This bill modifies Michigan's Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act by establishing a progressive minimum wage structure that increases the state's hourly minimum wage to $12.48 in February 2025, $13.73 in January 2026, and $15.00 in January 2027. The bill introduces an annual inflation adjustment mechanism starting in October 2027, where the state treasurer will calculate minimum wage increases based on the Consumer Price Index, though this adjustment will not take effect if the state's unemployment rate is 8.5% or higher. For tipped employees, the bill establishes a graduated minimum wage rate that starts at 38% of the standard minimum wage in 2025 and incrementally increases to 50% by 2031, with specific conditions such as employees retaining their full gratuities and employers providing written consent. The legislation also outlines enforcement mechanisms, including the ability for employees to bring civil actions for wage violations and potential fines for employers who fail to comply, with penalties ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 depending on the type of violation. The bill includes several exemptions for certain types of employees, such as those covered by federal labor standards, domestic service workers, summer camp employees, and agricultural workers, ensuring that the minimum wage provisions do not adversely impact specific employment sectors.

Raising the State Minimum Wage

This bill removes the sunset provision for the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which is a voluntary agreement among participating states to streamline the medical licensing process for qualified physicians. The bill allows physicians who meet specific eligibility criteria to obtain expedited medical licenses in multiple states through a simplified application process. Key provisions include establishing a detailed framework for physician qualification, including requirements for medical education, licensing examinations, and professional standing. The compact creates an Interstate Commission to administer the process, manage information sharing between state medical boards, facilitate joint investigations, and coordinate disciplinary actions. Physicians can apply for an expedited license through their "state of principal license" after meeting stringent requirements such as having a full and unrestricted medical license, passing medical licensing examinations, completing graduate medical education, and maintaining a clean professional record. The compact aims to enhance healthcare access by making it easier for physicians to practice across state lines while maintaining rigorous professional standards and patient safety protections. By removing the sunset provision, the bill ensures the continued implementation of this interstate licensing mechanism beyond its originally scheduled expiration date.

SB60

Medical Licensure Compact Permanency Act

This bill amends Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to clarify and expand provisions related to public records disclosure, with a particular focus on the legislative and executive branches. The bill requires all public bodies, including cities, counties, state departments, the state legislature, and the governor's office, to designate a specific FOIA coordinator responsible for processing public record requests. It provides more detailed guidelines for how public bodies can appeal or challenge FOIA requests, including specifying that appeals for state legislative bodies must be directed to designated individuals in the House of Representatives or Senate. The bill also significantly expands exemptions for the executive and legislative branches, allowing them to withhold records related to appointments, internal investigations, constituent communications, security concerns, and records created or held for less than 30 days. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these new exemptions do not limit the constitutional privileges and immunities of the legislative branch. The changes aim to provide more clarity and flexibility in how public bodies handle information requests while maintaining certain protections for sensitive governmental communications and processes. The bill will take effect on January 1 of the first odd-numbered year that begins at least 6 months after its enactment, and is contingent on the passage of a related Senate Bill.

FOIA Clarification and Expansion Act

Senate Bill 237 would amend the General Sales Tax Act and the Use Tax
Act, respectively, to exempt from sales and use taxes the sale or the storage, use, or
consumption of data center equipment under specific conditions related to the equipment’s use
in an enterprise data center (defined in the bills). The exemption would begin 90 days after the applicable bill is enacted and continue through December 31, 2050. For properties on
brownfields or former electric power plants, the exemption would expire December 31, 2065.

MI SB237

Data Center Tax Credit

This bill limits the instances in which a recount can be allowed. For only certain prescribed errors in the vote count, can there be a recount under this bill.

SB603

Increasing Regulations on Election Recounts

House Bill 5048 would amend 1974 PA 263, known as the accommodations tax act, to allow cities and townships in Kent County to collect a hotel-motel excise tax and to increase, from 5% to 8%, the amount that counties can charge under the act for a hotel-motel tax

HB5048

Increasing Hotel-Motel Excise Tax

This bill gives power to the secretary of state to instruct precincts and county clerks on how election audits should be performed in MI. This bill also prevents county clerks who are affiliated with a political party from overseeing the audits.

SB570

Alocating more  Power to the Secretary fo State

This bill codifies certain abortion laws in MI.  This bill removes previous protections to unborn babies. The only regulation given to prevent abortion under this bill, is when the baby is deemed “Viable”. If deemed viable, the mother may still petition to have an abortion by claiming the abortion is necessary for their mental or physical health.

HB4949

Codifying Abortion into MI State Law

This bill loosens multiple abortion regulations. One of the main aims of this bill is to remove a rule that stops a school office from giving out information about abortion services. The bill also removes certain requirements pertaining to pre-screening and post abortion reporting requirements.

MI SB477

Loosening Pro life Regulations

This bill states that the state cannot regulate abortion until the fetus is “Viable”. It also states that if a government entity violates this, the state attorney general can take legal action to enforce this law.

SB593

Decreasing Abortion Regulations

This Bill enacts an oversight board for Michigan Promise zones. It also focuses on the development plan of the promise zones in MI. The bill mandates the creation of a  comprehensive plan that includes details on financial assistance for eligible students within the Promise Zone.

SB555

Oversight Board for Michigan Promise Zones

This bill legalizes the right for mothers to breastfeed in public spaces. It was previously illegal due to public indecency laws.

MI SB351

Decriminalizing Public Display of Human Breastfeeding

This bill consolidates smaller voter precincts into larger precincts.  This will result in longer wait times and further distance to travel to vote for many citizens.  This new implementation may also elevate the risk of voter fraud as there will be more ballots to count in each precinct.

SB572

Increasing the Size of Voter Precincts

This bill amends the Michigan Election Law to provide for an online application process for absent voter ballots. The key provisions include: 1. Allowing registered voters to apply for absent voter ballots online through an application provided by the Secretary of State, in addition to the existing methods of submitting a written request, using an absentee ballot application form, or a federal postcard application. 2. Permitting voters to use their stored digital signature or upload a manual digital signature on the online absentee ballot application, which must be processed the same as a physical handwritten signature. 3. Requiring the Secretary of State to maintain an online absentee ballot application system that allows qualified and registered voters to request an absent voter ballot for elections in their city or township. 4. Providing instructions and requirements for the absentee ballot application process, including who can handle the application, the deadlines for submission, and penalties for making false statements or forging signatures. The bill aims to expand access to absentee voting by enabling an online application process while maintaining safeguards to ensure the integrity of the election process.

HB4570

Online Application for Absentee Ballots

This bill Expands absentee voting in the state and allows for post election day counting. This bill also includes very relaxed signature verification measures. It says that return envelopes can only be called non-matching if they are obviously different.

MI SB370

Expanding Absentee Voting

This bill implements laws that were passed in a ballot initiative. This bill expands mail in voting and early voting. This would allow people to put their mail-in ballots directly into a vote counting machine at their voting place.

SB367

Expanding Mail in Voting

This bill amends the Mental Health Code to define "conversion therapy" as any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill specifies that conversion therapy does not include counseling that provides assistance to an individual undergoing a gender transition or counseling that provides acceptance, support, or understanding of an individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social support, or identity exploration and development. The bill also includes provisions regarding when this amendatory act takes effect and its tie-bar with another bill.

HB4617

Banning Conversion Therapy

This bill amends sections 11b and 16m of Chapter XVII of the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure to update references to certain felonies related to firearms, weapons, and identity documents in the state's sentencing guidelines. The bill ties its enactment to the passage of House Bill 4138, which is also related to firearms and weapons. The changes in this bill aim to ensure the sentencing guidelines accurately reflect the current state laws governing these types of criminal offenses.

Winnie Brinks

Michigan | District 29

15.79

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RioSlum Studio

15.79

Lifetime Key Issues Score

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American Culture

33.33%

Big Tech & Free Speech

N/A

Border Security

N/A

Election Integrity

0.00%

Medical Freedom

16.67%

School Choice

N/A

Second Amendment

0.00%

Taxes and Spending

33.33%

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