Policy Issues

The Senate passed SB 502 on Thursday, aimed at ensuring the $20,000, 20-year felony for making threats under Michigan's anti-terrorism law can withstand arguments that it might violate First Amendment rights.

“KRATOM SOLD HERE” signs plastered across gas stations and smoke shops have turned the once-obscure substance into a roadside staple, though it could soon become just a moment in time.

Sleeping teens are awakened and snatched by adult strangers, who handcuff them, put them in a vehicle and drive them away – all at the request of parents at their wits’ end.

The House Oversight Committee could soon take up an investigation into the Interlochen Center for the Arts after Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) formally requested a probe into the school's past ties to convicted child sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

The Michigan Press Association (MPA) announced last week it would not present its annual Peter Pettalia Memorial Sunshine Award to a public official leading the charge on open government after another 12 months of no meaningful advancements on transparency reforms.

While the news of the war in Iran may seem like something distant and unconnected to Michigan, businesses have been directly attacked by Iran state agents and actions from the war may have caused one attack on Michigan soil.

Michiganders may soon be able to get sloshed off a single can.

Under the banner of lowering residential energy costs, House Republican leadership on Wednesday announced its commitment to repealing the 2023 law that requires electricity providers to run 100% on “clean energy” by 2040.

What brought Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond) to testify to the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday morning was her TikTok feed.

Individuals staying at campgrounds don't have to leave after 180 days, as is the current requirement, if there's a local housing shortage, a workforce shortage, or a recent state of emergency, under legislation that passed the House Tuesday, 89-18.

Michigan’s attempt to enforce its gambling laws has triggered a growing legal fight involving the state, several financial trading companies and the federal government’s authority over “prediction markets.”

“Have you ever had the meat sweats?” Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) asked lawmakers in her speech during session on Thursday that urged members to support her package increasing education about menopause for physicians and the public.

The House on Tuesday passed legislation to set aside $152 million for new runways at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to accommodate the 21 new F-15EX Eagle II coming to the Macomb County base to replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs, although a source connected with the Governor's office told MIRS Tuesday House members “jumped the gun.”

A dispute over a state-funded study of Michigan's Native American boarding schools escalated Thursday as lawmakers heard sharply conflicting accounts about why a 300-plus-page report has not been made public.

Parents who were horrified after learning their children’s karate instructor was a registered sex offender helped spearhead bills that would prohibit sex offenders from working at or owning businesses whose services target children.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) became the latest candidate to propose eliminating the state income tax as part of an economic agenda that also calls for making Michigan a Right-to-Work state and creating a special state office charged with weeding out "waste, fraud and abuse" across state government.

Most Americans agree, 80 percent, that news is important, but the extent of the agreement ends there, according to a Pew Research survey. It isn't a one-off and help is needed from the Legislature to fix the problem.

Without Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) giving him days off for pre-operation appointments, Sen. Joseph Bellino Jr. (R-Monroe) said he could never have been an organ donor to his brother-in-law, to whom he gave a kidney in summer 2024.

A trade association cautioned about the impact on app developers as states consider laws requiring app stores to verify users’ ages before downloading certain apps. 

“How many of you guys think this plan has merit?” said 2026 gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan.