2024 MI Legislative Scorecard

SB285 mandates kindergarten attendance for five-year-old Michigan children starting in the 2025-2026 school year, with districts and public-school academies required to offer kindergarten.

The Michigan State Senate passed SB285 on April 16, 2024 by a vote of 21 to 15. We have assigned pluses to the nays because education is not the role of government. A child’s education is the responsibility of—and a fundamental right of choice retained by—his or her parents. Forcing the citizens of Michigan to furnish taxpayer money to expand a compulsory, failing, and government-run K-12 school system violates their individual liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. 

SB603 revises Michigan’s election-recount process by increasing per-precinct recount fees and setting a 48-hour deadline for filing recount petitions after vote certification. It allows recounts to be requested only for vote-count errors and expands automatic recounts based on vote margins, not suspicion of fraud. Additionally, it adjusts recount fees every four years for inflation and introduces penalties for anyone interfering with recount fairness.

The Michigan State Senate passed SB603 on June 18, 2024 by a vote of 20 to 18. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation undermines election integrity by limiting recounts to only error-based requests, thus excluding fraud concerns. Free, fair, and transparent elections are essential, and by narrowing recount options, this bill weakens public oversight and trust in Michigan’s election processes.

HB4718 bans the use of someone's actual or perceived sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation as evidence for certain legal defenses. This evidence cannot be used to argue provocation, heat of passion, or reduced mental capacity. It also states that using force against someone based on their sex or gender identity is never justified.

The Michigan State Senate passed HB4718 on June 20, 2024 by a vote of 24 to 14. We have assigned pluses to the nays because Marxists and Leftists are pushing their woke agenda — claiming everyone that people can choose their own gender and decide what their pronouns are.

HB4131 requires Michigan insurers to cover telemedicine the same as in-person visits, as long as it's appropriate for the patient's care. Insurers cannot demand face-to-face visits if telemedicine is suitable. Coverage includes co-pays and deductibles, and secure audio or video must be used. This applies to policies issued or renewed after the bill takes effect.

The Michigan State Senate passed HB4131 on May 15, 2024 by a vote of 35 to 1. We have assigned pluses to the nays because mandating specific coverage requirements for insurance policies is an overreach of government power. This mandate interferes with the free market by compelling insurance companies to offer coverage for certain conditions, stripping away their rights as a business.

SB702 requires cosmetology and electrology instructors to complete 500-600 hours of training (300 for electrology) and pass a department-approved exam. Limited licenses are available for those with specific experience gaps or specialties like manicuring and hair care. Manicurists and estheticians must be at least 17, have completed ninth grade, and meet increased training requirements—600 hours for manicurists and 750 for estheticians—along with passing an exam.

The Michigan State Senate passed SB702 on March 19, 2024 by a vote of 26 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill expands government regulation over private industry and restricts free-market competition. By mandating increased training hours and new exam requirements for cosmetology and electrology professionals, SB702 places unnecessary financial and time burdens on individuals entering or advancing in these fields. This added layer of regulation limits access to the market, discourages entrepreneurship, and raises barriers for those seeking limited licenses for specialized services.