2024 Lame Duck Uncertainty

The remaining time for Michigan’s 102nd Legislature is uncertain. The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Public Policy and Business Advocacy team is tracking vital bills that will profoundly affect business operations in Michigan.

The Chamber urges the business community, especially Chamber members, to promptly contact their state legislators and share their thoughts on the following legislative issues today.

Local Preemption – SB 1173 permits municipalities to enact local labor laws, including mandating minimum wage and paid time off.

• This bill passed the Senate and requires a House committee, floor vote, and possibly concurrence.

“Polluter Pay” – SB 605–611 establishes stricter clean-up guidelines for urban redevelopment, resulting in astronomical costs for developers, as well as unenforceable penalties on businesses.

• This bill passed the Senate and requires a House committee, floor vote, and possibly concurrence.

Price Gouging – HB 5895–5897 would have businesses at the mercy of the Attorney General if they were to increase their prices by more than 15% during a declared state of emergency.

• The legislation passed the House and requires a Senate committee, floor vote, and possibly concurrence.

TENORM Ban – SB 1052 would remove Michigan as one of five states that accept TENORM, which is commonly created in manufacturing processes, resulting in higher costs for manufacturers that will need to ship their waste out of state.

• This bill passed the Senate and requires a House committee, floor vote, and possibly concurrence.

HIRE Michigan – SB 579–581 revives old tax credit program for employers creating high-paying jobs in Michigan.

• This package passed the Senate and is on the House floor, waiting for 56 votes.

Productivity Credits – SB 861–864 revives an old program that provides credit towards sentences for inmates participating in job training programs.

• This package passed the Senate and is awaiting a House committee.

R&D Tax Credit – HB 5100 provides a tax credit for research and development that occurs in the state.

• This bill passed both houses and requires a concurrence vote of the Senate to move to the Governor.

As a reminder, bills need to first be voted on in committee, then moved to the floor for a chamber vote, and then are moved onto the other chamber for the same process. If the second chamber makes changes to the bill, the first chamber needs to vote on concurrence, meaning they agree with the changes made. The Governor then receives the bill after the final votes.

The Chamber’s Public Policy and Business Advocacy team is proud to announce the following anti-business legislation has been defeated so far:

• SB 1079 –1080 was designed to overhaul workers’ compensation claims, preventing exorbitant tax increases on businesses.
• SB 171 was a more extreme version of SB 1173 that would allow municipalities to create their own labor laws.
• Threats to raise the corporate income tax to pay for road repairs.