Healthcare

in committee · Michigan · House May 20, 2025

HB 4497: Controlled substances: drug paraphernalia; definition of drug paraphernalia; modify. Amends sec. 7451 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7451).

HB 4497 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to modify the legal definition of "drug paraphernalia." The bill establishes that "drug paraphernalia" does not include testing products used to determine if a controlled substance contains harmful chemicals, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds that could cause physical harm or death. This specifically includes items like fentanyl testing strips. This change affects individuals who possess or use such testing products, clarifying their legal status under the law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies legality of fentanyl testing strips for harm reduction, preventing overdoses and improving public health safety without restricting access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Oct 2, 2025

SB 598: Medical marihuana: licenses; number of marihuana provisioning center licenses; place limit on. Amends secs. 102, 302, 401 & 402 of 2016 PA 281 (MCL 333.27102 et seq.) & adds sec. 402a.

SB 598 places a limit on the number of medical marijuana retail licenses (provisioning centers) allowed in Michigan. It adds Section 402a to the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, establishing a cap on the total number of licenses issued statewide. This directly affects businesses seeking to operate medical marijuana retail stores by restricting new licenses once the cap is reached. The bill amends existing licensing provisions to implement this statewide limit, which applies to all applicants and existing license holders. The change aims to manage the number of retail locations under the state's medical marijuana program.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts medical marijuana retail access by capping licenses, limiting patient access to healthcare services under medical marijuana programs.90% confidence

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in committee · Michigan · House Jan 15, 2025

HB 4008: Individual income tax: credit; qualified volunteers credit; create. Amends 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.1 - 206.847) by adding sec. 281.

This bill creates a $2,500 annual tax credit for Michigan volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who meet specific service requirements. To qualify, volunteers must serve at least 120 hours annually (averaging 10+ hours monthly) with an organized fire department or life support agency, receive only expense reimbursements or customary benefits, and provide a signed verification from their agency head. The credit reduces tax owed for eligible volunteers and can be refunded if it exceeds their tax liability. It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and directly affects unpaid volunteer first responders meeting the defined service criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $2,500 annual tax credit for volunteer firefighters/EMS, reducing tax liability for lower-income public safety workers, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax credit for EMS personnel, supporting healthcare workforce retention by reducing financial burden on critical frontline providers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 26, 2025

SB 470: Education: safety; behavioral threat assessment and management program; require department to create and implement. Amends title of 2018 PA 548 (MCL 28.801 - 28.809) & adds sec. 4. TIE BAR WITH: SB 471'25

SB 470 requires Michigan's Department of Education to create and implement a statewide Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Program within 180 days. The program mandates schools to identify, assess, and manage potential threats through standardized risk-level models, secure data storage, and a centralized digital portal that integrates school, mental health, and law enforcement data. It directly affects all Michigan public school districts, intermediate districts, public school academies, and nonpublic schools by requiring them to use this system for student safety planning. Key provisions include secure access controls, annual training for staff, quarterly audits, and ensuring all data remains protected as education records under federal and state laws.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires statewide school safety program with threat assessment protocols, directly enhancing student/staff protection within educational environment per bill's mandate.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill integrates mental health data into school safety protocols, requiring threat assessment using mental health services, directly supporting mental health as part of healthcare policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires secure data storage and centralized digital portal for integrated school/mental health/law enforcement data, directly enhancing data privacy and cybersecurity measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 4671: Crimes: abortion; abortion; prohibit. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 - 750.568) by adding secs. 89a & 322a & repeals sec. 322 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.322).

HB 4671 amends Michigan's penal code to establish criminal liability for injury or death of an unborn child under assault and homicide laws, defining "unborn child" as a living human being from fertilization. The bill adds exceptions allowing medical procedures that unintentionally harm or kill a fetus when performed to save the mother's life, preserve the fetus's health, or during a spontaneous miscarriage. It applies existing legal defenses (like duress) and presumptions to cases involving fetal injury or death, treating the unborn child as equivalent to a born individual for prosecution purposes. This bill directly affects medical providers and individuals whose actions may cause fetal harm during medical treatment, as it clarifies when such actions could be prosecuted under criminal law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminal liability for abortion-related harm under assault/homicide laws, increasing penalties for medical procedures affecting fetus (with limited exceptions).95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareCriminalizes abortion procedures (except life-saving cases), restricting access to reproductive healthcare services per bill's criminal liability provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Women's Health

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in committee · Michigan · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 4197: Housing: homeless; homeless bill of rights; provide for. Creates new act.

HB 4197 establishes Michigan's "Bill of Rights for the Homeless," creating new legal protections for individuals experiencing homelessness. It guarantees rights including free movement in public spaces, equal access to services and employment (without discrimination over lack of permanent address), emergency medical care, voting access, and privacy protections for records shared with shelters. The bill also allows local governments to create designated "safe outdoor spaces" for encampments and provides legal remedies for violations, such as court orders or damages. It directly affects homeless residents across Michigan, particularly youth aged 13-23, by prohibiting discrimination in public services, housing, and schools. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects homeless rights (e.g., free movement, access to services), reducing criminalization for public encampments and homelessness, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly guarantees 'emergency medical care' access for homeless individuals, directly improving healthcare access as part of its rights framework.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates Michigan's 'Bill of Rights for the Homeless' with legal protections including service access, privacy, and safe outdoor spaces, directly advancing housing rights for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGuarantees equal employment access without discrimination due to homelessness, directly protecting workers' rights under employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Homelessness Tenant Rights

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 4632: Probate: guardians and conservators; requirements to be appointed as guardian or conservator; modify. Amends secs. 5104, 5106, 5310, 5313 & 5409 of 1998 PA 386 (MCL 700.5104 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4634'25, HB 4635'25

HB 4632 amends Michigan's guardianship and conservatorship laws to strengthen oversight of professional guardians and conservators who manage care for vulnerable adults. It requires these professionals to submit criminal background checks, file a financial bond, and establish regular visitation schedules with their wards within three months of appointment. The bill also mandates transparency about outside compensation and prohibits delegating critical decisions (like medical care) to support staff, while allowing them to provide information under direct supervision. These changes apply to court-appointed professionals managing estates or personal care for individuals under legal protection.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits delegating medical decisions to support staff, protecting vulnerable adults' healthcare choices under guardianship oversight.90% confidence

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in committee · Michigan · House Nov 13, 2025

HB 5266: Veterans: other; office of veteran homelessness; create, and provide resources for homeless veterans. Creates new act.

HB 5266 creates Michigan's Office of Veteran Homelessness within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to coordinate support for homeless veterans. The office will identify, align, and connect veterans to existing state, federal, and local resources and programs addressing homelessness, including mental health, substance use, and housing services. It establishes a $1 million Veteran Homelessness Fund for the office's operations and requires annual reports detailing the scope of veteran homelessness, resource gaps, and recommendations for improvement. The bill directly affects homeless veterans in Michigan by streamlining access to services and improving coordination across government programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCoordinates access to mental health and substance use services for homeless veterans, aligning existing resources to support healthcare needs.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates $1M fund and office to address veteran homelessness through housing services, directly advancing housing support for vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates Office of Veteran Homelessness with $1M fund to coordinate housing/health services for homeless veterans, directly advancing support through dedicated funding and coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4438: Labor: fair employment practices; employer taking adverse employment action against an employee who raises concern over infection control; prohibit. Creates new act.

HB 4438 aims to protect employees in Michigan from retaliation by their employers. It prohibits employers from taking adverse actions, such as reducing pay, denying promotions, or terminating employment, against an employee. This protection applies when an employee raises concerns or criticizes the employer's handling or management of a communicable disease in the workplace. Employees can voice these concerns to the employer, other employees, state agencies, or the public, including through social media. The bill also allows affected employees to file a civil lawsuit for damages or injunctive relief.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects employees reporting infection control concerns, advancing public health safety in workplaces by preventing retaliation for raising communicable disease issues.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects employees from retaliation for raising workplace infection control concerns, strengthening fair employment practices and worker safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Michigan · House May 20, 2025

HB 4498: Health: other; syringe service programs; provide for. Amends secs. 7401, 7403, 7453 & 7457 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7401 et seq.) & adds sec. 5137.

House Bill 4498 proposes to amend Michigan's Public Health Code to allow the Department of Health or local government agencies to authorize and establish "needle and hypodermic syringe access programs." These programs aim to reduce the spread of communicable diseases by providing sterile needles and syringes, as well as other related items. Individuals participating in these authorized programs would be exempt from criminal penalties for possessing or distributing needles, syringes, drug paraphernalia, trace amounts of controlled substances in used equipment, or drug testing equipment. The bill amends sections 7401 and 7403 of the Public Health Code to incorporate these new exemptions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts syringe program participants from criminal penalties for possession, reducing criminalization of drug use and aligning with justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables syringe service programs to reduce disease transmission, advancing public health initiatives under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Public Health

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