HB 5528 amends Michigan's 1968 riot law (MCL 752.541 and 752.542) to clarify the definitions of riot and incitement to riot. It specifies that a riot occurs when five or more people acting together cause public terror through violent conduct, and incitement to riot involves urging others to commit unlawful violence, property destruction, or interfere with law enforcement officers. The bill explicitly states that peaceful protests - protected under the First Amendment and Michigan's constitution - are not violations of these provisions. This affects individuals participating in public gatherings or protests by defining clear legal boundaries between protected activity and unlawful conduct.
This resolution designates February 19, 2026, as "Conductive Education Day" to recognize a teaching method developed in Hungary that helps people with neuromotor disabilities - including cerebral palsy, stroke survivors, and multiple sclerosis patients - improve mobility and independence through neuroplasticity-based learning. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally acknowledges Conductive Education's potential to benefit nearly 9 million people in the U.S. and Canada. The resolution encourages broader support for this program without specifying any concrete policy changes. As a symbolic gesture, it directly affects awareness and advocacy for Conductive Education rather than individual beneficiaries.
HB 5524 creates a program to provide financial assistance to Michigan businesses that suffer revenue losses due to unexpected street closures or road construction projects extending beyond their scheduled end dates. The bill establishes a "road construction business loss reimbursement program" that offers grants covering up to $15,000 annually per business, based on a three-year average of lost revenue. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate a significant revenue decline directly tied to construction, and applications must be reviewed within 120 days using criteria like revenue decline rate, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity. The program requires the state transportation department to annually report grant usage details - including approved/rejected applications and project statuses - to relevant legislative committees.
This concurrent resolution (HCR 5) schedules a joint meeting of Michigan's House of Representatives and Senate on February 25, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the House Hall to formally receive a message from Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It has no policy provisions or substantive impact - it serves solely as a procedural notice to convene lawmakers for this specific ceremonial purpose. The resolution was adopted by both chambers on February 19, 2026, and requires no further action beyond the scheduled meeting.
This is a ceremonial resolution (not a law), declaring February 11, 2026, as "2-1-1 Day" in Michigan. It recognizes the 2-1-1 helpline service, which connects Michiganders to free health and human services (like housing, food, and disaster assistance) without creating new policies or changing how the service operates. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about the existing 2-1-1 resource, which handled over 400,000 contacts in fiscal year 2025. It has no binding effect on state programs or funding.
This resolution designates February 21-28, 2026, as National FFA Week in Michigan. It formally recognizes the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization, which supports agricultural education for students in grades 7-12 through local chapters, leadership development, and career preparation. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but encourages Michiganders to celebrate FFA’s role in fostering student leadership, agricultural skills, and community engagement. It directly affects Michigan residents by promoting awareness of FFA’s educational programs and achievements.
This bill amends House rules to require transparency and compliance for appropriations bills that include "legislatively directed spending" (funds specifically directed to a recipient). It prohibits voting on such bills if the recipient is a municipality or university with policies that "subvert immigration enforcement" or refuse to comply with federal immigration measures. Municipalities/universities must submit documentation proving their policies align with federal immigration law and provide certification from authorized leaders. The rule applies to all such spending items except those for disaster relief, state agencies, or competitive funding processes.
This bill modifies Michigan's licensing rules for foreign-trained registered nurses. It requires the Board of Nursing to accept verification from specific organizations (like CGFNS) to confirm foreign education programs are substantially equivalent to Michigan-approved programs. The bill also simplifies licensing for nurses already licensed in another U.S. state or Canadian province with 5+ years of active, unblemished practice, eliminating the need for program verification in those cases. These changes directly affect foreign-educated nurses and out-of-state nurses seeking Michigan licensure.
SB 583 allows Michigan taxpayers to receive tax notices by email if they have consented to electronic communication. The bill adds Section 28a, requiring taxpayers to provide written consent for electronic notices before the Department of Treasury can send them via email. This change directly affects individual and business taxpayers who choose to opt into electronic notices for tax matters. The key mechanism is the new consent requirement, which replaces the previous default of mail-based notices for all taxpayers.
SB 584 would change Michigan's tax law to make it optional for pension administrators to withhold income tax from pension or annuity payments. Currently, pension providers must withhold tax under Section 703 of the Income Tax Act, but this bill would allow them to choose whether to withhold. The change directly affects pension administrators (like retirement plan providers) and recipients of pension payments, as it removes a mandatory withholding requirement. The bill amends Section 703 of the 1967 Income Tax Act (MCL 206.703) without altering other withholding rules for employers, flow-through entities, or casinos.
SB 788 prohibits medical marijuana licensees from selling or transferring paraphernalia with a heating element designed for marijuana use, unless the heating element is made of or encased in glass or ceramic. This directly affects licensed medical marijuana businesses that sell such products. The key provision requires all heating elements in these devices to be constructed from one of two specified materials (glass or ceramic), banning other materials. The bill amends Michigan's Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MCL 333.27101-333.27801) to add this safety requirement.
SB 789 creates a new legal structure for "benefit corporations" in Michigan, allowing businesses to formally balance profit with social or environmental goals. It establishes specific duties for directors and officers to consider public benefits (like community impact or environmental sustainability) alongside shareholder interests when making decisions. This bill directly affects businesses that choose to register as benefit corporations under its new Chapter 9A provisions, requiring them to meet defined standards for public benefit reporting and governance. The law amends existing business corporation statutes to incorporate these requirements and defines key terms like "benefit corporation" and "independent director."
