Housing and Human Services

Michigan Senate Bill 1124 allows homeless or runaway youths who are at least 14 years old to consent to and receive medically necessary health care without requiring parental permission. The bill defines specific criteria for these youths, including those seeking shelter in basic centers or transitional living programs, and lists acceptable documentation such as statements from school liaisons, attorneys, or two adults familiar with the individual's circumstances. Additionally, it grants young parents aged 14 and older the right to consent to medical treatment for their own children. Health care providers are protected from civil or criminal liability when treating these youths without parental consent, though they remain liable for any negligence in diagnosis or treatment.

HB 5571 allows single interior exit stairways in multi-family apartment buildings with 4-6 levels (or 3-5 levels with an occupiable roof), directly affecting developers and builders of such structures. The bill requires buildings to have no more than 4 units per level, limit floor area to 4,000 sq ft per level, and ensure exit access travel is ≤125 feet from any point. Key safety provisions include mandatory smoke detectors in common areas (like hallways and laundry rooms), manual fire alarms, automatic smoke detection systems, and sprinklers meeting NFPA standards. It also mandates that the building’s fire department must be accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and hold a Class 1-2 public protection rating. The bill is contingent on HB 5570 passing into law.

HB 4746 requires Michigan's food assistance program to issue chip-enabled bridge cards instead of magnetic stripe cards to recipients. This directly affects individuals receiving food assistance benefits through the state's bridge card system. The key provision amends existing law to mandate the use of more secure chip technology for all new and replacement cards. This policy change replaces outdated magnetic stripe card technology with enhanced security features for the food assistance program. The bill passed the Michigan House with strong support on September 3, 2025.

Michigan Senate Bill 1125 prohibits private equity firms from leasing single-family homes to residential tenants if they own five or more such properties within a single municipality or ten or more across the state. The bill defines a private equity firm as a corporation that pools capital from investors and manages real estate assets for profit, while broadly defining single-family homes to include detached houses, semidetached buildings, and units in multi-unit structures like duplexes or condominiums. Violations of this leasing restriction are subject to civil fines of up to $100,000, which can be pursued by county prosecutors or the state attorney general. Any collected fines must be deposited into a community housing stability fund, and the bill only takes effect if its companion measure, Senate Bill 1127, is also enacted into law.

HB 4750 requires Michigan's foster care department to use or save existing benefits (such as Medicaid or education funds) for children in foster care when it serves their best interests, directly affecting all children in the state's foster care system. The bill amends Michigan's foster care law to mandate this approach, ensuring benefits are prioritized for the child's well-being rather than other uses. Key provisions include adding a new section (8f) to the existing law, directing the department to make decisions based on each child's specific needs. This policy change clarifies how resources must be managed without specifying new funding or programs.