Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5000: Employment security: benefits; weekly benefit rate; increase. Amends sec. 27 of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.27).

HB 5000 increases Michigan's unemployment benefit payments for workers with dependents. It amends the calculation method to use 5.1% of the highest-earning quarter's wages (up from 4.1%) plus higher per-dependent amounts. For claims filed after January 1, 2025, the weekly rate rises to $12.66 per dependent (max $446); after 2026, it increases to $19.33 per dependent (max $530). This directly affects unemployed Michigan residents claiming benefits who have dependents, raising their weekly payments through 2028 and beyond.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases weekly unemployment benefits for dependent-claiming workers, raising per-dependent payments and max weekly rates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5006: Employment security: hearings; appeal process for recipient of improperly paid unemployment benefits; provide for. Amends sec. 62 of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.62).

HB 5006 amends Michigan's unemployment insurance law to clarify how the state recovers benefits paid to individuals who weren't entitled to them. It sets a 3-year limit for the unemployment agency to seek repayment (except for identity fraud cases), limits deductions from future benefits or wages to 50% per payment, and establishes three specific situations where repayment can be waived: if the overpayment resulted from incorrect wage information provided by an employer, if the recipient's household income was at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or if the overpayment was due to a clerical error by the agency. The bill also specifies that waivers apply from the date of the error or application, and requires refunds for any payments made after a waiver is granted. This directly affects individuals who received unemployment benefits they didn't qualify for, changing how the state enforces repayment and grants relief.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies unemployment repayment process with 3-year limit, 50% deduction cap, and waiver for employer errors, protecting recipients from excessive recovery efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5005: Employment security: claimants; employee who involuntarily leaves employment; strike provision regarding absences without notice. Amends sec. 29 of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.29).

HB 5005 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to clarify when workers who leave jobs without notice may still qualify for benefits. It adds a new exception (subsection (iv)) allowing domestic violence victims to claim benefits without disqualification, provided they meet requirements under Section 29a. The bill also reinforces that workers absent for 3+ consecutive days without contacting their employer are presumed to have left voluntarily - unless they qualify for one of the specified exceptions. This change directly affects workers who leave employment due to domestic violence or other qualifying circumstances, ensuring they can access benefits without penalizing their former employers financially.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds exception for domestic violence victims to qualify for unemployment benefits, expanding eligibility and protecting vulnerable workers' rights under employment security law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5007: Employment security: administration; determination of whether services performed by an individual are employment; modify. Amends sec. 42 of of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.42).

HB 5007 amends Michigan's Employment Security Act to update how "employment" is defined for unemployment benefits eligibility. It changes the standard for classifying workers as employees (requiring benefits coverage) versus independent contractors, effective January 1, 2026. Under the new rule, most workers must be classified as employees unless they meet all three strict criteria: no employer control, services outside the employer's usual business, and the worker operating as an independent business. This directly affects employers and workers in Michigan who currently classify individuals as independent contractors, particularly in gig economy and service roles. The bill maintains current rules (using the IRS 20-factor test) until 2026, with specific exceptions for certain visa holders and federally certified employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends to require employee classification for most workers, expanding unemployment benefits eligibility and strengthening worker protections under Employment Security Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5003: Employment security: other; eligibility for restitution waivers; increase income and asset thresholds. Amends sec. 62 of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.62).

HB 5003 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to make it easier for low-income recipients to avoid repaying wrongly paid benefits. It increases the income threshold for hardship waivers from 150% to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, meaning more individuals with modest household incomes qualify for relief. The bill also maintains existing waiver conditions for cases involving employer errors or agency clerical mistakes, but explicitly excludes intentional fraud. This change directly affects Michigan unemployment benefit recipients who overpaid due to administrative errors or low income, reducing their financial burden.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases income threshold for unemployment benefit waivers, expanding relief for low-income workers and reducing repayment burdens, directly advancing worker benefit protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 24, 2025

HB 5002: Employment security: administration; plain language; require the unemployment agency to use in communications and determinations. Amends sec. 2 & 32b of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.2 & 421.32b) & adds sec. 32e.

HB 5002 requires Michigan's unemployment agency to use simple, clear language in all communications with claimants and employers about benefits, taxes, and agency decisions. It mandates that explanations of denials, modifications, or benefit changes include specific facts about the case and the legal basis for the decision, all at a fourth-grade reading level. The bill also requires the agency to provide clear summaries of appeal rights and consolidate related decisions into single notifications. This directly affects individuals filing for unemployment and businesses managing unemployment tax accounts. The law aims to make the process more understandable without changing benefit eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires unemployment agency to use plain language and clear explanations for benefits decisions, advancing worker accessibility to employment security rights and reducing barriers in claim processes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Oct 28, 2025

HB 5118: Individual income tax: credit; work opportunity tax credit for qualified employees; provide for. Amends 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.1 - 206.847) by adding secs. 279 & 679. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5119'25

HB 5118 would create a Michigan income tax credit for employers hiring residents from specific federal "targeted groups" (like veterans or long-term unemployed individuals). The credit equals 50% of the federal work opportunity tax credit amount, applied to qualified wages paid to Michigan residents certified by the state unemployment agency as part of these groups. It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and cannot exceed an employer's total tax liability for that year. The bill directly affects Michigan employers (excluding tax-exempt organizations) who hire eligible employees meeting federal and state certification criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for employers hiring targeted groups (veterans, long-term unemployed), reducing tax liability and incentivizing employment. Aligns with tax relief and economic support policies.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates tax credit for employers hiring from targeted worker groups (veterans, long-term unemployed), directly promoting employment opportunities and labor market inclusion.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransVeterans explicitly listed as a targeted group for tax credit, incentivizing employer hiring to support veteran employment and workforce integration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Tax Incentives Professional Licensing Unemployment Veteran Employment

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in committee · Michigan · House Oct 28, 2025

HB 5119: Individual income tax: withholding requirements; work opportunity withholdings tax credit for certain tax exempt organizations; provide for. Amends 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.1 - 206.847) by adding sec. 714. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5118'25

HB 5119 allows tax-exempt organizations in Michigan (like nonprofits) to claim a state tax credit equal to 50% of the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) they earn for hiring employees from specific targeted groups. The credit applies to wages paid to employees certified by Michigan’s unemployment agency as members of these groups, starting in tax years beginning January 1, 2026. Employers must claim this credit on their annual tax returns, and it can only offset state income tax withholding - any excess credit isn’t refunded. The bill directly affects tax-exempt employers hiring eligible employees, aligning Michigan’s credit with federal WOTC rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for nonprofits hiring targeted groups, reducing state tax revenue but incentivizing employment through tax relief, aligning with supportive fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credit to incentivize hiring from targeted groups, directly advancing employment incentives per bill's 'Labor: employment incentives' subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Unemployment

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