Five bills to watch in the Michigan state legislature: August 2025

Each month, The Michigan Daily publishes a compilation of bills in the Michigan legislature for students at the University of Michigan to know about.

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.  Identity theft protection

Status: Passed by the Senate 

Introduced in June by state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-West Bloomfield, Senate Bill Package 360–364 was passed by the Senate on Aug. 28. These bills are a part of a bipartisan data breach package spearheaded by Bayer to expand protections for personal data such as passport numbers and medical records for Michigan consumers. If signed into law, the bill would expand the Identity Theft Protection Act.

SB 360 also mandates a security framework and breach response among public agencies. Additionally, it empowers the state attorney general to enforce compliance and impose penalties. 

The passage of SB 361-364 is first contingent on the approval of SB 360. Each bill serves to align existing legislation with the new enhanced Identity Theft Protection Act, such as the Deferred Presentment Service Transactions Act, Michigan Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure.

In a press release, Bayer wrote the state needs stronger consumer protections in light of growing cybersecurity threats. 

“As a victim of identity theft myself, I understand all too well the headaches, harms, and fear that come with it, and I’m working to do everything possible to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Bayer wrote. “This legislation not only aims to prevent security breaches from happening in the first place — but in the event that they do occur — it equips the Attorney General’s office with adequate tools to respond and investigate.”

The bills were referred to the House Government Operations Committee.

2.  Mitigating Hazardous Waste Risks 

Status: Passed by the Senate

State Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, introduced SB 246 and SB 247 in April, both of which were passed by the Senate on Aug. 26. This package aims to establish the Hazardous Waste Protection Act to better control toxic waste disposal and enhanced protection for residents. 

Senate Bill 246 updates the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by increasing disposal fees, restricting certain waste disposal wells and limiting landfilling of the “Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material.” Senate Bill 247 introduces a disposal fee for class I commercial injection wells that use multiple waste sources.

In a press release, Camilleri wrote stronger protections for communities affected by hazardous waste disposal will benefit residents across the state.

“The constituents and communities I represent have been demanding action to keep them safer, and I’m proud to deliver on that effort today,” Camilleri wrote. “While private waste companies profit, our residents and local governments have had no say in the types of dangerous waste being buried in their backyards. By better regulating this industry, the entire state will benefit.”

The bills were referred to the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.

3.  House Budget Cuts

Status: Passed by the House

Introduced by state Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, who serves as the chair of the Appropriations Committee, House Bill 4706, was passed on Aug. 26 and serves as the state’s budget plan for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, including major cuts across several state departments, agencies and branches of government. 

The approved budget totaled $56.6 billion and covered most state departments outside of the U.S. Department of Education, following the school aid budget passed by the House earlier this year. The bill included an almost $4 billion cut to the state’s largest agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leading to a 13% reduction in Medicaid and behavioral health programs and another $1.07 billion from human services. The bill also cuts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by more than $400 million, allocates $20 million for infrastructure, $3.4 billion in new and ongoing funding to fix local roads without raising taxes.

In a press conference, Bollin addressed cuts to Medicaid, saying he feels the budget reins in excess spending and ensures taxpayer dollars are responsibly used. 

“Even with these reforms, funding for these programs continues to grow,” Bollin said. “We are committed to protecting services for our most vulnerable people, and our budget ensures that benefits remain available for those who truly need them.”

Bollin also said this budget marks a shift in state government priorities.

“For the last two years, the legislature has passed bloated budgets full of gimmicks and one-time giveaways,” Bollin said. “This year, I focused on restoring trust in the process. We’ve proven you can pass a balanced budget that respects taxpayers, delivers results, and invests in the things families care about most, all without raising taxes.”

In response to the cuts made to the Michigan Department of Corrections and state judiciary system, state Sen. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Twp., chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections and Judiciary, stated in a press release she worries this budget will pose a threat to public safety.

“Our judiciary branch and state corrections department are tasked with ensuring our public safety and access to an effective legal system, but they cannot adequately serve our residents if they don’t have the resources they need,” Shink said. “House Republicans have proposed millions of dollars in funding cuts to MDOC and the legal system, gutting support for criminal justice programs designed to prevent crime, taking corrections officers out of our prisons and eliminating funding for efficient court operations.”

The bill will move on to the Senate for review. Michigan lawmakers must pass a budget by Oct. 1 to avoid a government shutdown.

4.  Menopause education 

Status: Introduced to the House 

In a bipartisan effort, House Bills 4790 and 4791 were introduced on Aug. 21 by state Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown, and state Rep. Samantha Steckloff, D-Farmington Hills, to enhance awareness and education regarding menopause and related health conditions.

The bills would establish amendments to the Public Health Code, requiring physicians to complete continuing education on women’s midlife health, along with establishing a menopause transition awareness education program within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

In an interview with The Daily News, Thompson said the package’s goal is to remove stigma surrounding conversations about menopause and perimenopause, and provide a better understanding of what occurs during menopause. 

“At 48, I can honestly say I’m living through it myself — sometimes laughing, sometimes crying and sometimes wondering why I walked into the room in the first place,” Thompson said. “This isn’t just about biology; it’s about real life. Millions of women, including our colleagues, friends and family members, are going through these changes every day, and it’s time we talked about it openly.”

The bills were referred to the House Health Policy Committee.

5.  Removal of gender identity protections

Status: Introduced to the House 

Introduced by state Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, on Aug. 20, House Bill 4777 proposes removing gender identity or expression as protected categories under the Elliott‑Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976. 

The ELCRA currently protects against discrimination based on religion, race, age, gender and sexual orientation, among other things. If signed into law, this bill would mean that discrimination against someone based on their gender identity or expression would no longer be prohibited under state law.  

In 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Act 6 amendments of the Public Acts, to amend the ELCRA so it prohibits discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. 

Whitmer has previously stated her support for LGBTQ+ rights, writing in an X post her approval of an expansion to the ELCRA.

“I’m celebrating trans women who have continuously led the way, despite constant threats to their lives and liberty,” Whitmer wrote. “I’m proud that we’re finally in a position to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect LGBTQ+ Michiganders.”

The bill was referred to the House Government Operations Committee.

Daily Staff Reporter Gia Verma can be reached at giaverma@umich.edu

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