This bill proposes an amendment to the Michigan state constitution to change the rule regarding how long a member of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission must wait before running for partisan office. Currently, commissioners are barred from holding partisan elective office for five years, but the amendment would shorten this waiting period to end on December 31 of the year following the next federal census. The change directly affects individuals serving on the commission who wish to run for partisan positions sooner than the current five-year restriction allows. By modifying the eligibility timeline in the state constitution, the bill aims to adjust the balance between maintaining commission independence and allowing commissioners to return to partisan politics.
This bill expands Michigan's Essential Health Provider Repayment Program to include licensed pharmacists alongside other healthcare professionals. By amending the Public Health Code, it allows the state to repay student loan debt or training expenses for pharmacists who agree to work full-time in designated health resource shortage areas. The program maintains a maximum annual repayment of $40,000 and a total cap of $300,000 over a period of at least 10 years, contingent on the pharmacist fulfilling their service obligation.
This bill modifies Michigan's Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to update how the state manages funds for cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated properties. It establishes a specific grant and loan program administered by the Michigan Strategic Fund to support eligible redevelopment activities on brownfield sites. The legislation sets a 60-day limit for the fund to review and decide on applications, requiring written agreements that outline project terms and penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill clarifies how various tax capture revenues from redevelopment plans are deposited into and distributed from the state Brownfield Redevelopment Fund. Because the bill contains an enacting section, it will only become law if a companion bill, SB 898, is also passed.
This bill modifies Michigan's environmental laws to update and expand the state's brownfield redevelopment grant and loan program. It directly affects local governments, counties, cities, and other public bodies that manage sites with potential for economic reuse. The legislation clarifies definitions for terms like "brownfield project" and "eligible activities," which now include a broader range of tasks such as environmental assessments, hazardous material removal, and specific demolition work. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to issue funding from existing state funds to support these redevelopment efforts, provided the projects demonstrate measurable economic and environmental benefits.
SB 808 creates the Secure Retirement Savings Board within Michigan's Department of Treasury to oversee a new retirement savings program. The board will have seven members, including the state treasurer as chair, two public experts appointed by the governor, and representatives from employers and enrollees. This bill establishes the board's structure and appointment process but does not take effect unless companion bill SB 807 is enacted. The summary focuses solely on the board's creation, as the bill is procedural rather than describing specific retirement program rules.
SB 807 creates the Michigan Secure Retirement Savings Program, requiring certain employers without existing retirement plans to automatically enroll eligible employees (ages 18+ with Michigan wages) in a payroll-deducted retirement savings plan. The program establishes a separate trust fund outside the state treasury for individual retirement accounts, meeting federal IRA standards, while employers must set up payroll deductions for participation. It also creates an administrative fund to cover program costs, funded by state allocations, grants, and other sources. The law mandates automatic enrollment (with opt-out options) for employees at qualifying employers, aiming to provide low-cost, portable retirement savings for workers who lack access to employer-sponsored plans.
SB 771 regulates septic and other onsite wastewater systems to protect public health and water quality. It requires property owners with such systems to connect to public sewer lines when an "available public sanitary sewer system" is within 200 feet, unless an approved alternative system (like composting toilets) is used. Local health departments will enforce new rules under "part 128," including inspections and evaluations for non-compliant systems. The bill directly affects homeowners with septic systems, local health departments, and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, aiming to prevent health hazards and water pollution from poorly maintained systems.
HB 5307 amends Michigan's hunting regulations to modify penalties for failing to report a deer harvest or retain a required confirmation number. The bill targets hunters who do not comply with reporting requirements for deer, which is a specific violation under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Key mechanisms include adding or adjusting penalties for this reporting failure, potentially affecting hunters who miss these requirements. The bill does not change penalties for other hunting violations (like taking deer without a permit), which remain detailed in the existing section. (Note: The provided bill text shows existing penalty structures but does not specify the exact amendment language for the reporting requirement change.)
SB 725 requires Michigan's medical assistance program to cover donor human milk for infants under specific conditions. It affects parents who rely on medical assistance and have infants who either: (1) cannot receive their parent's milk due to inability to produce it (temporarily or permanently), or (2) were born prematurely (before 34 weeks) or with low birth weight (under 1,800 grams). A doctor's prescription is required, and coverage lasts up to two years after birth or hospital discharge. This policy change expands access to donor human milk as a medical necessity for vulnerable infants under the state's healthcare program.
SB 724 regulates human milk banks, hospitals, and for-profit milk companies to ensure safety in breast milk distribution. It requires all entities to follow national health standards (like those from FDA and HMBANA), screen donors for health risks (except for personal use), and prohibits providing raw or "adulterated" milk (improperly processed or contaminated). Violations can result in civil fines up to $5,000 for minor issues or felony charges with fines up to $15,000 and imprisonment for severe harm or death. The law specifically distinguishes non-profit milk banks (which cannot profit) from for-profit companies that may pay donors but must still meet strict safety rules.
SB 726 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to specifically address crimes involving the provision of adulterated or raw human milk for human consumption. It directly affects individuals or businesses distributing human milk (e.g., milk banks, sellers) who violate safety standards. The bill modifies existing sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.12m) to establish clearer penalties for these specific offenses, ensuring consistent judicial handling of such cases under criminal procedure law. The change focuses on defining the legal consequences for unsafe human milk distribution without altering broader public health regulations.
SB 451 prohibits consumer reporting agencies in Michigan from including medical debt in credit reports, protecting residents from negative credit impacts due to unpaid medical bills. The law requires collection agencies to disclose this restriction in writing to consumers and forbids them from claiming medical debt will appear on credit reports unless the debt relates to a mortgage exceeding the federal conforming loan limit ($766,550 for 2024). It directly affects consumers who receive medical care but have unpaid bills, as their credit scores will no longer be harmed by such debt. The law also provides legal remedies, including damages and attorney fees, for violations.
