SB 449 requires Michigan hospitals to create and implement financial assistance programs for uninsured patients and those with high medical debt relative to income. Specifically, hospitals must offer up to 100% discounts for patients earning at or below 350% of federal poverty guidelines, base eligibility on objective income metrics, and publish program details clearly on bills, statements, and websites in plain language. Hospitals must also report annual data on program usage and debt relief to the state health department by 2027, with violations subject to $10,000 civil fines. The law directly affects uninsured patients and hospital financial operations, aiming to reduce barriers to care for low-income individuals.
SB 707 amends Michigan's licensing rules for marriage and family therapists. It updates educational requirements (e.g., specific coursework in family studies and therapy methodology), increases supervised clinical experience standards (300 direct client hours with 1:5 supervision ratio), and adds a "limited license" pathway for trainees. The bill restricts titles like "marriage counselor" or "family therapist" to only licensed professionals, preventing unlicensed individuals from using these terms. It directly affects therapists seeking or renewing licenses, training programs, and the public who rely on qualified providers for these services.
This bill proposes to update the sentencing guidelines in Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to specifically address violations of the Virtual Currency Kiosk Prevention Act. By amending existing law, it aims to provide clearer instructions for judges on how to determine appropriate punishments for crimes related to illegal virtual currency kiosks. The legislation does not create new offenses but rather refines the legal framework used to sentence individuals who break these specific rules.
This bill, known as the Virtual Currency Kiosk Prevention Act, prohibits the operation of physical terminals in Michigan that facilitate buying, selling, or exchanging virtual currency for cash or bank credit. It defines these terminals as devices that connect to external exchanges or hold the operator's own virtual currency and applies to any business or individual running them. Violators face felony charges with penalties including up to five years in prison, fines of up to $50,000, or community service, with harsher sentences of up to ten years and higher fines if vulnerable adults are harmed or significant financial losses occur. The law also grants the attorney general and county prosecutors the power to seek injunctions, recover collected fees, and confiscate the kiosks themselves.
This bill proposes changes to Michigan's Public Health Code to establish specific licensure requirements for freestanding abortion clinics. It directly affects healthcare facilities that operate outside of hospitals by mandating they meet new regulatory standards set forth in the added sections. The legislation would require these clinics to obtain a license and comply with updated health and safety provisions outlined in the amended statutes.
This bill requires Michigan businesses selling car parts and accessories to separately report and pay sales tax on those specific items starting October 1, 2027. To prepare for this change, the state Department of Treasury must define which products count as car parts by March 31, 2027, and create a new form for businesses to use. Companies will need to set up systems to identify these items at the point of sale and submit distinct payments for them alongside their regular monthly tax returns. The bill amends existing state tax laws to establish these new reporting and payment procedures without changing how the tax revenue is currently distributed.
This bill requires local governments in Michigan to notify the Secretary of State within 20 days of making specific changes to election rules, such as altering how winners are determined or switching between district-based and at-large voting systems. It also mandates that localities inform the state at least 20 days before removing voters from registration lists and within five business days of requests to inspect voting equipment or ballot data. To ensure transparency, the Secretary of State must post these notifications on the state website in an accessible format and publicly list any local government that fails to comply with these reporting deadlines. These provisions are set to take effect on January 1, 2028, after a consultation period with county clerks, municipal clerks, and voting rights advocates.
Senate Bill 961 creates a new State Voting Rights Act in Michigan to protect the voting rights of racial, color, and language minority groups. The bill prohibits local governments and officials from implementing election rules or practices that create disparities in voter participation or impair the ability of minority groups to elect candidates of their choice. Key provisions include establishing definitions for voting methods and protected classes, requiring a court-appointed monitor under certain circumstances, and creating a fund to support enforcement efforts.
This bill establishes the Michigan Voting and Elections Database and Institute, a new entity designed to collect, archive, and make election data publicly available at no cost. The institute will be created through an agreement between the Secretary of State and public research universities, with the university selecting the director and assuming responsibility for most operating costs. Key provisions include the centralization of precinct-level election results, voter registration lists, polling place locations, and demographic estimates, which must be maintained for at least 12 years before permanent archival. The institute will also offer research opportunities, training classes, and technical assistance to local governments and the public while implementing rigorous cybersecurity standards for the data it holds.
Senate Bill 963 creates the Language Assistance for Elections Act to require Michigan local governments to provide election materials in languages other than English for residents with limited English proficiency. The law mandates that counties, cities, and townships must offer translated ballots, voting instructions, and signage if their population includes a specific number of voters who share a single non-English language. The Secretary of State will publish a list of affected jurisdictions and languages annually, while also providing certified translations and electronic voting systems to ensure accuracy. Local governments will be reimbursed for additional costs associated with implementing these translation and testing requirements.
This bill modifies Michigan's school code to strengthen reading instruction by requiring the state education department to approve specific screening assessments and develop a formal literacy coach model. The legislation mandates that literacy coaches support teachers in using evidence-based strategies for decoding and word recognition while explicitly prohibiting them from performing administrative duties or holding regular classroom teaching assignments. Additionally, the bill directs the department to provide technical assistance on Individual Reading Improvement Plans, establish dyslexia expertise by September 2025, and update dyslexia resource guides every five years. These changes directly affect school districts, public school academies, and educators by setting new standards for reading assessment, intervention, and professional support roles.
This bill requires Michigan school districts and public academies to adopt elementary reading curricula from a list approved by the state education department. To support this goal, the legislation mandates that the department approve specific reading assessments designed to monitor student progress while minimizing disruptions to instructional time. Additionally, the bill outlines detailed duties for district literacy coaches, ensuring they focus on evidence-based reading instruction and data analysis rather than administrative tasks. These changes aim to help more third-grade students achieve proficient scores on state English language arts assessments through structured curriculum adoption and targeted teacher support.
