Advocacy News – Oct. 7, 2026
What’s happening: Labor leaders and Democratic lawmakers joined forces at a press conference last week, calling for the repeal of Michigan’s local labor preemption law – potentially opening the door to a patchwork of employment mandates across the state.
Why it matters: Repealing Public Act 105, a leading labor priority should Democrats regain full control of state government, would allow Michigan’s nearly 1,800 local governments to impose their own requirements on private employers – from wages and paid leave to fringe benefits, hiring practices and other workplace policies.
- Advocates are also pushing to repeal Public Act 98, which restricts local governments from requiring project labor agreements on publicly funded construction projects.
Our take: The Michigan Chamber led the charge to enact Michigan’s local labor preemption law and will make defending it a top priority if repeal efforts advance in the 2027-28 legislative session.
Regulatory consistency, predictability and a level playing field for employers of every size are essential to Michigan’s competitiveness.
Here’s why: Employers need clear, consistent rules to operate, invest and grow. Allowing thousands of local governments to establish their own employment mandates would create a costly and confusing regulatory patchwork.
- Costs and complexity would grow. Businesses operating across multiple communities could face conflicting rules, increased compliance costs and greater legal exposure.
- Small businesses would be especially vulnerable. Unlike larger employers with dedicated legal and HR teams, smaller businesses often lack the resources to navigate differing local requirements.
- Michigan’s competitiveness would suffer. Creating isolated “high-cost islands” could discourage investment, expansion and job creation in communities across the state.
The bottom line: Michigan needs a predictable, competitive business climate – not a maze of local employment mandates. Our state should be focused on removing barriers to growth, not creating nearly 1,800 opportunities to add new ones, especially at a time when most states have moved toward uniform standards.
For questions or more information, contact Wendy Block.