What's left in the legislation: What Michigan lawmakers didn't do in 2024

Under the bill, legislative offices would not be required to disclose communications between lawmakers and their constituents, internal investigation records, caucus records, personal cellphone numbers and records related to ongoing civil litigation until those matters are resolved.

Communications between a parliamentarian and his or her constituent would only be made public if the constituent is a registered lobbyist – but not if the constituent is a member of an interest group or an influential business leader.

The proposal now awaits approval in the House of Representatives, which has not voted on any bill since June 27.

Transparency reforms

In line with the public records package, House Democrats have proposed additional transparency and ethics reforms, including the introduction of a one-year cooling-off period that would prevent elected officials from immediately taking on lobbying jobs.

The package, known as the BRITE Act, was publicly supported in committee testimony earlier this year by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel (both Democrats).

However, the bills have not yet left committee, let alone been voted on in the House floor, and no action has been taken on the bill since a hearing in April.

Safety efforts in schools

After a shooting at Oxford High School in 2021 that left four students dead, lawmakers seized the opportunity to focus on improving school safety.

Among other things, a package of 12 bills would outline safety training requirements for all security personnel, require that tips to the OK2Say student safety program be forwarded to authorities within 24 hours, and require each intermediate district to employ at least one emergency and safety manager and at least one mental health coordinator.

After failing to gain traction in 2022, the bill was reintroduced in February 2023. Since then, only five of the twelve bills have received hearings, and the bill remains languishing in the House Education Committee.

State Health Exchange

At the end of June, Senate Democrats passed bills along party lines to establish a government health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).

The bill would shift the state from the federal health insurance marketplace to a state-run exchange, which supporters called a “logical next step” to provide more flexibility in health insurance.

The proposal was referred to a House committee in June, where it still needs a final vote before passage. If Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs it, the exchange would begin operating in 2026.