The House Rules Committee heard testimony on House Bill 49‑15 from multiple witnesses opposing mandatory implicit‑bias training for health care professionals under the Michigan Public Health Code. Dr. Rishi Mahabir, a practicing psychiatrist, testified in strong opposition and asked the committee to repeal the requirement implemented in 2022.

Mahabir described his experience completing a three‑hour mandatory implicit‑bias training and said the sessions began from an accusatory premise that all participants were biased. He told the committee the training felt like “indoctrination rather than education,” that it diverted time from clinical training, and that he saw no evidence it improved patient outcomes. He characterized the mandate as “government overreach” into clinical practice and said, based on his experience, the requirement risks worsening provider morale and exacerbating workforce shortages.

Committee members asked about evidence, randomized controlled trials and workforce impacts. Vice Chair Whitworth described her own experience with implicit‑bias training as “eye opening” and said she believed recognizing bias could improve patient care. The witness characterized his evidence of workforce impacts as anecdotal but offered to provide additional data if committee members shared contact information.

Several organizations registered written positions: the Michigan Nurses Association and the Michigan Dental Hygienists Association submitted written testimony in opposition; volunteers with Do No Harm submitted written testimony in support of repeal (as noted in committee records). The committee did not take action on the bill during this meeting.

No committee vote occurred; members expressed a range of views about the training’s value and evidence base.