Michigan Legislature 2024 Lame Duck Recap

Michigan’s 102nd Legislature’s two-year term ended in December 2024. Bills that were not passed must be reintroduced in the 2025-2026 legislative session to have a chance to become law. Below is a summary of lame duck activity from December that impacts long-term care.

Unemployment Insurance Reform Signed into Law

Senate Bill 40, which passed both the Michigan House and Senate in December, makes two significant changes to Michigan’s unemployment insurance. First, it increases the number of weeks an individual may receive unemployment benefits from 20 to 26 weeks. Second, the benefit amount increases significantly for the first time in 20 years, from $362 to $614 a week. The bill was signed by the governor on December 30, 2024, and is now Public Act 173 of 2024. It takes effect April 1, 2025.

Medical Malpractice, Worker’s Compensation, Consumer Protection Reform, Paid Family Leave, Guardianship Licensing

Due to HCAM efforts and member participation in our Call to Action, several bills that would have drastically increased the cost of providing care in Michigan failed to pass. They include:

• Bills that would have increased and, in many cases, eliminated the caps on non-economic damages for medical malpractice.
• Bill that would have broadened eligibility for workers’ compensation, increased the benefit and retroactively applied the changes to claims dating back to 1985.
• A bill that would have overly broadened the applicability of the Consumer Protection Act and implemented enhanced fines – applying the act to innocuous interactions with residents.
• A bill that would have required 15 weeks of paid family leave, funded by a new payroll tax.
• Bills that would have increased requirements for professional guardianships, exacerbating the shortage of guardians Michigan already faces.

HCAM was successful in advocating against these bills; and, with Republicans taking control of the House this legislative term, the bills are unlikely to see movement even if they are reintroduced. Thank you to all who participated in the Call to Action asking their legislators to vote no on the medical malpractice legislation. Your actions made our advocacy efforts a success!