Michigan Senate passes wide range of bills, including maternal-health package and foster-care reform

The Michigan Senate adopted a series of resolutions and passed a broad package of bills during floor action, including a multi-bill maternal-health package, foster-care reform, and changes to the Open Meetings Act.

The measures approved included Senate bills affecting the public health code, social welfare act, insurance code and other statutes; several of the measures were part of an omnibus package addressing perinatal care and equity in maternal health. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 28 designating April as Community College Month and Senate Resolution 26 designating April 18 as Lineman Appreciation Day.

Why it matters: The package touches healthcare access and oversight (including new reporting and patient-protection measures described by sponsors), foster-care financial protections, and multiple statutory updates across state codes. Several bills specify changes to Medicaid and insurer reimbursement rules, and others amend long-standing state codes that affect broad programs and agencies.

Votes at a glance (final passage outcomes announced on the floor): - Senate Bill 129 (amend Open Meetings Act): Passed, 20 Aye, 16 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 93 (amend Food Law): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 18 (amend Foster Care and Adoption Services Act): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 29 (amend Public Health Code; part of maternal-health omnibus): Passed, 22 Aye, 14 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 30 (create the Biased and Unjust Care Reporting Act): Passed, 22 Aye, 14 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 31 (amend Public Health Code): Passed, 22 Aye, 14 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 32 (amend Insurance Code of 1956): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 33 (amend Estates and Protected Individuals Code): Passed, 19 Aye, 17 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 34 (amend Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act): Passed, 22 Aye, 14 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 36 (amend Public Health Code): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 37 (amend Insurance Code of 1956): Passed, 27 Aye, 9 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 38 (amend Social Welfare Act): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 39 (amend Social Welfare Act): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 135 (amend Insurance Code of 1956): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Bill 136 (amend Public Health Code): Passed, 36 Aye, 0 No, 1 Excused. - Senate Resolution 28 (designate April Community College Month): Adopted (voice vote recorded as adopted on the floor). - Senate Resolution 26 (designate April 18 as Lineman Appreciation Day): Adopted (voice vote recorded as adopted on the floor).

Several bills were reported out of committee and advanced to third reading before final passage. Secretary of the Senate read the roll and announced vote tallies after closing the board for each recorded vote.

Background and context: Sponsors and floor leaders moved the measures through the calendar and into final passage. Several bills moved through committee without amendment and were placed on third reading. A number of bills in the maternal-health package were described on the floor as a multi-bill effort to address disparities in perinatal care, to expand midwifery coverage, and to create reporting tools for biased or unjust care.

What happens next: Passed bills will proceed according to standard legislative procedure (enrollment and transmission to the other chamber or to the governor). The chamber adjourned to reconvene on the date announced on the floor.