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Michigan Senate passes maternal‑health 'Momnibus', approves Open Meetings changes and foster‑care bill
Summary
The Michigan Senate approved a package of maternal‑health bills known in debate as the “Momnibus,” adopted changes to the Open Meetings Act and passed legislation to preserve income for youth in foster care during a floor session that included speeches by sponsors and several no‑vote explanations.
The Michigan Senate on floor action approved a package of maternal‑health measures commonly described by supporters as the “Momnibus,” adopted changes to the Open Meetings Act and passed a bill aimed at ensuring income earned by youth in foster care is reserved for their needs.
Senators voted on a series of final‑passage items and resolutions during the session. Senate bills 29 through 34 and 36 through 39 — the bills described in debate as a maternal‑health package — were passed after floor remarks by Senator Geiss, who urged colleagues to approve measures she said would “dismantle systemic barriers that disproportionately impact black and brown birthing people” and to “improve prenatal and perinatal health outcomes in Michigan.” The chamber recorded the following tallies on those bills: SB29 (22 aye, 14 no, 1 excused); SB30 (22 aye, 14 no, 1 excused); SB31 (22 aye, 14 no, 1 excused); SB32 (36 aye, 0 no, 1 excused); SB33 (19 aye, 17 no, 1 excused); SB34 (22 aye, 14 no, 1 excused); SB36 (36 aye, 0 no, 1 excused); SB37 (27 aye, 9 no, 1 excused); SB38 (36 aye, 0 no, 1 excused); SB39 (36 aye, 0 no, 1 excused). Supporters described the package as strengthening perinatal accountability, expanding Medicaid coverage for perinatal services, adding midwifery coverage and repayment eligibility, and creating a reporting tool for biased or unjust perinatal care; opponents registered recorded no votes on several bills.
Senate Bill 129, a measure amending the Open Meetings Act, passed on final passage by a 20‑to‑16 vote with one excused. Senator Runstead offered a no‑vote explanation on the record, criticizing the bill’s approach to remote participation for appointees and saying the measure “is allowing a person to just simply say, I have some kind of a disability and thus can go remote and not have to face the public.” Senators Bellino and Tice asked to have their no‑vote explanations included as well. The roll call announced the tally as 20 aye, 16 no, 1 excused and the bill was declared passed.
Senate Bill 18, sponsored on the floor by Senator Erwin, passed unanimously among those present (36 aye, 0 no, 1 excused). Speaking to the measure, Erwin said, “What senate bill 18 does is it rights a long standing wrong in our state foster care system.” He described the bill as preserving income that Youth in foster care receive — for example Social Security benefits tied to a deceased parent — so that the funds are reserved for the child’s needs rather than absorbed into state funds.
The chamber also adopted two resolutions presented without amendment: Senate Resolution 28, designating April as Community College Month, was adopted by voice vote after remarks noting Michigan’s 28 community colleges and three tribal colleges and citing scholarship programs; and Senate Resolution 26, designating April 18 as Lineman Appreciation Day, was adopted following remarks praising utility linemen who responded to recent storm damage.
Several other bills and committee reports were read into the record or advanced. Senate bills 107 and 144 were reported to the floor by committee and placed on the order of third reading earlier in the session; the committee report for those items was announced without amendment.
The Senate concluded the session and stood adjourned until the date announced by leadership.
