Michigan House passes drain-assessment change, health licensure compacts and several public-health and labeling bills

Lansing — The Michigan House of Representatives on May 13, 2025, passed a package of bills that included a change to the Drain Code allowing county drain assessments on Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)–managed lands, adoption of interstate licensure compacts for occupational therapists and physician assistants, and new state requirements for labeling and other public-health code changes.

The measures were taken up largely on unanimous or strong bipartisan votes. Several bills were placed on immediate effect after passage. The package touches property assessments, health-care workforce licensing, food labeling, liquor regulation and financial disclosure rules.

Representative Schuette, the sponsor who spoke on the drain measure, said the change would make assessments fairer for private landowners whose properties currently shoulder costs when adjacent drains cross DNR-managed property. “This policy is about fairness to Michigan property owners, and I urge a yes vote,” Representative Schuette said on the floor. House Bill 4118 passed on final reading, 104–2, and the House ordered immediate effect.

The chamber also approved two licensure-compact bills intended to ease interstate practice for health professionals. House Bill 4103 and House Bill 4104, presented to the House as the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact package, were supported on the floor by Representative Rogers, who described workforce shortages and said interstate compacts allow therapists licensed in member states to practice across state lines. “This compact will provide better accountability for consumers across state lines, help address shortages of providers, and improve accessibility to health care,” Representative Rogers said. Both HB 4103 and HB 4104 passed, each by a recorded vote of 104–2, and both were given immediate effect.

Representative Preston spoke in favor of House Bill 4309, which would enter Michigan into the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. “This legislation ensures that our state will be able to more easily recruit new PAs from across the country,” Representative Preston said. HB 4309 passed on final reading, 100–3, and was ordered immediate effect.

On consumer labeling, House Bill 4076 — described on the floor as requiring prominent labeling for lab-grown or cultivated proteins so consumers can distinguish them from conventionally produced meat — passed 99–7 and was given immediate effect. Representative Nyer, who spoke in support, said, “Consumers have the right to know what they are eating and how their food is produced.”

The House also passed House Bill 4276 (amending the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998) on a 106–0 vote; and House Bill 4309 (physician assistant compact, noted above) on a 100–3 vote. Two Senate-origin bills addressing financial-disclosure laws — Senate Bill 99 (Public Officers Financial Disclosure Act) and Senate Bill 100 (Candidate for Office Financial Disclosure Act) — were taken up after floor substitutes (H-1) were adopted and each passed on final reading (SB 99: 104–2; SB 100: 105–1). In both cases the House adopted floor substitutes identified as H-1 before passage.

Several resolutions and ceremonial measures were adopted without roll-call controversy. House Resolution 100, declaring May 13, 2025, Digital Asset Awareness Day, was adopted. House Resolution 101 (May 2025 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month) and House Resolution 102 (Police Week, May 11–17, 2025) were also adopted.

What the bills do (selected items):

- House Bill 4118 (Drain Code amendment): Allows county drain commissioners to apply drain assessments to DNR-managed properties the same as to private or other state-managed properties; passed 104–2; immediate effect ordered. Sponsor: Representative Schuette.

- House Bills 4103 and 4104 (Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact package): Authorize Michigan to join the interstate occupational therapy licensure compact, allowing licensed therapists in compact states to practice across member states; both passed 104–2; immediate effect ordered. Floor sponsor/advocate: Representative Rogers.

- House Bill 4309 (Physician Assistant Licensure Compact): Authorizes Michigan to join the interstate PA licensure compact; passed 100–3; immediate effect ordered. Sponsor/advocate: Representative Preston.

- House Bill 4076 (food labeling for lab-grown/cultivated proteins): Requires prominent labeling to distinguish lab-grown protein from conventional meat; passed 99–7; immediate effect ordered. Advocate: Representative Nyer.

- House Bill 4276 (Michigan Liquor Control Code amendment): Passed 106–0; immediate effect ordered.

- Senate Bill 99 and Senate Bill 100 (financial disclosure statutes): Floor substitute H-1 adopted for each; SB 99 passed 104–2 and SB 100 passed 105–1; both placed on immediate effect.

Votes at a glance (selected final tallies): HB 4118 — 104 aye, 2 nay; HB 4103 — 104 aye, 2 nay; HB 4104 — 104 aye, 2 nay; HB 4076 — 99 aye, 7 nay; HB 4276 — 106 aye, 0 nay; HB 4309 — 100 aye, 3 nay; SB 99 — 104 aye, 2 nay; SB 100 — 105 aye, 1 nay.

The House completed its business and stood adjourned until Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

(Full floor statements, substitute-adoption notations and roll-call tallies appear in the House transcript for May 13, 2025.)