Legislation that has faced a series of legal challenges was reintroduced this week in both the House and Senate. According to the sponsors, the legislation seeks to target affordability for workers and families, lower healthcare costs for local public employees, and protect assistance and benefit programs from debt collectors.
The issue began when Speaker of the House Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) assumed his leadership role in January 2025. Nine bills had passed both the House and Senate at the end of 2024 but weren’t presented to the governor before the end of the previous Speaker of the House’s term. Speaker Hall declined to present them to Governor Whitmer, prompting a legal challenge from the Michigan Senate. After multiple steps through the legal process, the question over presenting the legislation was heard by the Michigan Supreme Court. Last month, the court let a lower court ruling stand, stating that the bills must be presented to the governor. The bills were presented, but Governor Whitmer vetoed the legislation, citing implementation issues stemming from the nearly two-year lapse.
The reintroduced legislation would:
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- Exempt public assistance from garnishment.
- Allow for millage questions on ballots for history museum authorities.
- Allow Michigan Department of Corrections officers to opt into the Michigan State Policy pension plan.
- Expand health insurance for public employees.
