HB 5449 prohibits former unemployment insurance agency officials from working with or representing vendors they interacted with during their tenure for a minimum of two years after leaving the agency. It specifically applies to roles like directors, deputy directors, procurement officials, contract managers, and IT project managers involved in vendor contracts. The bill also penalizes vendors who violate this rule by banning them from contracting with the agency for five years. This creates a cooling-off period to prevent potential conflicts of interest between former agency staff and vendors.
HB 5448 amends Michigan's parole procedures to require the parole board to consider impact statements from certain witnesses, including crime victims, when reviewing parole applications. It directly affects prisoners seeking parole, parole board members, and crime victims who wish to share how a crime impacted them. Key mechanisms include adding a new provision (Section 35a) for submitting impact statements, clarifying that parole boards cannot deny parole without an interview in most cases (except for low-probability cases), and prohibiting consideration of expunged juvenile records or inaccurate information. The bill also mandates a 90-day parole eligibility report detailing a prisoner's conduct, work, education, and risk assessment, while explicitly banning the parole board from basing denials solely on marital history or unconvicted arrests.
SB 767 creates a special fund-raising license plate for Michigan vehicles, with proceeds supporting the Golf Association of Michigan Foundation. The bill establishes a dedicated state fund to receive money from plate sales, which the state treasurer will manage and invest. Quarterly disbursements from this fund will provide resources for the foundation to create golf opportunities for youth, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and families facing financial barriers, including educational and career pathways in golf. The program is administered through the Secretary of State (for plate issuance) and the State Treasurer (for fund management), with no annual lapse of funds.
SB 766 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to clarify relicensing rules for health professionals holding temporary or limited licenses. The bill ensures these professionals can apply for relicensure within three years of license expiration by meeting the continuing education and competency requirements that were in effect at the time of expiration - rather than current standards. For licenses expired less than 60 days, holders may continue practicing by paying late fees and fulfilling continuing education requirements during this grace period. This change specifically extends the three-year relicensing window to temporary and limited licenses, which were previously not explicitly covered under the existing provision.
HR 232 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) declaring January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Michigan. It directly encourages all Michiganders to participate in awareness, prevention, and anti-trafficking efforts. The resolution includes three key provisions: (1) formally designating the month, (2) urging public engagement, and (3) directing copies to state agencies like the Michigan State Police and Human Trafficking Commission. It does not create new funding, programs, or legal requirements, but aims to amplify existing anti-trafficking work. The resolution references Michigan’s 2023 data showing 779 trafficking signals reported to the National Hotline.
HB 4910 allows dentists in Michigan to earn continuing education credit toward license renewal by actively participating in professional associations, rather than solely completing traditional courses. Dentists who are dues-paying, in good standing members of approved associations and participate in activities like meetings or committees can receive department-approved credit for these hours. The bill requires associations to be approved by the department (ensuring they weren't formed solely for education) and mandates dentists provide association verification of their participation. This directly affects licensed dentists needing to fulfill the existing 35-hour continuing education requirement every two years.
HB 4925 would change Michigan's medical licensing rules to allow international medical graduates to obtain licenses under specific conditions. It amends existing statutes (MCL 333.17012 & 333.17031) by adding a new provision (section 17012a) that establishes eligibility pathways for these doctors. The bill directly affects international medical school graduates seeking to practice medicine in Michigan. This policy change creates a formal process for qualifying graduates to meet state licensing requirements.
HB 4896 amends Michigan's medical licensing law to ensure international medical graduates face the same requirements as U.S. or Canadian graduates when applying for a medical license. Specifically, it prohibits the Michigan Board of Medicine from imposing stricter conditions on foreign-trained doctors than those applied to domestic graduates. The bill directly affects physicians trained outside the U.S. or Canada seeking to practice medicine in Michigan. This change removes potential barriers for international medical school graduates by mandating equal licensing standards under Section 17011(3). The bill is currently in committee review after its first reading in September 2025.
SB 764, the "Open Caption Accessibility Act," requires movie theaters with 8 or more screens to provide open captioning for at least two weekly showings of each film that plays five or more times per week (Friday-Thursday). Open captioning means captions displayed on screen that cannot be turned off, directly benefiting deaf and hard-of-hearing moviegoers. Theaters must advertise captioned showings similarly to other screenings, post public notices about requesting captioned showings, and maintain records for the Attorney General’s office. This law applies to all qualifying theaters operating in Michigan, with enforcement through the Department of Attorney General.
SB 765 allocates $10 million from the state general fund to create a menopause navigator program under Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The program provides resources and support for women managing menopause-related health concerns, as defined in the state's public health code. The funds must be used exclusively for this purpose, with no other designated uses specified in the bill.
This bill (SCR 11) sets the final adjournment dates for the state legislature. It directs the Senate and House to adjourn on December 18, 2025, and reconvene on December 23, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., after which the legislature will adjourn "without day" (meaning no specific return date is set). The bill directly affects the legislature's schedule and does not change any substantive laws or policies. It is a routine procedural measure to conclude the legislative session.
HB 4277 amends Michigan's health licensing law to remove all questions about applicants' mental health from license applications, except for two specific questions already required: whether an applicant poses a risk to patient safety and whether they can perform essential job functions. This change affects health professionals seeking initial licensure or renewal, including doctors, dentists, and nurses. The bill prohibits the department from including any additional mental health inquiries on application forms. It directly simplifies the licensing process by limiting mental health disclosures to the two existing questions.
