Five bills to watch in the Michigan state legislature: August 2024

Each month, The Michigan Daily publishes a compilation of bills in the Michigan legislature to inform students at the University of Michigan about what is happening in their state.

The following article explains five bills that have been introduced, passed or signed into law by the Michigan Legislature or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer throughout the month of August.

1. Election recount restrictions

Status: Signed by Whitmer

Senate Bills 603 and 604, introduced by state Sens. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, and Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, are designed to streamline the election recount process and ensure that all ballots are re-examined in the case of a legitimate recount.

The updates to the state’s recount procedures allow candidates to request a recount if they can “allege a good-faith belief” an error in vote counting could have reasonably led to a change in the election results. 

Moss said the new laws expand the number of ballots that can be recounted. 

“It is modernizing the law so that all ballots can be subject to a recount,” Moss said. “This is making the integrity of the election results stronger. And this is subjecting more, if not all, ballots in a given election to a recount.”

After the bills took effect, misinformation quickly spread on social media and from lawmakers about the laws’ purposes. Despite claims otherwise, the bill does not prohibit recounts based on fraud allegations. Nonetheless, in a May press release, state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay, joined other Republican legislators in accusing the bills of potentially tainting the election procedures.  

At the bill’s signing, Chang reaffirmed her commitment to the bill’s importance for democratic processes.

“Today, with the signing of our common-sense recount law reforms, we are strengthening our democracy and ensuring that we reach the most accurate count of the ballots possible during a recount process,” Chang said. “These laws achieve critical goals of protecting the security of every vote, modernizing our recount process, and uplifting the voices of Michigan voters.”

2. New K-12 education budget

Status: Signed by Whitmer

Whitmer signed a $23 billion education budget for fiscal year 2025 in late July, marking a record high for K-12 education investment.

The budget, effective Oct. 1, 2024, allocates over $400 per pupil, amounting to a $600 million increase. It also allocates an additional $134 million for student mental health and school safety, $200 million for free breakfast and lunch programs, and $130 million to expand free pre-K for every 4 year old. In a July press release, Whitmer said the budget will bolster the Michigan education system. 

“This balanced education budget — my sixth — makes record-breaking investments to support our students, invest in our schools, and empower our educators,” Whitmer said. “With access to free pre-K for all, record funding for students, free school meals, on-campus mental health resources, and tuition-free community college for every high school graduate, this budget will improve outcomes, lower costs, and strengthen our education system.”

Some lawmakers and education advocates expressed concerns over the smaller increase in per-pupil funding and mental health funding as compared to fiscal year 2024. Last year’s budget allocated $328 million for mental health and school safety — over double this year’s $134 million.

In a press release, state Rep. David Martin, R-Davison, wrote he believes the budget cuts to security measures, mental health programming and school districts are concerning.

“These cuts deal a devastating blow to schools in Genesee County and throughout Michigan,” Martin wrote. “Schools cannot function properly without adequate funding for safety and mental health. These budget cuts recklessly and unnecessarily put our children at risk.”

The education budget is part of the state’s nearly $83 billion budget, which the Legislature approved last month. In the new education budget, the U-M Ann Arbor campus will receive nearly $366 million, U-M Dearborn will receive $32 million and U-M Flint will receive around $27 million. This represents a nearly 3% decrease for the Ann Arbor and Dearborn campuses and an around 2% increase for the Flint campus.

State Superintendent Michael Rice praised the investments in a press release but highlighted the decreased funding for at-risk students and districts.

“While we appreciate the additional investments by the governor and legislature in categories that assist economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, English learners, and students in rural or isolated districts, I am concerned about a significant reduction in funding for student mental health and school safety,” Rice wrote.

3. LGBTQ+ ‘panic’ defenses ban

Status: Signed by Whitmer

House Bill 4718, sponsored by more than 20 legislators including state Reps. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, and Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, seeks to limit the use of personal traits such as sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation in legal defenses and arguments. The law guarantees that such characteristics cannot be used to justify legal culpability or to legitimize violent acts.

Whitmer signed the bill into law on July 23, emphasizing the importance of the bill. 

“No one should fear violence because of their sexuality or gender identity,” Whitmer stated. 

When signing the bill, Whitmer reflected on her administration’s efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community. She pointed to several key initiatives, including expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and establishing the Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission.

“Since I took office, we expanded the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to cover the LGBTQ+ community, established the Michigan LGBTQ+ Advisory Council, and banned conversion therapy for minors,” Whitmer said. “Our work is not done as we continue to make progress and move Michigan forward. I look forward to reviewing the legislation and continuing to work alongside the LGBTQ+ community to ensure justice.”

4. Low-income residential water affordability program

Status: Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services

In a move to assist Michigan residents struggling with high water bills, Senate Bill 980 proposes changes to the state’s social welfare policies. Introduced by state Sens. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, and Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, the bill seeks to create a task force to make water more affordable.

The bill would establish a task force of water stakeholders, including consumer advocates, water suppliers and environmental organizations to develop a water affordability program. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and the Department of Treasury will implement the law within 18 months of its passing and will pay the difference between actual water bills and reduced rates.

The task force is contingent upon passing Senate Bills 549, 550 and 551, which focus on developing a coordinated effort to enhance water affordability for Michigan residents. In a press release, Chang highlighted the need for equitable access to water across Michigan.

“New data shows that between 290,000 and 390,000 Michigan households, in every region of this state, could benefit from a statewide low-income water affordability program, and we know this solution is not only the right thing to do for our families but also promotes greater public health and helps ensure stability for our municipal water providers across the state,” Chang wrote. 

5. Hormonal and emergency contraception access

Status: Referred to House Committee on Health Policy

Senate Bills 973 and 974, known as the “Freedom to Plan Act,” seek to overcome financial obstacles to emergency contraception and over-the-counter oral hormonal contraceptives for Michigan residents.

The bills, introduced by state Sens. Mary Cavanagh, D-Redford Township, and Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, would amend the state’s insurance code to require health insurance providers to cover a wide range of contraceptive methods, including emergency contraception.

In a press release, Cavanaugh said she believes this bill will help protect reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.

“Access to contraceptive care is critical to ensuring women have the power to plan their future,” Cavanagh wrote. “As the youngest woman serving in the Senate and still planning my family, this legislation is not just about health — it’s about ensuring every Michigander has the freedom to make choices about their bodies and their lives.”

In the same press release, Irwin said broadening access to contraceptives will ensure Michiganders can make informed decisions about family planning and reproductive health.

“People should have access to every tool to plan and make informed decisions about their reproductive health,” Irwin said. “By expanding access to basic healthcare such as birth control, we can ensure everyone in our state has the ability to determine what their future looks like.”

Daily Staff Reporters Shane Baum and Matilda Sophia Mottola can be reached at smbaum@umich.edu and msophy@umich.edu.

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