Michigan Legislature Advances Voter ID, Anti-Terrorism and Business Bills in March 2026

Split Government Drives Legislative Action Across Michigan Capitol

LANSING — The Michigan Legislature saw significant activity in March 2026 as divided government between Democratic and Republican-controlled chambers produced action on a diverse array of bills spanning election integrity, public safety, and small business concerns.

The legislative calendar reflected the typical dynamics of split government, with bills making progress in one chamber while stalling in the other. Nevertheless, several measures advanced meaningfully through committee processes and floor votes.

Election Integrity Measure Sparks Debate

House Bill 4765, introduced by state Rep. Jason Woolford, R-Howell, would require individuals to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote. The bill would mandate that voter registration applications include proof of citizenship — such as a birth certificate, passport or naturalization documents — before being processed, and prohibit applicants from being registered until that documentation is verified.

The proposal comes amid heightened national and state-level debates over election integrity, including efforts by President Donald Trump to advance the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a similar federal measure that has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

Woolford said the legislation is intended to strengthen election security and ensure confidence in the voting process. "Michigan residents deserve to know their votes are protected and that our elections cannot be manipulated," Woolford said. "Requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID is a commonsense safeguard that protects every legal voter. If you are legally allowed to vote, these requirements should be easy and straightforward. But we cannot stand by while loopholes threaten the integrity of our elections."

The bill has drawn concerns from election officials. Aghogho Edevbie, Michigan deputy secretary of state, raised issues about Michiganders having to pay to obtain an Enhanced Driver's License, as a standard license would no longer be an acceptable form of voter ID under the bill.

"No eligible citizen should have to pay extra fees to exercise their constitutional voting rights," Edevbie said. "Michiganders deserve to have the facts. This bill is not about voter ID; it's a way to stop tens of thousands of eligible Michigan voters from casting their ballot."

Anti-Terrorism Law Strengthened in Senate

Senate Bill 502, introduced by state Sens. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Township, and Rosemary Bayer, D-Beverly Hills, was passed unanimously in the Michigan Senate on March 19. The bill would update the state's anti-terrorism statute by adding an intent requirement for prosecuting threats.

The intent requirement clarifies that individuals can only be charged if they knowingly or recklessly make a terrorist threat, rather than based solely on how their statements are perceived. The bill comes after the Michigan Court of Appeals raised concerns that the state's existing law lacked a clear intent standard, which limited prosecutors' ability to pursue certain cases.

The legislation was passed in the wake of the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, which federal officials later described as a targeted, Hezbollah-inspired act against the Jewish community.

Following the bill's passage, Shink said the legislation is intended to give law enforcement stronger tools to respond to threats of terrorism. "With hate crimes, antisemitism, and extremist threats on the rise, we must do everything we can to keep our communities safe," Shink said. "My bill would strengthen the state's ability to respond to threats of terrorism, which is more important now than ever."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also emphasized the importance of updating the current law to ensure effective prosecution. "Michigan's existing anti-terrorism law has saved lives and has been instrumental in prosecuting threats against schools, law enforcement, judicial officers and elected officials on both sides of the aisle," Nessel said. "We cannot allow divided government to weaken our ability to respond to threats of terrorism, and I implore the House of Representatives to pass this bill urgently into law."

The bill now heads to the Michigan House for further consideration.

Business and Employment Regulations

Several bills affecting small businesses and employment regulations made progress in different chambers.

House Bill 4582, which would reinstate the "open and obvious" standard for premises liability cases, passed the House with bipartisan support on March 11, 2026. The bill responds to a 2023 Michigan Supreme Court decision that effectively eliminated the "open and obvious" doctrine as a threshold issue in premises liability cases.

For decades, the "open and obvious" rule served as a clear, objective standard that allowed courts to dismiss meritless claims early in litigation. Without it, judges and juries must now engage in complex factual inquiries about whether an "open and obvious" hazard nonetheless posed an "unreasonable risk of harm."

The National Federation of Independent Business testified in favor of the bill and was instrumental in shepherding this legislation through the House. While it is unlikely the Senate will take action, NFIB will continue to push for this critical cost saving legislation.

On the employment front, Senate Bill 145 would prohibit employers from seeking information on potential employees' past wages, fringe benefits, credit score, or credit history. Despite opposition from business groups, SB 145 passed out of the Senate Labor Committee on March 12, 2026. The legislation is expected to pass the Senate but is not expected to pass the House.

Retirement Mandate Faces Opposition

Senate Bills 807 and 808 would create a state-run retirement plan and mandate that employers with one or more employees would be required to offer an opt-out option for their employees, withhold contributions, and remit those contributions to the state.

Despite testimony opposing the bills from business groups, they passed out of the Senate Labor Committee on March 19, 2026. While the bills are expected to pass the Senate, they are not expected to pass the House.

Mental Health Code Expansion

House bills 4412, 4413 and 4414 — introduced by state Reps. Donni Steele, R-Orion Township; Mark Schauer, R-South Lyon; and Todd White, R-Clinton Township — would expand Michigan's mental health code. The bills passed in the House and reflect ongoing efforts to address mental health services and regulations in the state.

Third Party Litigation Funding

House Bill 5281 requires third party funding disclosure and registration, prohibits funder influence on case outcomes, bans foreign adversaries from funding lawsuits, and caps funder earnings from awards. The legislation addresses the practice where outside investors finance plaintiffs' or law firms' legal costs in exchange for a share of any settlement or judgment.

NFIB supported committee testimony for third party litigation funding transparency in early March and is expected to pass the House in the coming months.

Legislative Dynamics

The Michigan Legislature's activity in March demonstrates the ongoing challenges and opportunities of split government. With Democrats controlling the governor's office and Senate, while Republicans control the House, bills often make progress in one chamber while stalling in the other.

NFIB noted that the Michigan Legislature has taken a deliberate approach to legislation this year, resulting in fewer bills being considered. However, the legislature has taken action on some significant legislation important to small businesses, with NFIB continuing to advocate for pro-small business policies to keep these issues front and center for legislators.

As the legislative session continues, lawmakers will face additional bills and decisions that will shape Michigan's policy landscape for years to come.