Labor & Employment

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4450: Labor: fair employment practices; certain physical characteristics of employees; prohibit employers from discriminating based on. Creates new act.

House Bill 4450, titled the "respect for physical differences act," aims to prohibit employers in Michigan from discriminating against individuals based on certain physical characteristics. Specifically, it prevents employers from making hiring, firing, or other employment decisions based on an individual's body type, degree of physical fitness, appearance, or other physical traits. "Appearance" is defined to include expressions of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, as well as religious or ethnic hairstyles, headwear, facial hair, and clothing style. The bill allows for exceptions if a physical characteristic is a genuine occupational requirement and prohibits retaliation against individuals who report violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination based on physical characteristics, including gender expression and identity, strengthening fair employment practices and worker protections.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4454: Labor: collective bargaining; exclusive bargaining representative of public employees; allow the commission to certify labor organization as based on petition and hearing. Amends secs. 12 & 14 of 1947 PA 336 (MCL 423.212 & 423.214).

House Bill 4454 amends Michigan law regarding collective bargaining for public employees. It allows the Michigan Employment Relations Commission to certify a labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative for public employees. This can occur if, after a petition, investigation, and hearing, the commission determines that more than 50% of employees in an appropriate unit wish to be represented by that organization. This bill introduces an alternative path for certification, distinct from the existing requirement for a secret ballot election in certain representation disputes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes process for certifying labor organizations as exclusive bargaining reps when >50% of public employees petition, directly advancing collective bargaining rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing Public Employees

Track

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4452: Labor: collective bargaining; relocation of an employer's operations less than 1 year after its employees elect a bargaining representative; make an unfair labor practice. Amends sec. 23 of 1939 PA 176 (MCL 423.23) & adds sec. 18.

HB 4452 amends Michigan law concerning labor disputes. It introduces a new provision making it an unfair labor practice for an employer to relocate, cease, or subcontract operations within one year after its employees elect a bargaining representative. This means employers would be prohibited from making these specific operational changes shortly after employees unionize. The bill also outlines the process for the labor commission to investigate, hear, and remedy such unfair labor practices.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employers from relocating operations within 1 year of union election, strengthening collective bargaining protections by preventing retaliation against newly organized workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4458: Labor: collective bargaining; public employer ceasing or subcontracting its operations; prohibit if done less than 1 year after its employees elect a bargaining representative. Amends sec. 10 of 1947 PA 336 (MCL 423.210).

HB 4458 amends existing law concerning public employee labor relations. The bill would prohibit public employers from ceasing or subcontracting all or part of their operations within one year after their employees elect a bargaining representative. This aims to protect newly formed bargaining units from immediate operational changes by the employer. The measure directly affects public employers and their employees who have recently chosen a union or bargaining representative.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits public employers from ceasing/subcontracting operations within 1 year of union election, protecting newly formed bargaining units from employer interference.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

Track

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4446: Labor: other; local government labor regulatory limitation act, 2015 PA 105; repeal. Repeals 2015 PA 105 (MCL 123.1381 - 123.1396).

House Bill 4446 proposes to repeal the "Local government labor regulatory limitation act" from 2015. This existing law currently places limits on the ability of local governments to regulate labor matters within their jurisdictions. By repealing this act, HB 4446 would remove those limitations, potentially allowing local governments greater authority over local labor regulations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepealing limits on local labor regulation enables stronger local worker protections, advancing labor rights by removing barriers to municipal oversight of workplace standards.95% confidence

Tags Local Government

Track

in committee · Michigan · House May 7, 2025

HB 4437: Labor: health and safety; Michigan occupational safety and health violations; modify civil penalties. Amends sec. 35 of 1974 PA 154 (MCL 408.1035).

HB 4437 amends the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) to modify civil penalties for workplace safety violations. The bill changes the maximum civil penalty amounts for various violations, such as serious or willful offenses, to be equivalent to federal OSHA penalties. It also requires the state director to initiate administrative rules to update Michigan's penalties to match any changes in federal penalties. This legislation directly affects employers in Michigan by linking potential MIOSHA fines to federal standards.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends MIOSHA to align civil penalties with federal OSHA standards, strengthening workplace safety enforcement by ensuring penalties match federal protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

Track

passed · Michigan · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 179: Appropriations: department of labor and economic opportunity; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

SB 179 is a funding bill that allocates $2.1 billion from state and federal sources to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly supports state programs assisting workers and job seekers, including workforce development initiatives like "Going Pro" ($54.7 million) and rehabilitation services for blind individuals ($32.1 million). The bill specifies funding sources, including $1.2 billion in federal funds, and details budget allocations for department operations, training centers, and disability support programs. As an appropriations measure, it enables the department to operate existing programs but does not create new policies or regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2.1B for labor/employment programs including workforce development and rehabilitation services, directly funding essential state services per appropriations act.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $2.1B for workforce programs including 'Going Pro' ($54.7M) and rehabilitation services, directly funding labor/employment initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Workforce Development

Track

in committee · Michigan · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 6: Labor: fair employment practices; various employer requirements; provide for. Amends secs. 1, 7, 11, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 18 & 19 of 1978 PA 390 (MCL 408.471 et seq.) & adds secs. 13c & 13d.

SB 6 updates Michigan's wage law to strengthen employee protections around pay deductions. It requires written employee consent for most wage deductions (including charitable contributions to nonprofits) and limits overpayment deductions to 15% of gross wages without consent. The bill clarifies that fringe benefits (like vacation pay) are separate from wages and creates new rules for employers dealing with independent contractors. These changes directly affect employers across Michigan and their employees who receive wages or fringe benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires written consent for wage deductions, limits overpayment deductions to 15% without consent, and clarifies fringe benefits separate from wages - directly strengthening worker protections in wage practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Michigan · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 4625: Worker's compensation: other; certain references in the worker's compensation act; make gender neutral. Amends secs. 118, 335 & 353 of 1969 PA 317 (MCL 418.118 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HJR F'25

HB 4625 updates Michigan's Worker's Compensation Act to replace gendered terms like "wife" with gender-neutral language such as "spouse" in Sections 118, 335, and 353. It specifically revises references to dependents (e.g., changing "dependent wife" to "dependent spouse") and clarifies definitions of household domestic servants and dependents. The bill directly affects workers, their spouses, and dependents receiving compensation under the act by ensuring language does not discriminate based on gender. This is a technical correction to align the law with modern gender-neutral standards, not a change to eligibility or benefit amounts. The bill does not alter existing compensation rules or create new benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentUpdates worker's compensation language to gender-neutral (e.g., 'spouse' vs. 'wife'), removing discrimination against same-sex spouses and ensuring equal benefit access for all dependents under the act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

Track

in committee · Michigan · House Jun 11, 2025

HR 127: A resolution urging the United States Department of Labor to reverse its decision to pause operations at Job Corps centers across the country and specifically in Detroit.

HR 127 is a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Labor to reverse its decision to pause all Job Corps center operations by June 30, 2025, with specific focus on the Detroit center. It directly affects approximately 217 enrolled youth at the Detroit Job Corps Center, who were reportedly told to leave immediately on May 30, 2025, with reports of some facing homelessness. The resolution cites the program’s 60-year history of providing career training, high school completion, and wraparound services (like mental health support) to disadvantaged youth aged 16-24. It emphasizes that the sudden pause disrupts critical services for Detroit youth and communities, as 321 Michigan participants were enrolled at the Detroit center as of 2023. The resolution has no binding effect but formally requests the Department of Labor reverse its operational pause.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationHR 127 seeks to reverse pause on Job Corps, a career training program providing high school completion and job skills, protecting educational access for youth enrolled in Detroit center.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentUrges reversal of Job Corps pause, protecting youth employment training and preventing homelessness for 217 participants in a workforce development program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track