HB 4777 proposes to remove "gender identity or expression" from the list of protected characteristics under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The bill would amend specific sections of the law (including Sections 102, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, and others) that currently prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other areas. If enacted, this change would directly affect individuals who currently receive legal protections against discrimination based on gender identity or expression in Michigan. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced on August 20, 2025.
HB 4775 requires Michigan food service establishments, such as restaurants and grocery store food counters, to improve food allergy awareness for customers and staff. It mandates that food safety managers complete training including a food allergen awareness component (until December 31, 2020) and that establishments display a department-approved allergy awareness poster in staff areas until that date. Starting October 1, 2025, food establishments must also include a clear disclosure statement on menus or selection information about food allergies, with specific requirements for font size, color contrast, and availability in multiple languages. These provisions aim to reduce allergic reaction risks by enhancing staff knowledge and customer communication.
HB 4659 allows Michigan state employees to name a special needs trust as a beneficiary for their retirement benefits, expanding current options that only permitted family members (like spouses or children). This change directly affects state employees with disabled family members who rely on government benefits, as naming a trust protects beneficiaries' eligibility for programs like Medicaid without disrupting retirement payments. The bill amends Section 31 of the State Employees' Retirement Act to explicitly include special needs trusts in the list of permitted beneficiaries, replacing the current restriction to family relationships. This policy change ensures retirement benefits can continue to support disabled dependents while maintaining their access to public assistance programs.
HB 4223 requires all public and nonpublic schools in Michigan to develop and implement a school safety and security training plan starting with the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that school resource officers, safety personnel, crisis response team members, and all school staff complete this training. The specific training content is defined in existing Section 1308f of the Revised School Code. This policy directly affects every school employee in Michigan's public and private schools, requiring them to undergo standardized safety training before the 2026-2027 school year.
HB 4201 amends Michigan's income tax law to exempt certain retirement benefits from state taxation. It specifically adds a deduction for retirement or pension benefits received from Michigan's public retirement systems (like state employee pensions) or federal public retirement systems. This directly affects Michigan residents who receive these types of public-sector retirement benefits by reducing their taxable income. The change modifies Section 30 of Michigan's Income Tax Act (MCL 206.30) to exclude these benefits from taxable income calculations.
HB 4751 would remove "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" from the list of protected characteristics under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. This change would eliminate legal protections against discrimination based on these factors in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education. The bill amends multiple sections of the Act (including Sections 102, 202, and 203) to delete these categories from the prohibited grounds for discrimination. If enacted, it would directly affect LGBTQ+ individuals who previously could seek legal recourse for discrimination based on these characteristics. The bill is currently in committee referral after its introduction on July 29, 2025.
HB 4764 expands eligibility for the Christopher R. Slezak first responder presumed coverage fund to include full-time, part-time, and on-call county medical examiners, deputy medical examiners, and medical examiner investigators. It presumes that certain cancers (including respiratory, skin, breast, and prostate cancers) are work-related for these medical examiners if they have 60+ months of service and were exposed to fire/rescue hazards during their duties. This shifts claims from employers to the special fund, requiring medical examiners to suspend employer claims while receiving benefits from the fund. The change takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies only to cancer diagnoses after that date. The bill does not alter existing coverage for firefighters, police, or other first responders.
Senate Bill 296 prohibits hospitals from requiring registered professional nurses to work beyond their regularly scheduled, on-call, or voluntarily agreed-upon hours. It mandates that nurses working 12 or more consecutive hours receive 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time immediately afterward. Exceptions to this prohibition include declared states of emergency, mass casualty incidents, certain patient-care procedures, and situations where an oncoming nurse is unexpectedly absent. The bill also protects nurses from retaliation if they refuse work assignments that exceed these limits and requires hospitals to post notices informing nurses of these provisions.
SB 48 allows corrections officers hired after a specific date to join the state police retirement system and purchase service credit for their prior corrections work. It amends Michigan's retirement law to create a new process (via added sections 14b and 24c) enabling these officers to buy back years of service from their corrections employment to count toward their retirement benefits. This directly affects corrections officers first hired after the date specified in the bill, providing them with more retirement credit options. The bill changes how service credit is calculated and transferred between systems, making it easier for eligible officers to consolidate their retirement contributions. It does not change retirement benefits or costs for existing members.
HB 4243 amends Michigan's Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act to include regional airport authorities as covered public employers under the law. This means employees of regional airport authorities (such as those managing airports across the state) will now be subject to the same health insurance contribution rules as other public employees, like state workers or school district staff. The bill clarifies that these authorities must contribute to health insurance costs for their employees, following the same framework as other public employers defined in the existing law. It does not create new benefits but ensures airport authorities comply with the same health insurance contribution requirements as other public entities.
