Updates About Legislation

On Thursday, March 16, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed new LGBTQ+ protections into law under the state’s Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Over a decade in the making, the state has now added sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as protected classes against discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

A small number of Republican senators and representatives voted in support of the legislation. Those opposed to the bill shared their no-vote explanation, stating it could infringe on religious rights and freedoms. Public Act 6 of 2023 can be found here.

The Michigan House and Senate took further action on gun reform legislation by taking steps to finalize a package of bills containing legislation from both chambers. Senate Bills 79, 80, 81, and 82, along with House Bills 4138 and 4142 will head to the desk of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. House Bill 4143 will need a concurrence vote in the House prior to presentation to the Governor.

The package of bills would require background checks to be performed on all gun purchases, require individuals to obtain a license to own a firearm, enact red flag laws that would allow family, friends, or others to petition the court to remove firearms from those who may harm themselves or others, and require gun owners to safely store their firearms.

In separate but related news, President Biden issued an Executive Order this week seeking to reinforce background checks for gun buyers, strengthen red flag laws, encourage safe storage of firearms, and ask the Federal Trade Commission to analyze how gun manufacturers market firearms.

On Tuesday, November 29, the Michigan State Senate approved, by a vote of 34 to 1, legislation that would move the 2024 presidential primary a month earlier. Senate Bill 1207, sponsored by Sen. Wayne A. Schmidt (R-Grand Traverse), would change Michigan’s presidential primary from the second Tuesday in March to the second Tuesday in February.

Earlier this year, a panel of Democratic National Committee (DNC) members voted to eliminate Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status for presidential primaries. On December 2, the Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee approved moving South Carolina’s primary to February 3, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire three days later. Georgia and Michigan would vote thereafter.

SB 1207 did not pass the Michigan House of Representatives prior to adjournment for the year. If passed out of both chambers in the new legislative session, it will need sign-off from both national parties.