HB 5081 requires Michigan school districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies to employ at least one teacher trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach by the 2026-2027 school year to support students with dyslexia. This teacher must have completed training meeting International Dyslexia Association standards, which emphasizes multisensory reading instruction through phonemic awareness, phonics, and structured skill-building. Schools must also ensure these teachers receive at least 10 hours of annual professional development focused on dyslexia support. The bill directly affects all public school entities in Michigan and aims to improve specialized reading instruction for students with dyslexia.
HB 5069 bans the sale of food products containing specific additives in Michigan starting January 1, 2029. It prohibits brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and five artificial dyes (Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 6). The ban applies to food manufacturers and retailers selling products in Michigan, but exempts items if the federal government bans the same substances by the 2029 deadline. This bill directly affects food producers and sellers by requiring reformulation of products containing these ingredients.
This bill appears to be a technical correction to Michigan's criminal procedure code. The title indicates it amends Section 14b of the 1927 Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 777.14b) to remove a reference to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act, reflecting that the referenced section has been repealed. However, the provided context includes no substantive bill text, voting record, or detailed policy description beyond this procedural reference. Without additional content explaining the specific amendment or its practical effect, a full summary of policy changes cannot be provided. The bill was introduced on February 4, 2025, and referred to the Senate Committee on Labor.
SB 49 amends Michigan's Occupational Safety and Health Act to update key definitions and clarify enforcement responsibilities. It revises terms like "asbestos," "authorized employee representative," and "construction operations," while specifying that the Department of Labor handles safety enforcement and the Department of Public Health manages health enforcement. The bill requires these departments to annually report to legislative committees on overlapping authority and coordination efforts. This affects Michigan employers and workers, particularly in construction, agriculture, and asbestos-related industries, by updating how safety and health rules are defined and implemented.
HB 5163 amends Michigan's child neglect definition to clarify that parents or guardians who refuse a health professional's recommended treatment plan - while actively seeking a second opinion or following another provider's plan - do not commit child neglect. This directly affects parents, guardians, and healthcare providers making medical decisions for children. The bill adds this exception to the neglect definition, stating such refusal constitutes "prima facie evidence" that neglect did not occur, unless there's clear evidence immediate harm would result. It does not change other neglect standards or require new reporting.
SB 627 requires electric utilities regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission to obtain prior approval before selling, transferring, or merging assets. The bill modifies existing rules by mandating detailed applications - including financial data, rate impact assessments, and hydroelectric facility requirements - and sets a 180-day review timeline for the commission. It directs the commission to evaluate proposals based on impacts to customer rates, service reliability, capital needs, and public interest, while allowing for protective measures on confidential business information. This procedural change directly affects all jurisdictional electric utilities in Michigan seeking to alter ownership or asset control.
HB 5283 designates the Honor and Remember flag as Michigan's official symbol for honoring fallen U.S. military members who died in service. The bill requires all state properties (including the capitol and government buildings) and local government sites to display this flag wherever the U.S. flag is shown. It mandates specific display days, such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and days of half-staff for fallen service members, as ordered by the governor. The bill does not create new funding or alter existing military benefits - it solely establishes a symbolic recognition protocol for state and local government properties.
This bill amends Michigan's Revised School Code to require intermediate school districts to create a single, common school calendar for all schools within their region by July 1, 2008. The new calendar must specify winter and spring break dates for at least the next five school years and must be posted online, with the goal of aligning start dates and schedules across different districts. While the law mandates compliance starting with the 2008-2009 school year, it includes exceptions for schools with existing collective bargaining agreements, year-round programs, trimester schedules, or advanced placement schools that meet specific criteria. Districts operating under these special conditions can apply for a waiver from the state superintendent if they can justify their unique scheduling needs. Additionally, the bill repeals previous sections of the Revised School Code and the State School Aid Act that are no longer needed under this new framework.
This bill modifies the rules for how the state of Michigan pays counties for taxes on state-owned lands used for recreation, forestry, or other natural resources. It updates the payment schedule to ensure that after December 2022, any unpaid special assessments for lake level controls receive priority before remaining funds are distributed. The legislation also clarifies how these payments are shared between county and township general funds, while exempting lands purchased specifically for natural resource purposes after 1933. Ultimately, the bill adjusts the administrative process for calculating and distributing these annual payments to local governments.
This bill, known as the Energy Pricing Protection Act, prohibits businesses in Michigan from charging excessively high prices for gasoline, propane, and home heating oil during market disruptions such as severe weather or supply shortages. It defines an excessive price increase as one exceeding 20% unless the seller can prove the hike is due to higher costs or a prior discount, and it applies to these goods for 30 days after the disruption ends. To enforce these rules, the state attorney general can investigate violations, seize assets to prevent their removal, and file class-action lawsuits to recover damages for affected consumers. The legislation also outlines specific procedures for legal demands and limits the time frame for filing such actions to four years.
This bill prohibits hotels, bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals, and other lodging providers from raising prices by more than 20% during or shortly after a declared state of emergency unless they can prove the increase is due to higher costs or pre-existing contracts. It defines an emergency to include natural disasters, fires, floods, and public health threats, and sets a specific rule for what counts as an "excessively increased price" based on rates charged in the 30 days before the emergency. To enforce these rules, the act allows prosecutors to issue written demands for documents and testimony, and it grants the attorney general the power to file class-action lawsuits on behalf of affected consumers to recover damages or seek other relief.
This bill establishes the Commodities and Emergency Services and Supplies Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising prices too much on essential items like food, building materials, and medical supplies during a declared state of emergency. It defines an excessive price increase as one that is more than 20% higher than pre-emergency rates unless the seller can prove the rise was due to higher costs, prior discounts, or selling at cost. The law prohibits charging or offering these goods at unjustified inflated prices and grants state and local prosecutors the power to investigate violations and compel the production of relevant documents. Additionally, the act allows the attorney general to file class-action lawsuits on behalf of affected consumers to recover actual damages or a minimum of $100 per person, while also providing courts with tools to freeze assets or modify unfair contracts.
