Legislative Update: Chamber Advances Talent and Infrastructure Priorities, Fights Regulatory Overreach 

During the week of May 11, 2026, Michigan lawmakers took action on several key issues affecting the state economy, including education reform, healthcare mandates, and environmental regulations. The Detroit Regional Chamber Public Policy and Business Advocacy team was engaged on all fronts and will continue to engage these bills as they move forward. 

The Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted substitute H-2 for House Bill 5726. The Chamber supports this legislation, which helps facilitate reliable transportation networks essential to commerce across the region by allowing state-owned park-and-ride lots to be used as transit stops. 

The Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee heard testimony on House Bills 5819, 5820, and 5821. These measures accelerate the implementation of the science of reading instruction, moving the required compliance date up to July 1, 2026. The legislation also requires schools to select from a state-approved list of evidence-based curricula. Developing a reliable talent pipeline starts with early literacy. The Chamber supports these bills to ensure students possess the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the future workforce. 

The Michigan Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee took up Senate Bill 914. The bill mandates that payments made on behalf of an insured individual for prescription drugs without a generic equivalent count toward their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. This dynamic ultimately shifts the financial burden elsewhere, driving up employers’ insurance premiums and further straining the health care system. The Chamber opposes this legislation. 

The Chamber formally opposed Senate Bill 711 in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. This legislation allows the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to promulgate rules for Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act independently. Sidestepping legislative oversight opens the door to bureaucrats creating unchecked regulations. This approach bypasses accountability and creates an unpredictable regulatory environment, making it exceedingly difficult for companies to operate, invest, and create jobs in the state.