Senate Bill 984 requires state agencies in Michigan to use software that accurately reproduces a person's name on official documents. Specifically, the law mandates that such software must correctly display hyphens, bicapitalization, and apostrophes within names. This provision directly affects government employees who create communications or records containing individual names. The bill aims to prevent errors in how names appear on state-issued paperwork by setting a technical standard for the software used.
This bill allows Michigan cities, villages, and townships to vote on whether to impose a 3% excise tax on short-term rentals of accommodations to guests staying fewer than 30 days. If approved by local voters, the tax would be collected by either the property owner or online booking platforms and administered by the state Department of Treasury. The law requires local governments to publicly report how much tax revenue they collect and how they spend it, while also establishing a process for the state to withhold funds if a locality fails to submit these reports.
This bill allows certain Michigan nonprofit organizations to claim a tax credit against state income tax withholdings for wages paid to qualified employees. The credit applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026, and is limited to 50% of the amount the employer would have received under a federal work opportunity credit. To qualify, employees must be Michigan residents certified by the state unemployment agency as members of a targeted group, and the credit cannot be refunded if it exceeds the employer's withholding tax liability. The legislation also requires that any unused federal credits from previous years be excluded from the calculation. The bill will only take effect if a companion bill, SB 995, is also passed into law.
This bill prohibits gas stations in Michigan from using dynamic pricing systems that automatically adjust fuel prices based on factors like time of day, weather, or customer data. It directly affects roadside retail locations selling motor fuel by banning algorithms that change prices outside of normal business hours or based on individual consumer characteristics. The legislation also requires businesses to keep records of any price changes for at least 12 months and defines specific rules for how fuel prices must be advertised. Violations of the dynamic pricing ban would be treated as offenses under the state's consumer protection laws. The bill will only take effect if a companion bill, SB 993, is also passed into law.
This bill establishes the "Regulating Access to Social Media Companies by Minors Act" to restrict how minors can use social media platforms in Michigan. It prohibits companies from allowing individuals under 16 to access or create accounts on these platforms and requires written parental consent for users aged 16 to 17. The law defines social media platforms as websites or apps where users generate their own content to communicate with others, while excluding services like email or those with preselected content. Enforcement is handled by the state attorney general, who can impose a daily civil fine of $25,000 for each day a company fails to comply with these age restrictions.
This bill expands the Michigan Education Savings Program to allow withdrawals from education savings accounts for qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses, such as those for professional certifications or licenses. The change directly affects account owners and designated beneficiaries who wish to use their savings for these specific costs in addition to traditional tuition and fees. By updating the state's definition of qualified higher education expenses to align with federal rules, the legislation enables families to access their savings for a broader range of career training without incurring penalties. The bill amends existing state law to incorporate these new expense categories into the program's guidelines.
HB 5480, known as the "Natalia Moore Law," allows parents to transfer children to another school district if the child experiences bullying at their current school. To qualify, parents must provide documented bullying incidents, proof of reporting to school staff, and evidence that prior interventions failed. The receiving district must accept the transfer and share academic records within 7 days, while the child’s original district cannot charge tuition for such transfers under the amended school code. This law directly affects students experiencing bullying and their families seeking safer school environments.
SB 538 designates the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) as Michigan's official game bird. This ceremonial bill creates no new regulations or funding, solely changing a symbolic state designation. It directly affects Michigan residents by formally recognizing the eastern wild turkey as a state symbol, replacing no existing designation. The bill requires no implementation mechanisms and takes effect 90 days after enactment.
This bill allows journalists and independent news reporters to submit reports directly to the Michigan Auditor General regarding suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or misuse of state funds. It establishes a process where the Auditor General reviews these reports within six months, deciding whether to investigate, disregard them, or refer them to the Attorney General or other relevant agencies for action. If the investigation leads to the recovery of state money, the reporter who provided the information is eligible to receive a reward of at least 15% of the recovered funds, though this amount can be adjusted based on the source of the information and the reporter's role in the misconduct. The legislation also defines specific terms like fraud and waste to clarify what types of financial misconduct are covered under the new reporting system.
HB 5981 requires automobile insurers in Michigan to file premium rates that achieve specific percentage reductions for personal protection insurance coverage by July 1, 2020, and maintain those reductions through 2028. The bill mandates that the state insurance director review and disapprove any filings that fail to meet these reduction targets, which vary based on the policy's coverage limits. Additionally, insurers must pass on savings from medical treatment costs incurred in accidents before July 2, 2021, and cannot issue or renew policies without director approval of their rates.
This bill requires the Michigan Public Service Commission to review special contracts for large data centers as formal legal disputes rather than simple administrative approvals. It directly affects electric and gas utilities that sign agreements offering unique rates or terms to data centers expected to use 100 megawatts or more of power. Under the new rules, these contracts cannot take effect until a full hearing is completed and the commission issues a final decision, ensuring the process is transparent and not decided behind closed doors. The legislation clarifies how to count power usage across connected facilities and defines specific terms like "large-load data center" to apply these requirements consistently.
This bill updates Michigan's no-fault insurance laws to set new maximum payment limits for medical treatment and rehabilitation services provided to injured individuals. It establishes specific reimbursement percentages based on Medicare rates, which vary by year and the type of provider, such as general physicians, hospitals with high indigent patient volumes, specialized trauma centers, and designated freestanding rehabilitation facilities. The legislation also includes provisions for providers lacking Medicare payment benchmarks by capping their charges at a percentage of their historical rates from 2019. These changes directly affect healthcare providers treating personal protection insurance claims and the insurers that reimburse them.
