes directly affect developers building multifamily housing and mobile home residents in communities governed by Michigan's zoning laws.
HB 5583 would limit local zoning rules in metro areas by prohibiting minimum setbacks for homes or outbuildings that exceed 15 feet from the front property line or 5 feet from rear/side lines. It allows up to 25 feet of setback only near specific environmental features: wetlands, lakes/streams, or the Great Lakes shoreline as defined by state law. The bill applies to all local governments located within or adjacent to a federally designated metropolitan statistical area. This change aims to simplify zoning for residential development in urban and suburban regions while maintaining environmental protections.
HB 5584 allows duplexes to be built in any zoning district where single-family homes are permitted, directly affecting homeowners, developers, and local governments in Michigan. The bill requires local governments to treat duplexes the same as single-family homes for permitting and prohibits them from imposing restrictions that would prevent duplex construction - such as minimum unit size requirements, excessive parking mandates, or stricter design rules. It specifically bans requirements like lot coverage limits, setbacks, or height restrictions that would make duplexes impractical, while allowing reasonable, non-discriminatory rules. This policy change aims to increase housing options by making duplex development more accessible in single-family neighborhoods.
SB 200 amends Michigan's Food Law to allow dogs to be present at outdoor seating areas of restaurants. This bill specifically updates sections 1105, 3113, and 6101 of the 2000 Food Law (MCL 289.1105 et seq.) to permit dogs in outdoor dining spaces without requiring separate indoor or outdoor seating restrictions. The change directly affects restaurants with outdoor seating and patrons who wish to bring dogs to dine outside. It does not alter indoor seating rules, food safety standards, or other existing provisions of the Food Law.
This bill proposes creating a formal apprenticeship program for massage therapists in Michigan. It directly affects massage therapy schools and training programs by establishing a structured pathway for students to learn the trade under licensed professionals. The legislation amends existing public health laws to authorize the state board to set rules for this new training system and adds a specific section to the code to govern the program. By updating the legal framework, the bill aims to standardize how massage therapists are trained and certified within the state.
This Michigan bill restricts law enforcement officers from using chemical agents, such as pepper spray, or kinetic energy projectiles like rubber bullets to disperse protests or demonstrations. Instead of allowing broad use for crowd control, the law permits these tools only when an officer is properly trained and when their use is objectively necessary to prevent a threat to life or serious bodily injury. To ensure accountability, the bill requires agencies to submit detailed reports within 60 days of any such incident, documenting the event details, the specific tools used, the number of rounds fired, any injuries sustained, and the de-escalation steps taken before resorting to force. Additionally, agencies must publish these reports on their websites and may request a 30-day extension if needed to complete the submission.
This bill creates a new Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Fund to provide disability benefits to specific first responders and public safety workers who develop PTSD from work-related traumatic events. It allows eligible individuals, such as firefighters, police officers, and 911 dispatchers with at least five years of service, to suspend claims against their employers and instead seek compensation from the fund if they meet the criteria. The legislation establishes a legal presumption that the PTSD arose from employment, which can only be overturned by clear and convincing medical evidence proving non-work-related causes or an incorrect diagnosis. Additionally, the bill sets strict timelines for processing claims, requiring hearings within 90 days and decisions within 30 days, while also defining which high-stress situations qualify as traumatic events.
HB 5945 amends Michigan's property tax law to clarify definitions of 'owner,' 'principal residence,' and 'qualified agricultural property.' The bill updates who qualifies as an owner to include various individuals and entities, such as those in trusts or cooperative housing corporations. It also refines the definition of a principal residence to account for specific situations like military deployment and partial rentals, while ensuring unoccupied land remains classified as agricultural if more than half the acreage is used for farming. Additionally, the legislation protects agricultural property from losing its classification if owners implement wildlife risk mitigation plans, provided the land is not used for commercial or industrial purposes.
This bill, known as the Temporary Laborer Rights Act, establishes new regulations for temporary labor agencies, their clients, and the workers they employ in Michigan. It requires agencies to provide workers with clear written notices detailing job duties, pay rates, and meal or equipment costs before they start work. The law also mandates that agencies keep detailed records of transactions for seven years and makes these records available to workers upon request. Additionally, the bill prohibits agencies and clients from charging workers for meals they do not eat or for transportation to and from job sites. Finally, it includes provisions to prevent retaliation against workers who exercise their rights under the new rules.
