Committee hears bill to reduce MIOSHA fines for family farms after on‑farm fatalities

The Michigan House Rules Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4017, which would let state regulators reduce monetary penalties MIOSHA can impose on family‑operated farms after a farm‑related death on property they own.

The bill was presented by Representative Nayer and Josh Scramlin of the Michigan Farm Bureau. Representative Nayer said the measure would not eliminate the reporting requirement but would allow heavier reductions in fines for family operations. "This bill seeks to reduce the financial penalty MIOSHA can impose upon a family farm operation in the event of a family member, accident or fatal accident," he said. Josh Scramlin, associate legislative counsel for the Michigan Farm Bureau, told the committee that the Eisenman family of Lenawee County paid more than $12,000 after a fatality because the death was not reported within eight hours. "Following Keith's death ... MIOSHA fined his grieving family a total of $12,000 primarily for not reporting his death to the state within 8 hours," Scramlin said.

Supporters described the bill as an effort to ease what they called an undue hardship on small family operations during a time of grief while preserving MIOSHA's core reporting powers. Scramlin said the legislation "does not eliminate the reporting requirement. We recognize that MIOSHA plays a critical role in protecting workers and that timely reporting helps prevent unsafe working conditions from being concealed." Representative Nayer added that the proposal would permit penalty reductions of up to 80 percent under the bill's terms and that the measure would clarify rule language to avoid future cases like the Eisenman family's.

Members pressed supporters on technical details. Representative DeBoer asked whether the Eisenman family was still being billed; Representative Nayer replied, "They've already paid the fine. It was, through themselves and help from their neighbors and friends that they did come up with it there." Committee members also discussed whether the bill's rule‑making language should be narrowed; Representative Nayer indicated willingness to consider more specific language on how MIOSHA could promulgate implementing rules.

No formal vote on HB 4017 occurred in the committee transcript. Supporters said the measure has a history of bipartisan sponsorship and previous attempts in past sessions; Scramlin noted earlier versions reached the governor's desk before failing on technical grounds.

The committee then moved on to other testimony.