LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Nine bills at the heart of a court battle have been vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The bills, passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature as its 2024 majority wound down, were not properly prepared to be sent to the governor’s desk before Republicans took control of the House in 2025. That left the newly elected GOP House leadership to determine how and when to present the bills to Whitmer.
“Political gamesmanship.”
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The Republican-controlled House did not move the bills forward after taking power in 2025, prompting Democrats to take the matter to court. The dispute over the nine bills eventually reached the Michigan Supreme Court, which ruled that they must be sent to Whitmer.
Although Whitmer said she would consider new versions of the bills, she said their retroactive nature would create an administrative burden for the state because of statutory deadlines.
“For these reasons, I must regrettably veto these bills. This was political gamesmanship at its worst,” Whitmer said.
House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, criticized Democrats’ handling of the bills in 2024.
“I decided I would help them out after they helped me pass a new state budget that’s smaller than last year and without any of their tax and fee increases,” Hall said. “My sympathies to the Democrats that they went through all of this work just for the bills to end up vetoed.”
The vetoed bills.
The bills covered a range of issues.
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House Bills 4177 and 5817-5818 would allow the Wayne County Board of Commissioners to establish a history museum authority, which could seek voter approval for a tax to support a history museum in Detroit.
House Bills 4665-4667 would permit corrections officers to join the Michigan State Police retirement system.
House Bills 4900-4901 would exempt public assistance, unemployment, disability and workers’ compensation benefits from being garnished to repay debts.
House Bill 6058 would require public employers to increase the amount they pay toward employees’ medical benefit plans.
