Updates About Health Policy

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.

On September 25, a conference committee approved $125 million in additional funding for school safety and mental health grants in Michigan’s K-12 schools. After cutting $300 million from the FY 2024-25 budget in a move criticized by House Republicans, the legislature has elected to restore $125 million to help schools enhance student safety and support mental health. Another $1 million from the School Aid Fund will be allocated to a student tip line for reporting improperly stored firearms accessible to minors.

The supplemental funding reallocates School Aid Fund dollars considered underutilized by House Democrats to prioritize these initiatives. The House and Senate approved this supplemental funding alongside a bill that permanently reduces the retirement contribution cap for schools.

Amidst the NFL draft festivities in Detroit, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law two bills aimed at bolstering cardiac emergency response in Michigan high schools. House Bill 5527 mandates the development of comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans, including the establishment of emergency response teams, AED placement, staff training, and annual simulation drills, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Complementing this, House Bill 5528 requires high school coaches to be certified in CPR and AED use. Both bills garnered bipartisan support in the state legislature.

Advocates, including bill sponsors Rep. John Fitzgerald (D – Wyoming) and Rep. Tyrone Carter (D – Detroit) and NFL player Damar Hamlin, emphasized the importance of equipping schools with lifesaving equipment and training. The Chasing M’s Foundation, co-founded by Hamlin, announced a significant donation of AEDs to Michigan high schools, emphasizing the vital role of CPR and AED knowledge in saving lives. The bill signing ceremony featured hands-on CPR training sessions, highlighting the importance of community readiness in responding to cardiac emergencies.