Labor & Employment

in committee · Michigan · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 4631: Public employees and officers: compensation and benefits; certain references in the public safety officers benefit act; make gender neutral. Amends sec. 2 of 2004 PA 46 (MCL 28.632). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

HB 4631 updates Michigan's Public Safety Officers Benefit Act to remove gendered language from key definitions. It changes "husband or wife" to "spouse" in the definition of "surviving spouse" (subsection k) and replaces gendered references like "his or her" with neutral terms throughout the act. This ensures the law applies equally to all public safety officers and their spouses, regardless of gender, without altering benefit amounts or eligibility rules. The bill affects public safety officers (including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) and their families covered under the benefit act.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves gendered language from public safety benefit act, ensuring equal treatment for all spouses without altering benefit amounts, aligning with workers' rights protection.95% confidence

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passed · Michigan · Senate Jun 25, 2025

SR 64: A resolution to condemn the Trump Administration and congressional Republican’s support of the divisive “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that raises costs for Michiganders, slashes Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), adds burdensome hurdles to important tax relief measures for low-income households, drives more families into poverty by giving tax cuts to the most wealthy households, and sets back progress on a clean energy future while increasing energy costs on Americans.

This is a Senate resolution (SR 64), not a bill with policy changes. Introduced by Senator Cherry, it formally condemns the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans for supporting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (referred to sarcastically as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"). The resolution states it opposes the Act's proposed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC programs, its tax cuts for wealthy households, and its impact on clean energy initiatives, citing specific Michigan impacts like 2.6 million Medicaid recipients and 1.4 million SNAP users. As a symbolic resolution, it does not change policy but urges Congress to reject the Act and pursue alternative policies.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesResolution explicitly condemns tax cuts for wealthy households and defunding of Medicaid/SNAP/WIC programs, opposing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's budget/tax policies.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyResolution explicitly states Tax Cuts Act 'sets back progress on a clean energy future' and increases energy costs, opposing policies hindering clean energy development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentResolution explicitly condemns tax bill for 'setting back progress on a clean energy future', indicating clear support for advancing clean energy policies.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExplicitly opposes cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC programs, directly protecting healthcare funding and access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCondemns cuts to SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid, opposing policies that harm low-income workers' benefits and increase poverty, aligning with labor protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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passed · Michigan · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 34: Civil rights: sex discrimination and harassment; definition of sex; modify to include lactating status for employment situations and include pregnancy and lactating status for places of public accommodation or public service. Amends secs. 201 & 301 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2201 & 37.2301).

Senate Bill 34 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to broaden the definition of "sex." For employment situations, it clarifies that "sex" includes pregnancy, lactating status, childbirth, termination of a pregnancy, or related medical conditions. For places of public accommodation and public service, the bill specifies that "sex" includes pregnancy or lactating status. This bill aims to expand civil rights protections for individuals based on these defined statuses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands lactation protections in public accommodations, enabling access to healthcare services for nursing individuals under civil rights framework.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands anti-discrimination protections in employment for pregnancy/lactation, directly advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health Employment Discrimination

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 161: Worker's compensation: disabilities; presumption of causation of heart and respiratory diseases; extend to certain members of police, fire, and public safety departments. Amends sec. 405 of 1969 PA 317 (MCL 418.405).

SB 161 expands Michigan's worker's compensation law to presume that heart and respiratory diseases are work-related for public safety workers. It applies to firefighters, police officers, sheriff's deputies, conservation officers, and other first responders who develop these conditions during active service. The bill creates a new "Christopher R. Slezak first responder presumed coverage fund" to handle claims, shifting responsibility from employers to the fund. Workers must still meet service requirements (60+ months) and demonstrate work-related exposure, but the presumption simplifies proving workplace connection for these specific conditions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPresumes heart/respiratory diseases are work-related for first responders, creates dedicated fund for claims, and shifts liability from employers to fund, strengthening worker compensation protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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passed both · Michigan · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 4279: Military affairs: other; Michigan National Guard apprenticeship program; create. Creates new act.

HB 4279 would create a new apprenticeship program for Michigan National Guard members, allowing them to earn industry-recognized certifications while serving. The bill establishes a formal structure for training in high-demand fields like engineering and information technology, directly affecting Guard members seeking to build civilian career skills. Key provisions include requiring the Michigan National Guard to develop partnerships with employers and educational institutions to design the apprenticeships. The legislation is currently pending in committee review and has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates apprenticeship program for National Guard members to earn civilian career certifications in high-demand fields, directly enhancing employment skills and job prospects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

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in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4441: Labor: youth employment; youth employment standards act; modify penalties for certain violations. Amends secs. 3, 21 & 22 of 1978 PA 90 (MCL 409.103 et seq.).

House Bill 4441 amends Michigan's Youth Employment Standards Act. It expands the types of jobs minors can hold, allowing those 11 and older to work as bridge caddies and 13 and older to set traps for shooting events. The bill strengthens enforcement by granting the Department of Labor Director authority to impose administrative fines up to $5,000 per violation and take legal action, including requiring employers to pay awards to affected minors. Additionally, it prohibits employers from retaliating against employees or minors who exercise their rights under the act. Finally, the bill significantly increases criminal penalties for employers who violate the act, particularly in cases where a minor is killed or suffers great bodily harm while working, introducing mandatory fines and potential imprisonment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens youth employment protections by expanding enforcement powers (fines, legal action), prohibiting retaliation, and clarifying standards for minor workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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passed · Michigan · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 297: Health facilities: hospitals; mandatory overtime for nurses; prohibit except under certain circumstances. Amends sec. 20165 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.20165) & adds sec. 17233. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0296'25

Senate Bill 297 aims to protect registered professional nurses by ensuring their refusal to work beyond their predetermined schedule is not grounds for administrative action. It also establishes penalties for hospitals that violate rules related to mandatory overtime for nurses, as referenced in section 21526. Hospitals found in violation could face an administrative fine of $1,000 for each instance, along with other potential sanctions. This bill amends the Public Health Code to implement these provisions, directly affecting nurses and hospitals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects nurses' right to refuse mandatory overtime, prevents burnout, and ensures safer patient care through hospital penalties under Public Health Code amendments.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects nurses' right to refuse mandatory overtime without penalty, imposes $1,000 fines for hospital violations, directly strengthening workplace safety and hours regulations under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Public Health Labor Standards

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Dec 17, 2025

SB 472: Individual income tax: revenue distributions; earmark of withholding tax capture revenues into the more jobs for Michigan fund; provide for. Amends secs. 51f & 711 of 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.51f & 206.711).

SB 472 redirects specific income tax revenues toward job creation programs. It requires that portions of withholding tax collected from businesses with "certified new jobs" (new positions) or "protected jobs" (existing positions) be deposited into two dedicated funds: the "Good Jobs for Michigan Fund" and the "More Jobs for Michigan Fund." Businesses participating in Michigan's strategic job programs must now separately report the tax amounts tied to these certified jobs on their annual tax filings. This affects employers with agreements under Michigan's job creation initiatives, ensuring targeted tax revenue flows directly to support workforce development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects income tax revenues to dedicated job creation funds (More Jobs for Michigan Fund), explicitly funding economic development programs through tax allocation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRedirects income tax revenues to job creation funds (Good Jobs/More Jobs for Michigan), directly advancing employment initiatives through dedicated funding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Revenue Workforce Development

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in committee · Michigan · House Jul 15, 2025

HB 4725: Labor: collective bargaining; collective bargaining rights for student athletes; provide for. Amends sec. 1 of 1947 PA 336 (MCL 423.201).

HB 4725 removes an exclusion that previously prevented student athletes at public universities in Michigan from being considered "public employees" under the state's collective bargaining law. The bill directly affects student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics at public universities, granting them eligibility for collective bargaining rights under the same framework as other public employees. It amends Section 1 of the 1947 Public Employee Relations Act by deleting the specific provision (currently subsection (g)) that barred student athletes from public employee status for bargaining purposes. This change allows student athletes to negotiate terms like wages, working conditions, and benefits through recognized labor organizations, aligning them with other public employee groups covered by the law. The bill does not create new rights but removes a legal barrier to existing collective bargaining protections.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes exclusion preventing student athletes from collective bargaining as public employees, directly expanding labor rights under collective bargaining law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 439: Public utilities: public service commission; requirement for integrated resource plans to include payment to certain workers a minimum wage standard as determined under 2023 PA 10; amend to reflect repeal. Amends sec. 6t of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.6t). TIE BAR WITH: SB 438'25

SB 439 requires Michigan's Public Service Commission to establish standardized modeling scenarios for electric utilities' integrated resource plans by August 2025. These plans must include specific considerations like environmental regulations, demand response programs, electrification potential, and impacts on environmental justice communities. The bill mandates utilities to project 5-, 10-, and 15-year energy needs while accounting for regional infrastructure limits and technology costs. It directly affects regulated electric utilities in Michigan, requiring them to incorporate these standardized planning elements into their resource strategies. The bill does not address minimum wage payments, as incorrectly referenced in the title.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires utilities to include environmental regulations, electrification potential, and environmental justice impacts in resource planning, advancing clean energy considerations in infrastructure planning.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates utilities to pay certain workers minimum wage per 2023 PA 10, directly protecting wage standards under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Utility Regulation Minimum Wage

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