Lots of New Michigan Laws Take Effect This Week
While laws often go into effect the first of the year, in Michigan, lots new laws are taking effect starting this week. These laws cover the gamut of areas, including guns, minimum wage, LGBTQ+ protections, “right-to-work” and more.
Gun Safety
Feb. 13 marks the one-year anniversary of when three students were killed and others were injured in the Michigan State University shooting. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed several gun safety laws a few months after the incident, and they take effect now. One law is that if a firearm is left unattended, Michigan residents must store them unloaded and locked with a device or in a locked box if it is “reasonably known” a minor could be present. To help facilitate this law, the cost of gun safety devices will be lowered. Also, universal background checks will now be a requirement for all gun owners. Finally, red flag laws are going into effect to prevent individuals who “pose a risk to themselves or others” from having or buying a firearm.
Right-to-Work Repeal and Prevailing Wage
Michigan’s right-to-work law was passed in 2012 by a Republican Legislature. Now, the law is being repealed. The right-to-work law let individuals in unionized workplaces to not have to pay union dues and fees. Also, the prevailing wage law, which was repealed in 2018, will be restored. It restores the law that made it mandatory that any government-funded project had to pay workers union-level wages.
LGBTQ+ Rights Expanded
Michigan is also expanding its anti-discrimination law, which will give protections for LGBTQ+ Michiganders. The legislation expands the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), which makes it illegal to discriminate based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status. Now, with the expansion, the ELCRA also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender to the act.
Abortion
Whitmer signed the Reproductive Health Act into law in November 2023. “The package of bills repeals politically motivated, medically unnecessary statutes that criminalized nurses and doctors, forced health care providers to close, raised costs for patients, and restricted access to abortion,” Whitmer’s office said in a statement. This move will expand abortion access following the passing of Proposal 3, which repealed the 1931 abortion ban.
Clean Energy
Climate bills that were signed late last year will also go into effect this week. The new legislation will lower utility costs for families and small businesses by bettering energy efficiency and waste reduction programs. Also, the new laws product Michigan’s air, land and water, with the requirement that Michigan will produce half of its energy from renewable sources, 60% by 2035 and all energy via clean sources by the year 2040.
Michigan Laws Going Into Effect in 2024: Guns, Minimum Wage and More
Minimum wage
Beginning on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the state of Michigan’s minimum wage will increase from $10.10 to $10.33. This change is thanks to Michigan’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018. That law resulted in an annual schedule of increases.
(Photo Illustration by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Prevailing Wage Act
This year, Gov. Whitmer signed a bill restoring a prevailing wage act. This bill means that Michigan-hired contractors are required to pay their employees at the union level.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Teens in Michigan can pre-register to vote
Now, 16-year-old high school students in Michigan are able to pre-register to vote. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says, “This new law helps us prepare the next generation of voters to inherit their democracy, bolstering our state’s commitment to engaging young people, educating them about the democratic process, and getting them ready to cast a ballot once they turn 18.”
Teens can pre-register to vote. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
No more "right-to-work"
Michigan’s right-to-work law is being repealed. The state’s “right-to-work” law was passed over a decade ago. Michigan’s “right-to-work” law had enabled workers in union settings to choose not to pay union dues and fees.
(Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Expanded Elliot-Larsen Act
Earlier this year, Whitmer signed an expansion of the Elliot-Larsen Act. The act includes protection for those who are discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. That’s includes those in the LGBTQ+ community.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
No more third-grade reading law
Michigan’s third-grade reading law has been repealed. The original 2016 law made schools identify students who were struggling in reading and writing and hold them back a year if they were more than one grade level behind. Now, that requirement has lifted.
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Michigan gun laws
New gun laws are here, and these were introduced into Lansing following the tragic shooting at Michigan State University. The House and Senate passed these bills, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed them. The new laws require safe storage (gun owners must lock their weapons away, if a minor is expected to be in the home), background checks (mandatory, no matter how you’re buying a firearm) and “red flag” (to cut down on possible violence for those who may have mental health problems or have threatened others).
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Clean Energy & Climate Action Package
Gov. Whitmer recently signed the Clean Energy & Climate Action Package, with a plan to have Michigan 100% clean energy by 2040. If all goes as planned, the state will produce 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2024.
(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
