Updates About Governor

Governor Whitmer touted Michigan’s strong job growth with the addition of 27,000 jobs in Fiscal Year 2024, signaling ongoing economic expansion. The construction sector reached a two-decade high, employing over 200,000 people, while Michigan’s labor participation rate rose above 62%—its best level since 2009. Key data from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) shows Michigan’s unemployment rate at 4.5%, with average manufacturing wages up 5% year-over-year, outpacing inflation.

The Governor has pursued several initiatives to fuel this growth, including $21.3 billion in clean energy and battery projects, a $500 million Make it in Michigan Fund, and a new Innovation Fund to foster local businesses. These efforts have contributed to Michigan’s leadership in the auto and clean energy sectors, record construction employment, and rapid small business growth, making the state a top performer in job creation and business climate.

Governor Whitmer signed 17 bills into law aimed at expanding healthcare access, supporting workers’ rights, assisting Michigan families, and investing in outdoor recreation. Key initiatives include unionization rights for home care workers, rural healthcare funding, and anti-discrimination protections. Below is a summary of each bill:

• SB 790 and SB 791: Allows 35,000 home help workers in Michigan to unionize, enabling them to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and professional development opportunities.
• SB 701: Expands healthcare access by redefining “rural hospital” to include counties with populations up to 195,000, allowing more hospitals to qualify for funding.
• SB 817: Allocates funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) for 18 land acquisition projects and 35 development projects, supporting outdoor recreation.
• SB 351: Expands anti-discrimination protections for breastfeeding parents, allowing them to pump in public settings.
• SB 150: Permits the Michigan Tax Tribunal’s small claims division to conduct virtual hearings, improving access by reducing travel-related costs and time for participants.
• SB 366: Aligns Michigan’s natural gas safety violation fines with federal standards, increasing accountability for gas providers and enhancing public safety.
• SB 744: Modifies requirements for teachers to complete their probationary employment period successfully.
• SB’s 926, 931, 933, and 934: Increases funding by $4 million per year for Michigan’s gaming and gambling prevention programs, with a focus on youth intervention and responsible gaming.
• SB 928: Removes a clause in Medicaid to ensure full coverage of birth expenses for approximately 66,000 unwed births, reducing costs for single mothers.
• SB 929: Redirects Medicaid funds to broaden access to a range of care centers, increasing healthcare access for low-income Michiganders and supporting healthcare workforce development.
• SB 932: Extends access to cash assistance under the Family Independence Program (FIP) from 48 to 60 months, providing additional support to Michigan families.
• SB 935: Sunsets the Raise the Age Fund, part of a broader initiative to keep minors under 17 in juvenile facilities rather than adult correctional facilities.
• SB 716: Allows owners of historical vehicles to obtain personalized license plates, celebrating Michigan’s automotive heritage.

The Michigan Court of Claims issued a temporary order blocking the enforcement of a 24-hour waiting period, mandatory informed consent, and a ban on non-physician professionals providing abortion services. Judge Sima Patel ruled that these regulations conflict with Proposal 22-3, which grants constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion care without unnecessary burdens. Judge Patel did not suspend all parts of the informed consent law; the requirement that abortion providers must ensure patients are not being coerced into the procedure is being upheld. Supporters of the order argued that delaying abortion care causes significant harm since it is time-sensitive and becomes riskier with time. Governor Gretchen Whitmer praised the decision, stating that the 24-hour waiting period and other regulations were unjustified barriers to reproductive health care.

Last year, Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives attempted to repeal the waiting period and informed consent laws but did not have enough votes to pass the legislation. The case will continue, with further proceedings expected to address what happens next.