Several new laws passed by Michigan lawmakers in 2023 will take effect on Tuesday, Feb 13, 2023

Making use of the first combined Democratic majority in the state House, Senate, and governor’s seat in decades, legislators have the numbers and have successfully approved by a wide range of bills from their agenda.

As we move into February 2024, we look at the implementation of significant laws, regulations and loss pertaining to gun safety, the minimum wage, LGBTQ+ protections, the “right-to-work” policy, and more.

This progress reflects the power of our elected officials hold to create their vision of a more inclusive, divided and forward-thinking society. Several of these new laws will take effect on Feb. 13, 2024, unless otherwise noted.

Gun Laws

Following mass shootings state lawmakers quickly passed a series of bills related to firearms in an effort to address gun violence.

Lawmakers aimed to address the issue of gun violence with a comprehensive approach, passing legislation that encompasses a red flag law, requirements for firearm storage, and universal background checks for purchasing firearms.

These bills, all successfully passed and signed into law by Gov. Whitmer, cover various aspects of these vital topics, with the exception of one bill related to red flag laws.

Here’s what’s taking effect

LGBTQ+ civil rights protections

Gov. Whitmer signed legislation that expands the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include legal protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

Initially passed in 1976, the act prohibits discriminatory practices, policies, and customs based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status. The act will now expand to include protect sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression from discrimination.

Bill: 

• Senate Bill 4

You Don’t Have the ‘Right-to-Work’ Law is Law

Passed in 2013, the right-to-work law prohibited unionized workplaces from mandating employee payments of union dues and fees. The law posed restrictions on unions, sparking opposition from union supporters in 2012.

Michigan is the first state in 58 years to do so. The repeal is seen by many as a victory for organized labor at a time when union membership has been on the decline.

Whitmer said the move would “restore workers’ rights, protect Michiganders on the job, and grow Michigan’s middle class.”

Now you have no control how your dues and fees and fees for the priviledge of paying those fees will be allocated. If you don’t know what that entails then by all means don’t worry about it.

Bill: 

• House Bill 4004

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Prevailing wage law reinstated

A law that was repealed in 2018 is set to take effect once again in 2024. Whitmer has signed legislation that restores a prevailing wage law, commonly referred to as the prevailing wage law, which mandates that contractors hired for state projects must pay wages comparable to those of unions.

Bill:

• House Bill 4007

More Abortion Barriers Removed

Abortion was legalized in Michigan after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2022. Democratic lawmakers and state leaders persist in their efforts to remove any remaining obstacles to abortion care and access.

At the end of November 2023, Gov. Whitmer signed into law the Reproductive Health Act, which is comprised of eight separate bills.

According to the governor’s office, the package was designed to repeal “politically motivated, medically unnecessary statutes that criminalized nurses and doctors, forced health care providers to close, raised costs for patients, and restricted access to abortion.”

Here’s what the governor’s news release said

• Repeals Michigan’s TRAP Laws, which are designed specifically to close abortion providers. These medically unnecessary and burdensome restrictions have nothing to do with a clinic’s ability to deliver care. They include rules about hallway width, ceiling heights, HVAC systems, and janitor’s closets. These restrictions jack up costs, especially for independent clinics, and have decreased the number of providers available to Michiganders, especially in Western and Northern Michigan.
• Repeals an old, outdated law from 1931 that would have criminalized nurses and doctors for prescribing medication abortion including mifepristone. Medication abortions are the most common way abortions are performed and have been safely used for decades. While other states restrict access to these pills, the passage of the RHA ensures Michigan providers and patients will have every option available.
• Ensures students at Michigan public universities have access to accurate information about all their reproductive health options. Young adults deserve the same medical choices that every other patient gets. For too long, students at Michigan universities could be denied access to information about their options—including abortion—depending on where they went to college.
• Repeals the law that forced patients to buy a separate insurance rider for abortion. Effectively, the law forced people to pay more out of pocket just in case they were assaulted.

Bills:

Repeal of third-grade reading law takes effect

Starting in 2024, third-grade students in Michigan will no longer get held back because of low reading scores.

In early 2023, state lawmakers voted to change a 2016 law that provides instructions for institutions and educators to help third graders “achieve a score of at least proficient in English language arts on the grade state assessment.” Under that law, third grade students with insufficient reading assessment scores would be held back under most circumstances starting in 2019-2020 school year.

Bill

•  Senate Bill 12

Minimum Wage Increase

Michigan employees making minimum wage will see a slight raise in pay in 2024. LOL

Under Michigan’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018, the state’s minimum wage is required to increase in certain increments at certain intervals.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, the state’s minimum wage increased from $10.10 to $10.33 per hour.

Here’s how the increase will affect minor, tipped, and training employees:

See the law

The wage is not considered a livable wage in Michigan.

An adult without children needs to make at least $16.27 per hour to support themself, while an adult with one child requires at least $36.81 per hour.

What are you going to do with that extra 23 cents ($1.84 per 8 hour day)?

Climate Action Plan

A package of climate-related bills were signed into law in November 2023. The new Michigan Clean Energy & Climate Action law includes several Democrat-led proposals to lower household utility costs, protect state water and air, and create more green energy jobs.

Have a seat and read the bills here.

•  Senate Bill 273
•  Senate Bill 502
•  Senate Bill 271
•  House Bill 5120
•  House Bill 5121

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