Labor & Employment

in committee · Michigan · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 5568: Financial institutions: generally; 1966 PA 326; amend to exempt earned wage access services. Amends sec. 1 of 1966 PA 326 (MCL 438.31). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5558'26

HB 5568 amends Michigan's 1966 interest rate law (MCL 438.31) to explicitly exempt "earned wage access services" from the 7% annual interest cap. This means providers of early paycheck access services (like apps or employer programs that let workers withdraw earned wages before payday) can charge rates outside the standard limit. The bill directly affects workers who use these services and the companies offering them. It clarifies an existing exemption under the law without changing the 7% cap for other loans.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExempts earned wage access services from 7% interest cap, allowing higher fees for workers accessing earned wages, weakening financial protections.90% confidence

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in committee · Michigan · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 5563: Consumer credit: collection practices; regulation of collection practices; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services. Amends sec. 1 of 1981 PA 70 (MCL 445.251). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5558'26

HB 5563 amends Michigan's consumer credit law to exempt licensed earned wage access services from being classified as "regulated persons" under debt collection rules. This means businesses offering early wage access (allowing workers to receive part of their earned wages before payday) are not subject to standard debt collection regulations for their core wage access operations. The exemption specifically applies to activities conducted under the earned wage access services act, separating these services from traditional debt collection oversight. The bill requires another related bill (HB 5558) to become law before it takes effect.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts earned wage access services from debt collection rules, enabling workers to access earned wages earlier without regulatory barriers.95% confidence

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in committee · Michigan · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 5554: Education: other; protections against harassment by an educational institution; provide for. Amends secs. 103, 401, 402, 801 & 802 of 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2103 et seq.) & adds secs. 402b, 402c & 402d.

HB 5554 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against harassment in educational institutions. It directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and their students and staff by expanding the definition of harassment to explicitly include electronic communications (like texts or social media) and adding specific protections for students based on gender identity/expression and sexual orientation. Key mechanisms require educational institutions to prevent harassment that creates intimidating, hostile, or offensive environments, and clarify that discrimination includes harassment based on these protected characteristics. The bill updates existing provisions (Sec. 401-402) and adds new sections (402b-d) to ensure consistent enforcement of these protections.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationStrengthens harassment protections in schools to include digital communications and gender identity/sexual orientation, enhancing student safety and access in educational settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands anti-harassment protections for educational staff (workers) by including electronic communications and adding gender identity/sexual orientation safeguards, directly advancing workplace safety and workers' rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Employment Discrimination

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in committee · Michigan · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5509: Labor: fair employment practices; agreements that prohibit employees from disclosing certain information about violations of the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act; prohibit employers from entering into unless certain conditions are met. Amends 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2101 - 37.2804) by adding sec. 202b.

HB 5509 prohibits employers in Michigan from requiring employees to sign agreements that block disclosure of violations (or suspected violations) of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. It specifically bans such agreements unless employers provide written notice of the prohibition, give employees at least 5 business days to consult an attorney, and ensure the agreement explicitly releases the employee’s civil rights claim. The bill amends the Elliott-Larsen Act (MCL 37.2101-37.2804) by adding Section 202b, making non-compliant agreements void. This directly affects Michigan employees covered by the Elliott-Larsen Act, ensuring they can report workplace discrimination without being silenced by restrictive contracts.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employers from forcing non-disclosure agreements on civil rights violations, strengthening employee rights to report discrimination under Elliott-Larsen Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · Michigan · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5508: Civil rights: sex discrimination and harassment; confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements; prohibit. Amends 1976 PA 453 (MCL 37.2101 - 37.2804) by adding sec. 706.

HB 5508 prohibits settlement agreements in sex discrimination, harassment, or assault claims against employers from blocking disclosure of factual details about the claim. It applies to complaints filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or civil lawsuits under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The bill allows settlements to keep the claimant's identity confidential and hide settlement amounts, but not the facts of the alleged discrimination. Violating this rule makes the confidentiality clause void under Michigan law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents confidentiality clauses from hiding harassment facts in settlements, strengthening worker protection against discrimination under Elliott-Larsen Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · Michigan · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 5460: State management: purchasing; state procurement of electric motor vehicles made with forced labor; prohibit. Amends secs. 213 & 215 of 1984 PA 431 (MCL 18.1213 & 18.1215).

HB 5460 prohibits Michigan state agencies from purchasing electric motor vehicles or components unless manufacturers provide a sworn declaration confirming no forced labor or oppressive child labor was used in their production, mining, or sourcing. This applies directly to all state agencies acquiring such vehicles, requiring verification of supply chain labor practices before contracts are signed. The bill defines "forced labor" broadly to include coercion, threats, abuse of legal processes, and child labor exploitation. It amends existing procurement laws to enforce this requirement, with no exceptions for state agencies under the transportation department's jurisdiction.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits state procurement of EVs unless suppliers verify no forced labor, directly protecting workers from exploitation in supply chains per bill's forced labor definition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 11, 2025

HR 226: A resolution to urge the United States Department of Education to reject the recommended definition of “professional degree” and instead adopt a more accurate and consistent definition.

This resolution urges the U.S. Department of Education to reject a proposed definition of "professional degree" that would exclude many health care education programs from federal student loan eligibility. It specifically targets programs like physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, social work, and physician assistant studies - classified under CIP Code 51 - which would lose access to loans under the current proposal. The bill requests the Department instead adopt a definition based on required practice credentials, not program length or historical classification, to maintain consistent eligibility. This change aims to prevent worsening health care workforce shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents defunding of health care education programs by preserving federal student loan eligibility for nursing, physical therapy, and similar fields under CIP Code 51.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents defunding of healthcare education programs (nursing, PT, etc.) by ensuring federal student loan eligibility, directly supporting healthcare workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPreserves federal student loan access for healthcare education programs (nursing, physical therapy), enabling workforce development in critical labor sectors affected by proposed definition changes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 18, 2025

HB 5392: Employment security: administration; recovery of improperly paid benefits; allow claimant to provide evidence of waiver eligibility. Amends sec. 62 of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.62).

HB 5392 updates Michigan's unemployment benefits recovery process by expanding eligibility for claimants to request waivers of repayment for improperly paid benefits. It allows claimants 60 days after receiving an overpayment notice to submit evidence showing repayment would be "contrary to equity and good conscience," such as administrative errors by the agency, employer-provided incorrect wage data, or household income below 150% of the federal poverty level. The bill clarifies that waivers apply retroactively from the date of the error or application, and requires refunds for payments made after the waiver request. This directly affects individuals who received unemployment benefits they later had to repay due to agency or employer errors.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands waiver eligibility for unemployment overpayments due to agency errors or low income, protecting workers from unfair repayment demands.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Unemployment

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 9, 2025

HB 5335: Retirement: other; MI secure retirement program board; establish. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5336'25

HB 5335 creates the Secure Retirement Savings Board within Michigan's Department of Treasury to administer the state's Secure Retirement Program. The board, consisting of 7 members including the state treasurer (as chair), two public retirement experts, an employer representative, and an enrollee representative appointed by the governor, will oversee program operations. It establishes membership terms, appointment procedures, and requires senate confirmation for governor's appointments. This bill directly affects Michigan residents participating in the state's retirement savings program by defining the governing body responsible for its management.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates Michigan's Secure Retirement Program to provide structured retirement savings benefits for workers, expanding employment-related financial security under Labor & Employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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in committee · Michigan · House Dec 23, 2025

HB 5421: Employment security: benefits; disqualification from receiving benefits when leaving employment; create exception for victim of stalking. Amends secs. 29 & 29a of 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1 (MCL 421.29 & 421.29a).

HB 5421 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to create a new exception allowing victims of stalking to qualify for benefits if they leave employment due to stalking. Currently, an exception exists for domestic violence victims under Section 29(a)(iv), but this bill replaces "domestic violence" with "stalking" in that provision. The change means individuals who leave jobs to escape stalking would no longer be disqualified from benefits, directly affecting stalking victims who might otherwise lose unemployment eligibility. This policy update modifies the disqualification rule without altering other existing provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends unemployment law to include stalking victims in benefit eligibility, protecting victims' rights under criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits eligibility for stalking victims, protecting workers fleeing workplace safety threats under employment security law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Unemployment

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