Budget & Taxes

signed · Michigan · House Jul 29, 2026

HB 4805: Children: other; rolling average amount for disbursement under the children's trust fund; increase. Amends sec. 1 of 1982 PA 249 (MCL 21.171).

HB 4805 increases the percentage of Michigan's Children's Trust Fund available for disbursement to child welfare programs. It changes the disbursement rate from 4.25% (2015-2017) to up to 5% starting in 2018 (if the fund's 12-quarter average reaches $23.5 million), and then to up to 8% beginning in fiscal year 2025. The bill uses a rolling average of the fund's value (including investment gains or losses) to determine annual disbursement amounts. This directly affects state funding for child abuse prevention and related services under the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases disbursement rates from Children's Trust Fund to child welfare programs (5% to 8%), directly expanding state funding for public services per budget allocation.95% confidence

Tags Children

in committee · Michigan · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 4191: Natural resources: hunting; deer baiting license; provide for. Amends secs. 40102 & 40111a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40102 & 324.40111a).

HB 4191 requires hunters who bait deer during hunting season to purchase a $20 deer baiting license in addition to a valid hunting license. This applies specifically to those engaging in "deer or elk baiting" (depositing feed to attract deer for hunting), excluding agricultural practices, normal logging, or feeding wildlife that excludes deer. Revenue from the license must fund research and surveillance of chronic wasting disease and other wildlife diseases in deer and elk. The bill amends Michigan’s Natural Resources Act to establish this licensing requirement and funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $20 tax specifically to fund chronic wasting disease research, directly allocating new revenue to a state wildlife program.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds chronic wasting disease research and surveillance to protect deer populations, directly supporting natural resource conservation and wildlife management objectives.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Wildlife

Track

signed · Michigan · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 581: Economic development: downtown development authorities; definition of downtown district; modify. Amends sec. 201 of 2018 PA 57 (MCL 125.4201). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5455'26

SB 581 updates definitions in Michigan's downtown development law to clarify how tax increment financing (TIF) programs operate. It specifically revises the definition of "downtown district" to allow multiple geographic areas within a business district under certain conditions (like inter-municipal agreements), defines "captured assessed value" for TIF calculations, and limits "catalyst development projects" to one per authority (requiring $300 million+ investment in cities over 600,000 population). These changes directly affect municipalities operating downtown development authorities that use TIF to fund redevelopment. The bill focuses on precise terminology to ensure consistent application of existing TIF rules, without creating new funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies TIF program definitions and operations, strengthening fiscal management for downtown development through structured tax increment financing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

in committee · Michigan · House Nov 4, 2025

HB 5186: Worker's compensation: benefits; eligibility to receive benefits and amount of benefits paid to an injured worker; modify. Amends secs. 301, 311, 313, 351, 354, 355, 356, 358, 361, 371, 401 & 891 of 1969 PA 317 (MCL 418.301 et seq.) & repeals secs. 302, 357 & 431 of 1969 PA 317 (MCL 418.302 et seq.).

HB 5186 amends Michigan's Worker's Disability Compensation Act to increase weekly wage replacement benefits for totally disabled workers from 80% to 90% of their after-tax average weekly wage, subject to the maximum rate in Section 355. It clarifies that mental disabilities are compensable if work significantly contributes to or aggravates them, and defines "wage earning capacity" to include jobs within an injured worker's transferable skills. The bill shifts the burden to employers to refute an employee's initial disability claim after the employee demonstrates eligibility through evidence of job qualifications and work limitations. This directly affects injured workers seeking compensation and Michigan employers who pay these benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state spending on worker's compensation benefits by raising weekly wage replacement from 80% to 90% of after-tax wages, directly impacting budget allocation for public programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases weekly benefits from 80% to 90% for disabled workers, clarifies mental disability coverage, shifts burden to employers to refute claims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

Track

signed · Michigan · Senate Dec 23, 2025

SB 689: Land use: farmland and open space; relinquishment of farmland from development rights agreements; expand legal arrangements triggering. Amends sec. 36111 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.36111). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0688'25, SB 0690'25, SB 0686'25, SB 0687'25, SB 0685'25

SB 689 amends Michigan's farmland preservation law to expand when landowners can give up (relinquish) farmland from development rights agreements. It adds two new scenarios: 1) land with pre-existing structures (up to 5 acres), and 2) land for a farm operator's residence (up to 2 acres), both requiring approval from local government and the state land use agency. If relinquishment occurs, landowners must repay tax credits received under the agreement, plus interest, via a lien recorded against the property. This directly affects farmers with existing farmland preservation agreements who wish to develop or use portions of their land for specific purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires repayment of tax credits upon relinquishment, ensuring fiscal accountability for preserved farmland incentives and preventing potential revenue loss.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill expands options to relinquish farmland preservation, reducing protected open space and weakening conservation by allowing more land to be developed under specific conditions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

in committee · Michigan · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 4173: Appropriations: supplemental; funding to test facilities and backyard flocks for bird flu (H5N1); provide for. Creates appropriation act.

HB 4173 is a supplemental funding bill that allocates state money specifically for testing commercial poultry facilities and backyard flocks in Michigan for H5N1 bird flu. It directly affects poultry farmers, commercial hatcheries, and state agricultural testing labs by providing resources to conduct these tests. The key mechanism is creating a new appropriation (funding line) within the state budget for this purpose, separate from regular funding. This bill focuses solely on enabling testing capacity, not on disease prevention or other policy changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new supplemental appropriation for bird flu testing, directly increasing state budget allocation for public health testing under appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

Track

in committee · Michigan · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 4377: Higher education: financial aid; Michigan reconnect grant recipient act; modify. Amends secs. 11, 15 & 21 of 2020 PA 68 (MCL 390.1711 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4378'25

House Bill 4377 proposes changes to the Michigan Reconnect Grant and the Reconnect Short-Term Training Program. It would allow the minimum age requirement for both programs to be reduced from 25 to 21 years old, specifically for individuals seeking associate degrees, industry-recognized certificates, or qualified occupational training. This age reduction is contingent on the appropriation of sufficient funds and would not apply after September 30, 2032. The bill is tie-barred with HB 4378, meaning both must be enacted for these changes to take effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires sufficient appropriations to expand financial aid eligibility, indicating support for funding essential education programs through budget allocation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

Track

in committee · Michigan · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 4701: Vehicles: fund-raising registration plates; fund-raising plates for prostate cancer awareness; create. Amends 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.1 - 257.923) by adding sec. 811kk.

HB 4701 creates specialty license plates for prostate cancer awareness in Michigan. Vehicle owners who purchase these plates will contribute to a dedicated "prostate cancer awareness fund" managed by the state treasurer. The fund receives all plate sale donations, earns interest, and must remain intact annually - no money lapses to the general fund. Quarterly payments from this fund are directed to the P.C.U.P.S. Foundation, which focuses on prostate cancer awareness and support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund from voluntary plate sales for prostate cancer awareness, directing specific funds to a health foundation without general fund diversion, advancing fiscal management of targeted health funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

in committee · Michigan · House Aug 27, 2025

HB 4804: Vehicles: registration; fee increase on vehicle using 4 or more tires; modify. Amends sec. 801 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.801).

HB 4804 would increase the annual registration fee for vehicles with four or more tires (including most passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs) in Michigan. It directly affects vehicle owners who register these vehicles under the current fee structure. The bill amends Section 801 of the Michigan Vehicle Code to implement this fee increase, modifying the existing registration fee schedule. This change would generate additional revenue for the state's transportation fund through higher registration costs for affected vehicles.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases vehicle registration fee to fund transportation, directly generating state revenue per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases vehicle registration fees to generate revenue for state transportation fund, directly funding infrastructure per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Vehicle Registration

Track

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4459: Environmental protection: other; general obligation bond issuance; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4460'25

HB 4459 proposes to authorize the state of Michigan to borrow up to $2 billion by issuing general obligation bonds. These funds would finance environmental and natural resources protection programs across the state. The programs include cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated sites, protecting and improving water quality, preventing pollution, abating lead contamination, and revitalizing community waterfronts and waterways. The issuance of these bonds requires approval by a vote of the state's electors at the next general election, with repayment coming from the state's general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $2B in general obligation bonds to fund environmental programs, increasing state budget allocation for fiscal management of public resources.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes $2B in bonds for environmental programs including pollution prevention, water quality improvement, site cleanup, and lead abatement, directly advancing protection efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Water Quality

Track