HB 4894 modifies Michigan's Skilled Trades Regulation Act by adding Section 1020 to remove a requirement that building inspector applicants must have completed qualifying experience within the 5 years before applying. This change directly affects individuals seeking registration as building inspectors by allowing them to use qualifying experience earned more than five years prior. The bill's key mechanism eliminates a specific time limit on qualifying experience, making it easier for applicants with older experience to apply. It does not change other licensing fees or standards, only the experience timeline for building inspector registration.
HB 5033 raises the cost threshold for exempting school building projects from certain safety and construction requirements from $15,000 to $5,000,000. This means school districts and contractors working on projects costing less than $5 million no longer need to hire a registered architect or engineer, though they must still submit plans for review to the bureau of fire services and the superintendent of public instruction. The bill applies to all school building construction, reconstruction, and remodeling projects under $5 million, including one-story buildings and additions. It directly affects local school districts and contractors by reducing regulatory requirements for smaller-scale projects.
HB 4704 requires Michigan's medical assistance program (like Medicaid) to cover group prenatal care services starting from its effective date. This directly affects pregnant individuals enrolled in Michigan's medical assistance program by making evidence-based group prenatal care available at no extra cost. The bill defines "group prenatal care" as a series of visits in a group setting that includes health assessments, social support, education, and peer interaction in a family-centered environment. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services must add this coverage to the program under Section 109t of the Social Welfare Act.
HB 5145 changes documentation requirements for Michigan's public assistance programs, including food assistance. It replaces self-attestation with verifiable documents for applicants to prove identity (e.g., driver's license, birth certificate), income (e.g., pay stub, tax return), and Michigan residency (e.g., utility bill, lease). The bill requires applicants to upload these documents via the MI Bridges online portal before eligibility is determined. It also mandates that the department use alternative verification methods if documents are missing, rather than automatically denying benefits. This bill directly affects individuals applying for or renewing public assistance benefits in Michigan.
HB 4727 requires courts in Michigan to appoint only licensed professional guardians or conservators for individuals under legal protection (wards, developmentally disabled, or incapacitated persons). It mandates that these professionals must hold a license under Michigan's occupational code, and prohibits unlicensed employees from making medical, financial, or housing decisions for the individuals they serve. The bill also requires transparency by requiring professionals to disclose outside compensation from sources other than the ward's estate and to maintain visitation schedules for wards. These changes take effect two years after the bill's passage.
HB 4728 requires professional guardians and conservators to obtain a state license. This bill directly affects individuals and agencies that manage finances or personal care for vulnerable adults (like seniors or people with disabilities) who cannot make decisions for themselves. The key provision adds new licensing requirements through amendments to existing law, establishing standards for these professionals. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet become law.
HB 4959 adds a new fee requirement for professional guardians and conservators under Michigan's licensing law. It directly affects licensed professionals who serve as legal guardians or conservators for individuals who cannot manage their own affairs. The bill amends existing statutes to establish a specific fee for these roles within the licensing and registration system. This change creates a concrete financial obligation for these professionals when obtaining or maintaining their license.
HB 4729 updates Michigan's rules for appointing guardians of individuals with developmental disabilities. It requires courts to prioritize licensed professional guardians (under Article 14A of the Occupational Code) when appointing guardians, and prohibits unlicensed employees of such guardians from making medical, financial, or housing decisions for these individuals. The law also mandates that courts consider the individual's preference for a guardian before making an appointment. These changes take effect two years after the bill's passage, aiming to ensure guardianship appointments meet professional standards.
SB 433 requires Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services to create and distribute multilingual (English, Spanish, Arabic) informational notices about the health risks of high-potency THC cannabis products and vaping to parents of K-12 students. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, public and nonpublic schools must provide these notices to parents annually by October 1 and post a link to the department's website on their own sites. The notices must be updated yearly to reflect new health research, and the bill grants immunity from civil liability to schools and state agencies for distributing them. This bill directly affects all Michigan schools and parents of enrolled students, focusing on preventive health education.
House Bill 5254 proposes to modify the maximum interest rate allowed for medical debt. It seeks to achieve this by amending Section 3 of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. While the bill aims to impact consumers with medical debt and the entities that collect it, the provided text primarily details existing definitions of unfair trade practices within the act and does not include the specific language for the proposed interest rate modification.
HB 5255, the "Medical Debt Protection Act," limits how medical debt can be collected in Michigan, directly affecting patients with medical debt and large healthcare providers (with $20 million+ annual revenue) or medical debt buyers. It prohibits charging interest or late fees for 90 days after a bill is due and caps annual interest at 3% on medical debt. The bill bans aggressive collection tactics like wage garnishment for patients qualifying for financial assistance under a healthcare facility's policy, and requires medical debt buyers to follow strict rules, including not using prohibited collection actions and returning debt if a patient qualifies for financial aid.
This bill requires the state treasurer to create a monthly report tracking whether the federal government owes Michigan money due to ignored court orders and calculating any future payments Michigan must make to the federal government. The report will detail specific financial items such as federal taxes owed by state employers, debt offsets, and grant repayments, and it must be prepared in consultation with the state budget director. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state treasurer withhold federal payments if the amounts owed by the federal government exceed the amounts Michigan is required to pay. This legislation is currently tied to a companion bill, meaning it will not take effect unless both are passed by the legislature.
