LANSING — Both the Michigan State House and Michigan State Senate adjourned for the year ending a session marked by landmark legislation passed by the first-in-a-generation Democratic trifecta. With adjournment, a 90-day clock begins that will make all bills not given immediate effect an effective date of February 13, 2024.
A list of accomplishments by the Democratic majorities includes:
- The Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families (Michigan EITC) is a tax benefit for working individuals with income below a certain level. The Michigan tax credit is similar to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (federal EITC). Public Act 4 of 2023 expanded the Michigan EITC from 6% of the federal EITC to 30% (see Michigan Compiled Law 206.272). This credit expansion is retroactive to the 2022 tax year.
- A four-year phase out of the “Retirement Tax” signed into law by Governor Snyder in 2011. This lowers taxes on seniors who live on a fixed income.
- Repeal of so-called “Right-to-Work” laws that allowed freeloaders to get union representation without paying for it. The law allows businesses and employees to negotiate without government interference.
- Repeal of a Republican-passed bill that denied Michiganders the ability to join lawsuits against large pharmaceutical companies. Drug immunity was singed into law by former Governor John Engler.
- Clean energy legislation that allows farmers to lease their land to wind and solar projects and makes Michigan a leader in clean energy.
- New financial disclosure laws requiring elected officials to disclose their sources of income. This law will ensure that Michigan under the new Democratic trifecta is the most open government in Michigan history.
- A budget that invests in local communities, neighborhood schools and working families. The full budget can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/budget/budget-documents/final-signed-budget-bills
