SB 517 amends Michigan's school code to clarify how school districts can use bond funds. It allows districts to borrow for physical infrastructure (like buildings, playgrounds, and initial technology hardware/software purchases) but explicitly prohibits using bond proceeds for ongoing technology costs - such as software upgrades, maintenance, training, or repairs. The bill directly affects school districts by restricting their borrowing options for technology-related expenses. It also requires independent audits of bond spending and permits residents to sue if districts violate these rules.
SB 757, the "Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act," prohibits social media platforms from showing users under 18 an "addictive feed" (content recommended based on their data) without parental consent or verified knowledge the user is not a minor. It directly affects social media companies operating platforms with addictive feeds as a core feature, requiring them to obtain verifiable parental consent for minors or confirm non-minor status. Key provisions include banning notifications about addictive feeds to minors between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and during weekday school hours, restricting how age data is used, and imposing $5,000 fines per violation for noncompliance. The bill focuses on restricting algorithmic content delivery to minors, not banning social media use.
SB 758, the "Kids Code Act," establishes new rules for online platforms to protect children's safety and privacy. It prohibits major online services (with $25M+ annual revenue or 50k+ Michigan users) from using addictive design features like infinite scroll, auto-playing videos, or gamification that encourage excessive use by minors. The law requires platforms to verify a user's age when they have actual knowledge they are under 13 and restricts how they collect biometric data or use "dark patterns" that manipulate children. It directly affects large social media and app companies operating in Michigan with significant child users, while excluding platforms where over 98% of users are adults.
SB 759 amends Michigan's Consumer Protection Act to explicitly treat violations of the Kids Code Act (which protects children's online privacy) as violations of the main consumer protection law. This means companies that break rules about collecting or using children's data under the Kids Code Act would also face enforcement actions under the Consumer Protection Act. The key mechanism adds a new provision (section 3(dd)) to the Consumer Protection Act, linking Kids Code violations directly to existing consumer protection penalties. This bill primarily affects businesses operating in Michigan that handle children's personal information online, making compliance with both laws essential. The bill was introduced in December 2025 and referred to the Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection committee.
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.
SB 145 prohibits Michigan employers from asking job applicants about their past wages, credit scores, or credit history during the hiring process. This directly affects job seekers by preventing employers from using this information to make hiring or compensation decisions. The bill amends Michigan's Fair Employment Practices law to explicitly ban employers from requesting or seeking such details, replacing a prior prohibition on wage history inquiries. It aims to reduce pay discrimination by ensuring compensation decisions are based on current job requirements, not past earnings or credit data. The law would apply to all employers covered under Michigan's wage and employment protections.
SB 158 prohibits the use of automated programs (bots) to purchase event tickets online in bulk. It directly affects consumers trying to buy tickets fairly and venues or ticket sellers using such bots to manipulate sales. The bill creates a new legal prohibition against these automated ticket-buying practices, making it illegal for businesses to deploy them. This policy change aims to prevent scalping and ensure equitable access to tickets for the general public.
SB 362 updates Michigan's definition of "racketeering" in the penal code to explicitly include "a felony violation of the identity theft protection act" (2004 PA 452). This means identity theft crimes now qualify as racketeering offenses, allowing prosecutors to pursue them under more severe racketeering statutes. The change directly affects individuals convicted of identity theft, as it expands the legal framework for charging such cases. The bill revises Section 159g of the penal code to add this specific reference, without creating new penalties or altering existing laws.
SB 364 updates Michigan's criminal procedure code to clarify jurisdiction rules for prosecuting identity theft cases. It specifies that identity theft violations under the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) and related laws can be prosecuted in three locations: where the crime occurred, where stolen data was used, or where the victim lives. The bill also ensures that if multiple identity theft violations are charged, any jurisdiction can handle all charges together, preventing fragmented prosecutions. This change directly affects prosecutors and courts handling identity theft cases under the listed statutes.
SB 363 amends Michigan's criminal liability standards in Section 9 of the Revised Statutes (MCL 8.9) to clarify when a defendant must prove a specific mental state (like intent or knowledge) for a crime. The key provision updates the statute to explicitly exclude the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) from these new liability rules, ensuring existing standards for identity theft cases remain unchanged. This bill affects all criminal prosecutions under Michigan law except those specifically covered by the Identity Theft Protection Act. The change is procedural, updating statutory references without altering penalties or creating new requirements for identity theft offenses.
