Michigan Bills

signed · Michigan · House May 22, 2024

HB 4596: Environmental protection: sewage; labeling standards for disposable wipes products; provide for. Creates new act.

This bill prohibits the sale of certain disposable wipes in Michigan unless they carry specific "DO NOT FLUSH" warnings on their packaging. It directly affects manufacturers and retailers of baby wipes, cleaning wipes, and other personal care products that are made of petrochemical fibers or are likely to be flushed down toilets. The law requires these products to display a standardized symbol and text covering at least 2% of the main package area, while also banning any marketing claims that suggest the wipes are safe to flush. Companies must ensure these labels are clearly visible and not hidden by package design, with exceptions made for very small packaging or bulk containers that do not obscure the warnings.

signed · Michigan · Senate May 22, 2024

SB 27: Insurance: health insurers; equitable coverage for behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment; provide for. Amends 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.100 - 500.8302) by adding sec. 3406hh.

This bill requires health insurers in Michigan to provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services under the same conditions as medical and surgical benefits. It mandates that financial limits like deductibles and copayments for behavioral health cannot be more restrictive than those applied to physical health care, and it ensures that non-financial restrictions, such as visit caps or pre-authorization rules, are applied equally to both types of care. The legislation also clarifies how insurers can structure different provider tiers or prescription drug plans, ensuring that mental health and substance use benefits are not treated less favorably within those structures. By aligning state requirements with federal parity laws, the bill aims to eliminate discriminatory practices in health insurance plans affecting these specific health conditions.

signed · Michigan · House May 22, 2024

HB 4343: Financial institutions: payday lending; legislative report requirement concerning deferred presentment service providers and transactions; revise. Amends sec. 51 of 2005 PA 244 (MCL 487.2171).

This bill requires Michigan's financial regulator to create and submit annual reports on payday lending activity. Starting in October 2025, the report must include details such as the number of lenders, customer counts, transaction volumes, fees, and complaint statistics, broken down by location. The regulator must also publish these reports on its website to make the data publicly accessible. These provisions aim to increase transparency regarding deferred presentment service providers without changing the core rules for how these loans operate.

Jennifer Conlin (D) · 17 co-sponsors

signed · Michigan · House May 22, 2024

HB 5103: Traffic control: driver license; certain requirements for obtaining a driver license; remove. Amends secs. 303 & 304 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.303 & 257.304).

This bill removes specific requirements from Michigan's driver licensing laws that previously barred non-citizens and foreign exchange students from obtaining a driver's license. By deleting the restriction on non-residents, the change allows individuals who are not U.S. citizens to apply for and receive a driver's license if they meet other standard eligibility criteria. The legislation also amends rules regarding license revocation for certain criminal convictions, ensuring these penalties apply consistently regardless of the individual's citizenship status. Ultimately, the bill eliminates a citizenship-based barrier to driving privileges while maintaining existing standards for safety and legal compliance.

signed · Michigan · House May 21, 2024

HB 5096: Economic development: renaissance zones; designation of renaissance zone; modify. Amends secs. 3, 4, 6, 8a & 12 of 1996 PA 376 (MCL 125.2683 et seq.).

This bill amends the Michigan Renaissance Zone Act to update the definitions of specific business types and facilities eligible for economic development zones. It clarifies categories such as agricultural processing, forest products processing, and border crossing facilities, while introducing new definitions for businesses involved in multimodal commerce like shipping, distribution, and manufacturing. These changes aim to refine the criteria for establishing renaissance zones, ensuring that the program accurately targets industries related to trade, logistics, and regional economic growth.