Updates About Legislation

The first half of 2025 has produced the lowest number of public acts during an active legislative session in Michigan history. Only six public acts have been signed into law, far below the nearly 200-bill average typically passed by mid-July. The only instances with fewer laws enacted were years when the Legislature didn’t convene at all. Prior to 1951, the Legislature typically met every two years, but even in years with brief special sessions, more was accomplished. For instance, during the Spanish-American War in 1898, lawmakers passed eight public acts in just 22 days. This sluggish pace has been attributed to the partisan standoff between the Republican-led House and Democrat-controlled Senate, with observers on both sides pointing to a breakdown in bipartisan cooperation and growing political polarization.

Tensions reached a boiling point in the Michigan House last week after Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) was abruptly removed from his post as minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee by Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp). The move followed Farhat’s no vote on HB 4506, a Republican-backed bill that would allow life without parole for 19- and 20-year-olds convicted of particularly violent crimes, and HB 4141, which proposed banning cell phone use by students in schools.

Farhat defended his vote, arguing the policy deserved further debate and that Democrats were given little time to review final language. Speaker Hall, however, claimed Farhat failed to uphold a commitment and pointed to his resistance during budget talks as further justification. The session, which lasted more than seven hours, ended with no bills passed and deepened uncertainty over who will now represent House Democrats in ongoing—and already strained—budget negotiations.

Recently, the House Health Policy Committee unanimously voted out two bills aimed at improving how patient information is shared across Michigan’s health care system. HB 4037 and HB 4038 aim to create a centralized Health Data Utility and designate a portion of the Medicaid budget for operating costs. This new system would allow patient data to securely follow individuals through their entire health journey, from the ambulance to the hospital, to the doctor’s office or a rehabilitation facility. The bills also allow access to schools and foster care, decreasing the chances that pertinent medical information is omitted at every step in the patient care process. Patients would also have the autonomy to opt in or out with any Michigan providers.

The approved non-profit Health Data Utility would be the Michigan Health Information Network (MiHIN), which already services secure health data in the billions. Sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) and Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), the legislation now heads to the House floor with broad bipartisan support. While a similar proposal passed the House last session, the Senate was apprehensive about altering patient privacy protections and data security.