Michigan News And Capitol Report, Week Ending Friday, July 3rd, 2026
House GOP Votes To Scrap Youth Work Permit System; More
Employers would no longer need to obtain work permits for minors under legislation approved by the House, a move Republicans say cuts unnecessary red tape and Democrats warn weakens safeguards designed to protect child workers.
HB 5727, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres), would eliminate Michigan's youth work permit and registration systems and instead require employers to obtain and retain proof of a minor's age for the duration of employment. Acceptable forms of documentation would include a birth certificate, driver's license, school records, age certificate or passport.
The bill also repeals provisions governing the issuance and revocation of work permits and removes the role of schools and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity in approving a minor's employment.
Hoadley said the legislation preserves existing protections on hours, prohibited occupations and workplace safety while making it easier for young people to gain job experience.
"The bill reduces administrative burdens on families, schools and small businesses, while preserving all core protections for minors, including hour limits, prohibited occupations and all safety standards," Hoadley said. "Employers will still verify age and comply with the law, but without the added paperwork and delay that discourage hiring of young, eager workers."
He added that young people "deserve the chance to build skills, earn money for college or family needs, and contribute to their communities," particularly in rural communities where businesses rely on entry-level workers.
But Democrats argued the measure goes too far by eliminating oversight mechanisms intended to ensure minors are working safely and legally.
Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) said the bill would eliminate the official record of which employers are hiring children and remove important checks on the types of jobs minors perform, the number of hours they work and the wages they earn.
"This bill absolves employers from a fundamental responsibility of verifying a child's age, removes the requirement to obtain permission from the child's school and eliminates the obligation to secure permission from a child's parents or guardian, so parent rights," Coffia said.
She argued the legislation "strips protections from child exploitation and trafficking" and "actively reduces accountability for employers who do prey upon a child's vulnerability."
Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-Grand Rapids) similarly warned that Michigan's child labor protections would be "struck away" by the legislation.
The bill retains most of the state's existing restrictions on youth employment. Minors under 16 would still be limited in the number of hours they can work, prohibited from working during school hours and restricted from working more than six days in a week. The measure also preserves restrictions on minors working in establishments where alcohol is sold.
Additionally, the legislation requires schools to notify employers if a working student is "not in good standing," which the bill defines as having attendance, academic or disciplinary issues.
The House approved the measure in a 57-49 vote with only Republicans voting for the bill and Democrats voting against it.
Giving Michiganders The Right To Know That They Made A Bad Deal
Lawmakers also passed a two-bill package that bill sponsor Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) said helps prevent seniors, low-income and less-educated individuals who don't understand their rights from losing their houses to exploitative companies during a foreclosure.
He and his other bill sponsor, Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles), said these homeowners are often targeted by LLCs that show up right before a public auction to pressure people into quickly signing claim deeds. While they say these companies often pay a small sum of money, the homeowner ends up giving away important legal rights without fully understanding it.
What's often lost is their right to buy their home back after the auction, their right to stay in their house for a little while after and their right to any proceeds from the sale that exceed what they owed.
HB 5152 would require anyone purchasing a home in that "foreclosure gap period" to give the homeowner a detailed notice explaining the rights they are giving up by selling the property, including the right to redeem the home, remain in the home during the redemption period and collect any surplus proceeds if the property sells at auction for more than the mortgage debt. Buyers would also have to disclose the property's estimated value, the mortgage balance and how much equity the homeowner may be forfeiting. The seller would then have a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period before signing any sale documents.
If a buyer fails to provide the required disclosures, the bill would allow the homeowner to sue for damages based on the equity they lost in the transaction, with double damages available for willful violations and attorney fees awarded to a prevailing homeowner. The bill also requires foreclosure notices and cancellation notices to be recorded with county registers of deeds, creating a public record of pending foreclosures and canceled sales.
HB 5153 would establish similar protections when a homeowner sells or assigns the right to redeem a property after a foreclosure sale. The required notice would explain the property’s estimated value, the amount needed to redeem it, the value of the redemption right, the payment being offered and the date the redemption period expires. The assignment would also be subject to a seven-day cooling-off period, although that period could be shortened when the redemption deadline is less than seven days away.
“We seek to tell citizen individuals that, yes, they can make a bad deal, but at the very least, they must be informed about what is actually at stake, allowing them to keep the ability to redeem the home at an appropriate time, and also letting them know the surplus equity that they are signing away, along with their ability to reside at the home, as the law allows,” Paquette said in his floor speech.
Both bills passed 102-3 with Reps. Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Julie Brixie (D-Okemos) and Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) voting no.
Steele Supports Limited Government, But Not Limiting This Court
The last bill lawmakers sent to the Senate was Rep. Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion)'s HB 4833 that would allow the 48th District Court of Bloomfield Hills/Birmingham to keep all three of its judges if the local governments that fund the court approve it.
They would not have to reduce their judges even if a vacancy occurs or an incumbent doesn’t seek reelection. It would also remove outdated language about reducing the number of judges in Pontiac’s 50th District Court, since that reduction has already occurred.
“As a legislator who believes in limited government, I generally support efforts to reduce the size and cost of government whenever possible,” Steele said in her floor speech. “However, the government has certain core responsibilities that must be carried out effectively. One of those responsibilities, maintaining a strong and efficient judicial system that protects our citizens and maintains law and order within our communities.”
The bill passed 101-4 with Reps. Carra, James DeSana (R-Carleton), Joseph Fox (R-Fremont) and Matt Maddock (R-Milford) voting no.
Benson Embarks On Statewide 'Costs Down, Wages Up' Campaign Tour
Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is launching her statewide tour dubbed “Costs Down, Wages Up” embarking on Wednesday through July 8. The plan is to speak with voters about her plan to lower costs and raise wages, but also how she will “win in November,” her press release reads.
Her campaign shared that she will be joined by elected officials and special guests to crisscross 19 cities from Detroit to Cheboygan to tackle the main issue in this campaign: affordability. She plans to share how her agenda will “put more money in Michiganders' pockets.”
“At every stop, she will draw a clear contrast: the choice between a governor who fights to lower costs, or Republicans who have put politics over Michigan families,” the release states. "Team Benson has spent the last 18 months building a broad, statewide coalition to win in November. This growing coalition of state and local leaders, nonprofits and advocacy organizations supporting Benson to be Michigan’s next governor includes six major statewide labor unions, over 40 state legislators and dozens of local leaders, faith leaders and community organizers across the state, among others."
Yesterday in Detroit, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore highlighted Benson for her fight for small businesses and affordability vision during a roundtable discussion about her campaign with small business owners and city leaders.
During Moore's remarks, he reportedly said that she would fight with intensity for affordability and for creating pathways to wealth for everyone.
"I do think you're going to have a unique opportunity where you're going to have a dynamic mayor in Detroit and you're going to have a dynamic governor, in the Secretary of State," The Detroit News quoted Moore. "Do not miss that opportunity. Because when that opportunity shows itself, that means it's time to move."
The News also reported that Moore said he was going "all in" for Benson and hoped to come back to Michigan before the Nov. 3 general election.
The tour's itinerary includes:
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — Detroit, Oakland.
Thursday, July 2, 2026 — Saginaw, Bay City.
Friday, July 3, 2026 — Eaton Rapids, Jackson, Manchester.
Saturday, July 4, 2026 — Northville, Royal Oak.
Sunday, July 5, 2026 — Muskegon, Holland, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo.
Monday, July 6, 2026 — Grand Rapids, Manistee.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 — Traverse City, Petoskey.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 — Cheboygan.
Macomb Community College Looks To Make Voyage Into Military Shipbuilding Permanent
(WARREN) – The final cohort of students learning how to create parts for military submarines and ships at Macomb Community College — with their tuition free and covered by the U.S. Navy — will be graduating in March 2027.
It is now in the hands of the governor, state legislators and the community college to determine how the program is funded moving forward. Although the model might change, Christopher Reilly – the college's director of workforce and continuing education, engineering and advanced technology – says he is "not concerned at all" about the longevity of the program.
"This was directed toward expanding the fleet. We need a lot of submarines, we need a lot of surface ships and, in respect to everything happening around the world, there will always be a reason for national defense," Reilly said. "I don't see where this demand is going to dry up."
In November 2024, the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) program – funded by a $15.4 million contract with the U.S. Navy – went up and running. With cohorts of 24 students enrolled for 14 to 17 weeks, they learn welding and computer numerical control (CNC) skills.
As they train, they build components that are shipped to the East Coast, used to construct military submarines and ships ahead of them entering the ocean. In order to expand access and alleviate wait lists, Macomb Community College offered a morning program and an evening program, each hosting cohorts of 24 students.
"No, we're not putting (a submarine) in the Detroit River. Yes, it might be cool looking, but no, we're not doing (that)," Reilly said, hosting a visit by U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly). "But people don't realize the ability to contribute to that mission and be right here, and all of the defense contractors up down Van Dyke and Mound Road from 8 Mile to Hall Road."
Slotkin toured the M3 training facility alongside Macomb Community College's newest president, Lori Gonko, who was in her first two hours on the job when the U.S. senator arrived.
Chris Reilly – MCC's director of workforce and continuing education, engineering and advanced technology – and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) touring the learning facility for Michigan Maritime Manufacturing students.
Together, they saw the machinery used to shape metals and other materials for defense water vessels. In the facility, students learn how to read blueprints, type in the correct codes for robotic shopping and the programming behind delivering products. They walked through the stations where students use their welding skills, with orange sparks and bright blue light radiating from behind protective curtains.
When asked what Slotkin's office could do for the program, Nicole McKee, the college's government relations director, pointed to potential employers for when students finish the program.
McKee also described to Slotkin how the program has attracted mother-and-son and sibling combos, as well as veterans who recently returned from service.
"We have our contract, and we're solid," McKee said. "The challenge we have is the contracts going to the employers or to the businesses … there's nothing we can do about that, but we're training the people, so when there are jobs, they'll be ready to build the ships."
Slotkin, who worked previously in the U.S. Department of Defense and the CIA, explained that military contracts seemingly not moving quickly enough is not due to a want for money.
She described how, in the same way that the college had around six months to prepare the curriculum and get the M3 program running, "the amount of money we are throwing at this problem is incredible." She said it was kind of like a snake eating a big meal, and now the big chunk of cash is being digested by the system.
MCC President Lori Gonko; Chris Reilly and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
But overall, Slotkin releases an aggravated sigh when billboards come to Downtown Detroit, attempting to lure Michiganders out of state to work in shipbuilding.
"Michigan needs to grow. We need young people to stay, and we need to attract new young people to come here. It's fundamental for us, and these are the kinds of programs that help people get good jobs with promotion capability," Slotkin said. "Trying to build up ship-building in America is a huge deal for the country and for national security, so I come to a place like this, and I just think about the specialty we have here in Michigan on skilled trades, and how we need to be loud and proud about that."
Macomb Community College is optimistic about the governor's intentions to secure $5 million for the program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget, which legislators are wrapping up this week. With the future of the program's tuition-free nature transitioning from the military to state budget-makers, Slotkin expressed, "We're waiting, like everybody else. Bated breath."
Reilly is additionally working on making M3 a cash program like other community college courses that require tuition.
"We can use traditional grants that have been around that can support, so if this goes to a cash model, there is a lot of financial support out there that has been in place and is coming," Reilly said, adding that Veterans Affairs funding, federal workforce grants, Pell grants and other dollars overseen by Michigan Works! Association agencies can come into play. "There are a lot of ways to support an individual to get into this program, as we would do with any of our other programs."
Abdul Wants Public Ownership Of Artificial Intelligence
U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is calling for Americans to collectively own and govern artificial intelligence companies as part of a 22-point policy platform.
El-Sayed's "AI Under Democracy" proposal would place the technology industry under public ownership and give voters a role in overseeing its development and use.
"AI was built off us. It should work for us, not against us," El-Sayed said in a statement. "Americans deserve clarity, control, and a say in how this transformative technology will shape our world."
The campaign said El-Sayed is the only candidate in Michigan's U.S. Senate race supporting public ownership of AI and the first Senate candidate to propose placing the technology under public control.
The proposal builds on U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which El-Sayed's campaign said would transfer 50 percent equity from the largest AI companies into public hands.
El-Sayed's plan would go further by creating democratically elected boards to oversee AI companies and requiring those companies to operate under public benefit charters. Elected board members would be prohibited from moving through a "revolving door" between their oversight positions and the technology companies they regulate.
The platform would also require public board members to divest from existing technology companies.
"AI isn't just another tool. Even today, it holds the capacity to destroy our jobs, deny our healthcare, and surveil us," El-Sayed said. "That power can’t sit solely within the control of a few billionaires."
El-Sayed said democratic control would orient AI development around the public good while creating safeguards against harmful uses.
The economic portions of the proposal include an annual AI dividend, an automation levy and investments in education. It would also expand unemployment benefits and wage insurance for workers displaced by automation and establish revolving loan funding for small businesses.
Other provisions would establish mandatory standards requiring AI systems to be understandable, behavioral "red-teaming" to identify dangerous or unintended conduct and an independent agency to conduct safety testing.
The plan also calls for biosecurity requirements, mandatory reporting of AI-related incidents and restrictions intended to prevent AI from being used for domestic authoritarianism, surveillance or other prohibited purposes.
El-Sayed is also proposing controls on the computing power needed to develop advanced AI systems, "know your customer" requirements and guardrails preventing AI systems from independently accelerating their own development.
The policy additionally calls for protections against deepfakes and misinformation, a list of prohibited AI uses and international cooperation on AI regulation.
"Placing AI under democratic control is a critical step to keeping our democracy intact and our economy healthy," El-Sayed said.
The platform follows a separate proposal El-Sayed released in January setting conditions for the construction of data centers in Michigan.
Those conditions would include local job guarantees, energy regulations intended to prevent utility rate increases for residents and environmental protections governing the companies developing the facilities.