NEW LAWS | Dozens of new laws will take effect in Michigan in 2025. Here are some of the big ones

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NEW LAWS | Dozens of new laws will take effect in Michigan in 2025. Here are some of the big ones

LANSING — With the start of a new year, several new laws are set to go into effect or have already been implemented.

We selected some of the new laws that will have the greatest impact on Michiganders in the coming year and provided an explanation of their purpose.

A complete list of the more than 180 public acts passed in 2024

Minimum Wage Changes

Michigan’s minimum wage will rise twice in 2025, according to a Michigan Supreme Court decision.

In July 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled to reinstate the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018, which will raise Michigan’s minimum wage over several years.

Minimum hourly wage rate from January 1 to February 20, 2025:

  • Minimum hourly wage increases from $10.33 to $10.56 per hour
  • Tipped employee rate of hourly pay increases from $3.93 to $4.01 per hour.
  • Training wage of $4.25 per hour for newly hired employees under the age of 20 for their first 90 calendar days of employment remains unchanged.
  • 85% rate for minors under the age of 18 will increase from $8.78 to $8.98 per hour.

The minimum wage will rise again on February 21, 2025, and by a much larger amount than it did at the start of the year, thanks to the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act.

Minimum hourly wage rate, February 21, 2025.

  • Minimum hourly wage rate increases to $12.48
  • Minimum hourly wage rate for tipped employees increases to $5.99
  • Minimum reported average hourly tips increases to $6.49
  • The 85% rate increases to $10.61

Each year until 2028, the minimum wage will gradually rise to $14.97. The state’s tip credit, or minimum hourly wage rate for tipped employees, will be phased out by 2030, with tipped employees receiving the same minimum wage as other workers.

A detailed explanation of the wage increase is available here.

Earned Sick Time

Along with changes to the state minimum wage, the 2024 Michigan Supreme Court ruling resulted in changes to employees’ earned sick time.

Starting February 21, 2025, all Michigan employers with one or more employees, with the exception of federal employees, must comply with new sick time laws. These new laws require employers to provide one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked.

Businesses with ten or more employees must allow at least 72 hours of paid sick time per year, up to the maximum amount accrued. Businesses with fewer than ten employees are required to provide at least 40 hours of paid sick time per year, plus an additional 32 hours of unpaid sick time, up to the total amount accrued.

Expanded Unemployment Benefits

Beginning April 1, 2025, Michigan’s unemployment benefits will undergo a number of changes. First, the length of time a person can receive unemployment benefits has been extended from 20 to 26 weeks.

The weekly unemployment benefit will then be gradually increased from $362, plus $6 for each dependent, to $614, plus $26 for each dependent, over the next three years. Here’s how it would appear:

  • Beginning on Jan. 1, 2025: Maximum weekly benefit becomes $446 plus $12.66 for each dependent.
  • Beginning on Jan. 1, 2026: Maximum weekly benefit becomes $530 plus $19.33 for each dependent.
  • Beginning on Jan. 1, 2027: Maximum weekly benefit becomes $614 plus $26 for each dependent.
  • Beginning on Dec. 31, 2027, the State Treasurer will increase the maximum weekly benefit rate and the unemployment benefit rate for each dependent by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually.

Open Carry and Elections

New laws governing open carry of firearms will limit where they can be carried. Starting April 1, 2025, open-carrying firearms is prohibited at polling places, local clerk’s offices, early voting locations, and absentee ballot drop boxes during elections.

The ban on open-carry firearms is only in effect within 100 feet of polling locations on election day, during early voting periods for early voting locations, and for absentee ballot drop boxes and local clerk’s offices for 40 days before the election.

The new law makes an exception for police officers and those with a concealed carry license.

Automated Speed Enforcement

Starting April 1, 2025, Michigan residents may see automated speed enforcement systems in work zones.

The new laws allow the Michigan Department of Transportation to install automated speed enforcement systems in work zones under certain conditions. The systems must include a digital speed display, a warning sign placed one mile before the work zone, and be used only when workers are present.

If the automated system detects a driver going more than 10 mph over the work zone speed limit while workers are present, the driver will receive a citation:

  • The first violation within a three-year period results in a written warning.
  • The second violation within a three-year period results in a civil infraction with a fine up to $150.
  • The third or any subsequent violations within a three-year period results in a civil infraction with a fine up to $300.

The law also restricts the use of images and data collected by the systems to traffic violations. Drivers have the right to contest citations issued by automated systems.

School Bus Cameras and Traffic Violations

Three pieces of legislation signed into law by Whitmer in December will allow public school district buses to be outfitted with camera systems, expanding enforcement of traffic violations for failure to stop.

The law allows school buses to use cameras mounted on their stop arms to record video or photograph vehicles that fail to stop or pass them. It also establishes a civil infraction fine ranging from $100 to $500, which will be paid to the school district and used for school transportation safety purposes.

Cardiac Emergency Response in Schools

Two bills signed into law in April will change how schools handle cardiac emergencies. The new laws, which take effect on April 1, 2025, will require schools to have a comprehensive cardiac emergency response plan. The new laws will also require school athletic coaches to receive CPR and AED training.

Michigan now joins Florida, Georgia, and Kansas as states with legislation addressing cardiac events in schools.

Automatic Voter Registration

Beginning June 30, 2025, Michigan residents who apply for a driver’s license or ID will be automatically registered to vote if they are eligible voters.

Increased Hotel Taxes in Kent County

Earlier this year, Whitmer signed legislation giving Kent County voters the option of increasing the county’s hotel tax. The measure was placed on the August primary ballot, and voters approved a 5% to 8% tax increase by a margin of approximately 9,000 votes.

The tax increase applies only to hotels and motels in Kent County and will be used to fund new attractions such as the Acrisure Amphitheater and the Amway Soccer Stadium. The tax increase took effect on January 1, 2025.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Insurance Coverage

A new law that takes effect on April 1, 2025, will require insurance companies to cover mental health and substance abuse treatments on the same basis as physical health services.

The new law requires that deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums for mental health and substance abuse services be no higher than those for physical health.

The law will also prohibit limiting treatment in terms of frequency, number of visits, days of coverage, days in a waiting period, or other similar limitations on the scope or duration of care.

Unionizing of Individual Home Help Caregivers

Individual home help caregivers in Michigan will be able to unionize and engage in collective bargaining under new laws that go into effect on April 1, 2025. Individual home help caregivers are classified as public employees by the director of the Department of Health and Human Services for the sole purpose of collective bargaining.

Expanding Michigan’s Family Independence Program

Whitmer signed legislation in October to expand a temporary cash assistance program for eligible pregnant women and low-income families with minor children. Beginning April 1, 2025, Michigan’s Family Independence Program eligibility will be increased from 48 to 60 months.

Personalized Historic License Plates

Beginning October 8, 2025, Michigan residents will be able to purchase personalized license plates for historic vehicles.

Tax Credit Organ Donation

This new law provides organ donors with a one-time tax credit of up to $10,000 to help them pay for donation-related expenses. The tax credit will be equal to the amount of unreimbursed donation expenses or $10,000, whichever is less.

Michigan residents can apply for the tax credit beginning April 1, 2025.

Changes to Esthetician and Cosmetologist Services

Two pieces of legislation signed by Whitmer in December will enable estheticians and cosmetologists to offer new services. The new law will remove restrictions on estheticians and cosmetologists who provide certain skincare and light therapy services.
It also restricts skin exfoliation to dead cells and requires a licensed physician to perform any “medical exfoliation procedures.” It takes effect on April 1, 2025.

Expanded Low-Income Energy Assistance

A new law is set to go into effect this year, increasing eligibility and funding for the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP). Beginning October 1, 2025, the law will change MEAP eligibility to 60% of the state median income rather than the current 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.

It also eliminates a provision that prevented more than 30% of the Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF) from being used outside of the MEAP’s crisis season, which runs from November 1 to May 31.

The law also establishes new requirements and powers for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), including a mandate to “prioritize providing energy assistance to vulnerable populations.” DHHS will also be able to establish guidelines for verifying applicants’ eligibility.

The new law will take effect on October 1, 2025, pending the governor’s signature on one final piece of legislation.

Financial Aid for Higher Education

This new law will expand students’ eligibility for the Michigan Education Trust by allowing funds to be used for qualified vocational schools, trade schools, and other programs. The new law applies the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of “qualified tuition program” to schools other than colleges and universities.

The law also aims to provide students and their families with more flexibility in applying for refunds under certain conditions.

It is set to take effect on April 1, 2025.

Housing Discrimination

New laws set to go into effect this year aim to protect renters from discrimination based on income. The new law will allow assistance and voucher programs such as Social Security and veterans’ benefits to be considered sources of income.

The new laws will also prohibit landlords from denying a tenant a rental opportunity based on their source of income.

The new laws will take effect on April 1, 2025, pending approval of one final piece of legislation by the governor.

Other Public Acts Signed Into Law in 2024

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