Labor & Employment

HB 4464 requires Michigan health insurers to provide dependent coverage until age 26 without discrimination based on a child's birth status, tax filing, or residence. It mandates coverage for newborns from birth (including congenital defects) and prohibits lifetime or annual dollar limits on essential health benefits like emergency care, hospitalization, and maternity services. The bill also requires insurers to cover specific preventive services - such as evidence-based screenings and immunizations recommended by federal guidelines - without cost-sharing for eligible patients. These requirements apply to most individual and small group health insurance plans in Michigan, excluding grandfathered plans, retiree coverage, and short-term policies.

HB 4288 prohibits Michigan state agencies from hiring for unclassified positions based on factors other than objective merit, such as education or work experience. It directly affects state agencies hiring for roles outside the classified civil service (e.g., certain executive branch positions). The bill requires hiring decisions to rely solely on merit-based criteria and imposes civil fines of up to $10,000 per violation, with the attorney general authorized to collect penalties. This legislation creates new requirements for state hiring practices under Michigan law.