Whitmer Signs 20 Senate Bills, Bringing P.A. Count Up To 74 For 2025  

Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter

The Governor Tuesday announced signing 20 Senate bills and 16 House bills ahead of the end of 2025, including ban on electronic bots purchasing large bulks of concert and game tickets and permitting childcare centers to install anti-shooter lock systems.  

“I’ll work with anyone to lower costs for Michiganders, protect consumers, keep kids safe, and cut red tape,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Tuesday’s press release. “These commonsense bills will build on the progress we’ve made, make a difference for Michiganders, and help more individuals, families, and small businesses ‘make it’ in Michigan.”  

Whitmer said “let’s keep getting it done,” her office stating that Tuesday’s bill-signings bring the total of “bipartisan bills” signed during her tenure as governor up to 1,575.  

As of 11:10 a.m. Tuesday, 74 bills voted out of Lansing have become public acts for 2025, marking the fewest number of public acts produced by a regular session since the founding of the state in 1837.  

During 1837, Democratic Gov. John Barry signed 90 bills into law. MIRS‘ research noted that lower amounts of legislation have been approved in a calendar year, as the Legislature met only in even-numbered years in special session called for by the governor, often meeting for a few weeks . 

At the top of her press release, Whitmer highlighted SB 158 and HB 4262 by Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Rep. Mike Harris (R-Clarkston) to establish the “Event Online Ticket Sales Act.” The legislation outlaws the use of bots to purchase numerous concert and sporting event tickets, authorizing the Attorney General to bring a civil action of up to $5,000 for violations.  

“The Great War over Eras Tour tickets highlighted the need to ensure real people have a real chance to purchase tickets and bring Michiganders back into the Daylight at their favorite venues and events,” Harris said, referencing Taylor Swift’s two-nights of shows in Detroit during June 2023.  

Whitmer also highlighted SB 96, SB 97 and SB 98 at the top, which provide daycare facilities with the same protected right as K-12 schools to install automatic door locks.  

“In the event that an active shooting does occur, our legislation allows child care facilities to install automatic door locks – just like schools can – to protect those inside,” said Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield Twp.), chair of the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee, in the press release. “These bills reflect the sad but necessary reality of what we need to do to keep Michigan kids safe.”  

Another firearm-related bill that Whitmer signed was HB 4285 by Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), instructing the Michigan Department of Education and the state’s Department of Natural Resources to create a model elective firearm safety course for grades sixth through 12th.  

VanderWall said that in Michigan, hunting is a tradition, not just a pastime.  

“Protecting this sport across the state starts with training young, aspiring hunters. What better way to educate them than to give them the option to learn it right at their own school?” VanderWall said. “Empowering schools to teach responsible firearm handling in a safe, structured way will give students vulnerable skills that protect them during hunting season and teach respect for weapons.”   

Whitmer also commemorated multiple bills that she signed for “cutting red tape” faced by Michigan businesses, including:  

– SB 25 by Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) letting auto repair businesses register an extra facility nearby under the same license.  

– SB 93 by Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) and HB 4122 by Rep. Gregory Alexander (R-Carsonville), raising the yearly sales cap on maple and honey that retailers can sell unlicensed up to $25,000, instead of $15,001.  

– SB 269 by Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), allowing the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to directly access federal funding without having the grants separately processed by the Michigan Aeronautics Commission.  

– SB 685, SB 686, SB 687, SB 688, SB 689, SB 690 and SB 699, aimed at protecting the tax credits provided to generational farmland owners under Michigan’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program (P.A. 116). Specifically, the legislation clarifies that the state cannot consider a farmer no longer eligible for tax credits if they participate in both P.A. 116 agreements and a separate conservation easement.  

“This important legislation will ensure this vital farmland program runs smoothly and continues to help support family farmers throughout our state,” said Sen. Kevin Daley (R-Lum). “Through no fault of their own, many farmers were being told they were ineligible for the credit and now owed years of back taxes. These reforms will resolve this issue and continue to support these hardworking farmers.”  

– HB 4098 and HB 4099 by Reps. Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes) and Steve Frisbie (R-Battle Creek), permitting the Tax Tribunal – which oversees state and local tax appeals – to hold hearings and proceedings electronically.  

– HB 4401 by Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond), removing the approaching sunset on yearly hunting licenses for pheasants.  

– HB 4493 by Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) to remove state licensure costs for legally blind and visually impaired Michiganders who operate concessions in state-owned buildings.  

Other bills the Governor signed were:  

– HB 4045 by Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) authorizing courts to quickly dismiss “meritless lawsuits” they view as efforts targeting free speech.  

– SB 23 by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), raising the number of parcels that housing developers can divide from a single tract of land – from four to 10, specifically – for housing projects.  

– SB 136 by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), putting Michigan in alignment with the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act when it comes to notifying women of their breast density and potential early signs of breast cancer.  

– SB 512 and SB 513 by Sens. Roger Hauck (R-Union Twp.) and Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), modifying Michigan’s Liquor Control Code to permit college-branded alcohol advertising and allowing breweries to sell nonalcoholic beer produced off premise. 

– SB 595 by Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater), giving the state until 2030 to continue working with the Indiana government to clarify the Michigan-Indiana state border.  

– HB 4065 by Rep. Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Township), allowing Macomb Community College and Wayne County Community College to receive permanent liquor licenses for their event spaces, instead of the present-day requirement that they obtain a daily pass for each event.  

– HB 4282 and HB 4595 by Reps. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) and Rylee Linting (R-Wyandotte), authorizing a liquor license for an entity operating on Schoolcraft College’s campus. Koleszar says the legislation will be for businesses and students studying brewing and distillation technology on-campus.  

– HB 4543 by Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland), stating that income eligibility requirements to receive the state’s Home Heating Credit be adjusted based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index, instead of the current Detroit Consumer Price Index. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics discontinued the latter index in 2024.  

“As we enter the frigid winter months, this ensures Michigan families get a full home heating tax credit. It’s important that we continue our push to lower costs and make our state a better, more affordable place to live and work,” Schuette said about HB 4543.  

– HB 4666 by Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), doubling the fine against life insurers who discriminate based on race.  

– HB 4726 by Rep. Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar), which will continue present-day caps on how much counties need to spend on Medicaid-funding nursing home care.  

“These reimbursement protections promote people’s well-being and have been in place for decades. The signing of this bill ensures vulnerable residents in communities throughout our state can continue receiving crucial care and that these facilities are sustained,” Bierlein said. “I’m pleased we could come together in a bipartisan way to facilitate this extension.”  

– HB 4836 and SB 349 by Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles) and Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), allowing students to opt-out for the work skills assessment, or what was formerly known as WorkKeys.  

– HB 5078 by Rep. John Roth (R-Interlochen), designating a portion of M-22 as the “Company K Indian Veterans 1st Michigan Sharpshooters Civil War Memorial Highway,” honoring the service of Native American veterans who fought in the Civil War.

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