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Michigan healthcare freedom community forum
Earned Wage Access (EWA) is touted as a crucial benefit for healthcare workers that can lead to better patient care. Claims include reducing overtime burnout and improving staff retention.
These glittering accolades come from the new EWA industry, so color me skeptical - especially regarding the "free" claim. (One mentions ATM-style fees.)
No one claims it increases wages, though that is implied. In reality, it merely gives early access to them. To my mind, the time and expense of implementing this financial switcheroo might have better effect if directed to a simple wage increase.
This week's enormous agenda sports 24 bills, 13 of which impact healthcare. Twelve constitute the package for earned wage access. The remaining one requires transparency for state reports via website.
I've italicized bills without healthcare impact. As always, I'd love to know more. Please comment if you have information to add, especially perspective from these service industries.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 9:00 AM
AGENDA
HB 5535 (Rep. Alexander)
Occupations: plumbers; providing plumbing services while serving as local inspector; allow.HB 5551 (Rep. Tisdel)
Occupations: plumbers; requirements for backflow prevention testing; modify.HB 5558 (Rep. Bierlein)
Businesses: other; regulation and licensing of earned wage access service providers; provide for.HB 5559 (Rep. Bierlein)
Financial institutions: money transmitters; money transmission services act; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5560 (Rep. Bierlein)
Labor: hours and wages; regulation of wages and fringe benefits; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5561 (Rep. Liberati)
Consumer credit: collection practices; regulation of collection agencies in the occupational code; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5562 (Rep. Liberati)
Financial institutions: other; definition of financial licensing acts in the consumer financial services act; modify to include the earned wage access services act.HB 5563 (Rep. Liberati)
Consumer credit: collection practices; regulation of collection practices; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5564 (Rep. Martin)
Civil procedure: other; regulation and licensing of earned wage access service providers; provide for.HB 5565 (Rep. Martin)
Financial institutions: other; deferred presentment service transactions act; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services.HB 5566 (Rep. Alexander)
Financial institutions: generally; credit reform act; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5567 (Rep. Alexander)
Financial institutions: generally; regulatory loan act; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5568 (Rep. Herzberg)
Financial institutions: generally; 1966 PA 326; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5569 (Rep. Herzberg)
Financial institutions: generally; criminal usury; amend to exempt earned wage access services.HB 5755 (Rep. Aragona)
Legislature: reports; reports that state agencies provide to the legislature; require the department of technology, management, and budget to publish on a website.HB 5832 (Rep. Hoadley)
Gaming: other; authority to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints; provide for.HB 5833 (Rep. Liberati)
Gaming: other; authority to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints; provide for.HB 5834 (Rep. Aragona)
Gaming: other; authority to obtain criminal history records and fingerprints; provide for.HB 5805 (Rep. Aragona)
Housing: housing development authority; housing opportunity tax credit program; establish and administer.HB 5806 (Rep. Grant)
Individual income tax: credit; housing opportunity tax credits; create.HB 5807 (Rep. Aragona)
Insurance: other; housing opportunity credits against the retaliatory tax; provide for.HB 5356 (Rep. Schuette)
Vehicles: title; requirements for transfer of title by a dealer; provide for.HB 5045 (Rep. BeGole)
Housing: other; redemption of premises; modify.HB 5046 (Rep. O'Neal)
Civil procedure: foreclosure; recording of deed; modify.OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
Good citizen and legislator oversight demands state transparency. In theory, Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget (DTMB) provides state government with IT and other services, including online access to state reports.
In reality, DTMB sets records for cost overruns, and this legislation probably exists for a reason.
This Thursday, DTMB (state reporting) is back + a new haircut license and MANY non-health bills indicated by italics. Relevant bills appeared lost in the sea of italics, so I've marked them in bold font.
Thursday, May 21, 2026 9:00 AM
AGENDA
HB 5755 (Rep. Aragona)
Legislature: reports; reports that state agencies provide to the legislature; require the department of technology, management, and budget to publish on a website.HB 5105 (Rep. Wendzel)
Crimes: penalties; penalties regarding certain crimes involving marihuana; modify.HB 5107 (Rep. Hoadley)
Marihuana: penalties and remedies; marihuana for personal use and possession; modify allowable amounts of.HB 5902 (Rep. Rigas)
Occupations: licensing fees; licensing fees for a hairdresser license; establish.HB 5805 (Rep. Aragona)
Housing: housing development authority; housing opportunity tax credit program; establish and administer.HB 5806 (Rep. Grant)
Individual income tax: credit; housing opportunity tax credits; create.HB 5807 (Rep. Aragona)
Insurance: other; housing opportunity credits against the retaliatory tax; provide for.HB 5472 (Rep. Aragona)
Tobacco: distribution; name and address of out-of-state purchaser; allow to be placed on the largest unit of packaging.HB 5931 (Rep. Aragona)
Tobacco: other; cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores; modify affidavit submission process for.HB 5932 (Rep. Robinson)
Construction: permits; procedures to modify building permits after issuance; provide for building permits issued by the department.HB 5933 (Rep. DeBoer)
Construction: permits; deadline for the department to require changes to an application for a building permit; provide.HB 5934 (Rep. Schmaltz)
Construction: permits; reimbursement of permit fees if permit is not issued or denied within deadline; provide for permits issued by the department..HB 5935 (Rep. Schuette)
Construction: permits; notice requirements for a building permit or additional permit issued by the department; provide.OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
Today the agenda was revised to add one non-health bill.
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