This bill requires electric and natural gas utilities in Michigan to use competitive bidding for contracts involving construction, operations, maintenance, or capital improvements. If a utility fails to follow this competitive process, the state commission cannot allow the company to recover the costs associated with that contract. The law also grants ratepayers and bidders the right to sue for damages or injunctive relief if the competitive bidding rules are not followed, with potential penalties of at least $1,000 plus legal fees. Additionally, all bids submitted to these utilities must be treated as public records and made available for inspection and copying.
This bill requires health insurance plans in Michigan to count payments made by patients or on their behalf toward meeting out-of-pocket maximums and cost-sharing limits for prescription drugs. It applies to both standard plans and high-deductible health plans, though it includes a specific rule for high-deductible plans to ensure compliance with federal health savings account regulations. The law takes effect for policies delivered, issued, or renewed after December 31, 2025, and explicitly defers to federal law if any conflict arises.
This House resolution urges the Governor of Michigan to take actions that support and speed up the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, which aims to stop invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. The bill asks state officials to work closely with the federal government to ensure timely reviews and approvals, and it requests that the House be informed of any additional steps needed to move the project forward. By expediting the construction of underwater barriers, the measure seeks to protect Michigan's economy and environment from potential ecological damage caused by the carp. The resolution does not create new laws but serves as a formal request to state and federal partners to coordinate efforts and avoid further delays.
Senate Resolution 112 officially designates April 19-26, 2026, as Infertility Awareness Week to raise public understanding of infertility as a disease that affects people of all backgrounds. The resolution encourages state legislators and the community to participate in awareness efforts alongside the National Infertility Association. This measure does not change laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the challenges faced by individuals and couples struggling with family building.
Senate Resolution 113 officially designates May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Month in Michigan. This resolution aims to raise public awareness about the disease and encourage support for affected families. The bill does not create new laws or change funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the condition.
HB 5828 prohibits health insurers in Michigan from denying or limiting coverage for individuals who intend to end their lives in accordance with the state's Death with Dignity Act. The bill amends existing insurance code sections to ensure that suicide clauses in long-term care and universal life policies do not apply to deaths resulting from this specific medical aid-in-dying process. By adding a new section to the insurance code, the legislation clarifies that ending one's life under the Death with Dignity Act is not considered a suicide for the purposes of insurance exclusions.
This bill amends Michigan's sports betting law to require the state gaming board to collect fingerprints and criminal history records from individuals applying for or holding licenses related to sports betting operations. It expands the scope of background checks to include not only applicants but also current licensees, board employees, contractors, and specific management roles such as sports traders and heads of key departments like fraud, technology, and finance. The legislation mandates that these fingerprints be submitted to state and federal authorities for automated checks against new criminal arrests, with results shared with the gaming board while prohibiting the sharing of these records with private entities.
This bill amends Michigan's Internet Gaming Act to require the state gaming board to collect fingerprints and conduct criminal history checks on individuals applying for or holding licenses related to internet gaming. The law mandates that applicants and licensees consent to these background investigations, which include searches by the Department of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Specifically, the requirement applies to game dealers, technology staff, supervisors, and high-level executives of gaming suppliers and their parent companies. The bill also establishes that the state police must retain these fingerprints in automated systems to automatically alert the board if any matches are found for new criminal arrests.
This bill requires the Michigan Gaming Control Board to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints for a wide range of individuals involved in the state's gaming industry. The law mandates that applicants for casino, supplier, and occupational licenses, as well as current and prospective employees and contractors, must submit fingerprints for checks with the Department of State Police and the FBI. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of State Police to retain these fingerprints in an automated system to automatically alert the board if new criminal arrests match existing records. The legislation also clarifies that the board cannot share these criminal history results with private entities and allows the state police to charge a fee for conducting these checks.
HB 5301 amends Michigan's hunting regulations to allow licensed hunters to use artificial lights for 2 hours before and after official shooting hours while traveling on foot to or from their hunting location. This change directly affects licensed hunters traveling to and from hunting sites, extending the previous 1-hour window. The bill modifies Section 40113 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify this specific exception to the general ban on using artificial light to locate game. It does not alter other restrictions, such as prohibitions on using lights between 11 PM and 6 AM from December 1 to October 31.
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 481 requires hotels and motels in Michigan to post a human trafficking notice on their premises. This law directly affects all lodging businesses (including motels, inns, and similar properties) that provide temporary accommodations to travelers. The bill amends existing law to mandate that these properties display the notice in a specified manner as directed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
