Advocacy News – Feb. 12, 2026
What’s happening: The Michigan Chamber submitted formal opposition to Senate Bills 296 and 297, which would impose new limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.
Why it matters: Michigan is in the middle of a health care affordability crisis. These bills risk increasing costs and reducing access to care without addressing the root workforce challenges. Higher operational costs will ultimately mean higher health care costs for employers and workers, with no clear benefit to patient outcomes.
The MI Chamber’s concern:
- Hospitals are already facing critical nursing shortages.
- One-size-fits-all overtime mandates reduce staffing flexibility needed to meet patient demand.
- Hospitals could be forced to close beds or cut services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
What we’re doing: The Chamber is urging lawmakers to reject these mandates and instead focus on collaborative, market-based solutions that expand the nursing workforce, improve retention, and protect access to affordable care.
Bottom line: At a time when affordability is already strained, the bills move Michigan in the wrong direction. We’re actively engaged with lawmakers to advance solutions that lower costs — not add to them.
For questions or more information contact Dan Papineau.