This bill establishes the Commodities and Emergency Services and Supplies Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising prices unfairly during a declared state of emergency. It specifically targets sales of building materials, food, emergency supplies, medical items, and general goods, defining an illegal price hike as an increase of more than 20% compared to pre-emergency rates unless the seller can prove higher costs. The law prohibits charging or offering these items at excessively high prices and grants prosecutors the power to investigate violations by demanding documents and testimony from suspected violators.
SB 1011 creates a new state-regulated program called a small business health pool to offer health coverage to Michigan employers with fewer than 500 employees and eligible self-employed individuals. This initiative requires these businesses to join a nonprofit sponsoring association that meets specific financial and operational standards, ensuring the group is stable and has a legitimate business purpose beyond just providing insurance. The bill establishes rules for how these pools operate, allowing them to be fully insured, level-funded, or self-funded while mandating that they cover essential health benefits and cannot discriminate based on health status or claims history. Additionally, the legislation creates a state-funded reinsurance program to reimburse 60% of catastrophic claims between $75,000 and $250,000 per person to help stabilize premiums. The Department of Insurance will oversee the program by reviewing financial solvency and compliance, but it will not approve insurance rates except for fully insured products.
This bill amends Michigan's insurance code to require health insurers to provide consumers with a plain English summary of their policies and detailed information upon request. The legislation mandates that these summaries clearly explain coverage benefits, costs, exceptions, and renewal terms, while also ensuring policies are printed in a readable font size without highlighting specific text. Additionally, the bill requires insurers to disclose provider network details, professional credentials, and financial arrangements when asked, and it sets specific deadlines for delivering this information to applicants and policyholders.
SB 974 updates Michigan's insurance code to align with the state's health insurance exchange by clarifying definitions for roles such as navigators and certified application counselors. The bill establishes strict rules requiring these individuals to be state-certified before they can receive funding or assist consumers with health plan enrollment. It explicitly prohibits them from selling insurance or recommending specific plans, ensuring they provide only impartial information about available coverage options. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state director implement a certification program including background checks and privacy training to protect consumer data.
This bill directs the state insurance director to work with the Michigan health insurance exchange to officially certify qualified health and dental plans. It requires the director to create specific rules for this certification process while maintaining the authority to regulate insurance businesses and exempt these plans from certain laws. The legislation defines qualified plans using existing terms from the Michigan health insurance exchange act and includes a provision that it only takes effect if a related companion bill is also passed.
This bill directs Michigan's department of insurance to request federal permission to create a state-run reinsurance program that helps stabilize health insurance markets. If approved, the program would allow insurers to recover some costs for high-risk patients, potentially lowering premiums and expanding coverage options. The legislation requires the department to share draft plans with the public and lawmakers before submitting a final application to the federal government. Implementation of the program depends on the successful approval of a companion bill, SB 0973, which must also be enacted for this measure to take effect.
This bill establishes a new nonprofit corporation to operate Michigan's state-based health insurance exchange, which will serve as a marketplace for consumers and small businesses to purchase qualified health plans. The legislation creates a 12-member board to govern the exchange, with members appointed from the insurance industry, consumer advocates, and public officials to oversee its operations. Key provisions include setting up rules for conflict of interest, defining roles for state agencies, and enabling a system for direct enrollment assistance to help consumers navigate the marketplace.
SB 451 prohibits consumer reporting agencies in Michigan from including medical debt in credit reports, protecting residents from negative credit impacts due to unpaid medical bills. The law requires collection agencies to disclose this restriction in writing to consumers and forbids them from claiming medical debt will appear on credit reports unless the debt relates to a mortgage exceeding the federal conforming loan limit ($766,550 for 2024). It directly affects consumers who receive medical care but have unpaid bills, as their credit scores will no longer be harmed by such debt. The law also provides legal remedies, including damages and attorney fees, for violations.
SB 707 amends Michigan's licensing rules for marriage and family therapists. It updates educational requirements (e.g., specific coursework in family studies and therapy methodology), increases supervised clinical experience standards (300 direct client hours with 1:5 supervision ratio), and adds a "limited license" pathway for trainees. The bill restricts titles like "marriage counselor" or "family therapist" to only licensed professionals, preventing unlicensed individuals from using these terms. It directly affects therapists seeking or renewing licenses, training programs, and the public who rely on qualified providers for these services.
SB 760, the "Leading Ethical AI Development for Kids Act," prohibits operators of companion chatbots from making these AI systems available to minors (under 18) if they could encourage self-harm, unsafe behavior, or harmful interactions like sexual content. The bill specifically bans chatbots that simulate emotional relationships by retaining personal data, asking unsolicited emotional questions, or prioritizing user validation over safety. Operators face $25,000 fines per violation and can be sued by harmed minors or their guardians for damages. This applies to business-owned chatbots designed for ongoing emotional engagement - not customer service or internal tools - and takes effect in 2027.
