The Detroit Regional Chamber submitted support for SB 279, sponsored by Michigan Sen. Roger Victory (R-Georgetown Twp.) and Kevin Daley (R-Lum), which would establish the Office of Business Permitting Support. This initiative reduces regulatory burdens, making it easier to do business in Michigan.
The new office, housed within the Michigan Strategic Fund, would be tasked with assisting Michigan businesses in navigating the requirements for state permits, working with state agencies to create a more integrated and streamlined permitting process, developing industry-specific resources to help businesses find relevant information from a single source, and creating a website with step-by-step instructions on how to start and operate a business in the state.
This bill represents a common-sense, pro-growth reform that would provide clarity and predictability for employers, fostering a more competitive economic environment that many states already have.
Conversely, the Chamber submitted opposition to SB 700, sponsored by Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), which recently advanced from the Senate Labor Committee. This legislation would waive the recovery of nearly $2.7 billion in unemployment benefits paid out during the pandemic. The bill seeks to reclassify these payments as administrative errors, preventing their recovery unless fraud is determined.
The Chamber views this bill as a direct threat to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) trust fund’s solvency. The UIA system is funded by employers, and forgiving $2.7 billion in overpayments shifts the financial burden onto the businesses that followed the rules. This action would deplete the trust fund, likely forcing significant tax hikes on Michigan employers and stifling job creation.
The Chamber will continue to advocate for fiscal responsibility and the long-term integrity of the UIA system.