Just under the wire, the Michigan Senate passed House Bill 4002, a measure revising the state's sick time policy, late Thursday evening. This comes as Michigan legislators managed to strike a last-minute deal before changes ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court were set to kick in. The bill, which garnered a 26-10 vote in the Senate and a subsequent 81-29 vote in the GOP-controlled House, now proceeds to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk for her signature, according to details shared by CBS News Detroit.
The newly approved legislation modifies the Earned Sick Time Act, which is notably less stringent for small businesses with less than 10 employees, allowing them to accrue no more than 40 hours of paid sick time and eliminating a prior additional 32 hours of unpaid sick time. Larger businesses still have to offer up to 72 hours of paid sick leave. Despite pushing past the 11th-hour deadline, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said, "This bill is informed by the people of Michigan and negotiated in good faith across bipartisan lines," as reported by Detroit Free Press. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri expressed that while the work is not finished, this serves as a step towards offering Michigan families more stability.
This move closely follows last year's Michigan Supreme Court ruling, which deemed the 2018 "adopt and amend" strategy by Republican lawmakers unconstitutional. The original laws nearly restored by that ruling labeled small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and were created via voter initiatives looking to expand paid sick leave and raise the minimum wage. Now, with HB 4002 passed, these businesses are given until October 1 to comply with the policy, making it a notable deviation from the court-ordered schedule, as outlined by Michigan Public.
Linked to the sick leave bill is the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act, which ushers in a minimum wage increase to $12.48 starting this Friday, with plans to eventually climb to $15 by 2027. The legislation will also execute a nearly 38% increase for tipped workers beginning this Friday, ultimately reaching 50% by 2030. Despite Division in the House and Senate among Democrats, the bills passed with Republicans largely supporting them. However, this may not conclude the heated conversation on worker's wages and benefits, as "One Fair Wage"—a national advocacy group—is preparing a referendum effort if Gov. Whitmer signs off on the legislation.
