LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 8, 2025) — On day one of a new legislative session, Senate Democrats are not shying away from tackling the pressing issues impacting Michiganders. To kick off the 103rd Legislature, Sens. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), and Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) introduced an ambitious yet pragmatic legislative package to build a fair economy that works for all — workers, small businesses, and consumers. Composed of Senate Bills 6–8 and 15, the package seeks to accelerate the increase of Michigan’s minimum wage; protect and improve the tipped credit; require employers to provide paid sick leave; and strengthen laws preventing the theft of wages.
“After meeting with countless workers and small business owners across our state, it’s clear that we must address the mess left by Republican legislators following their failed attempted to circumvent the will of Michigan voters,” said Sen. Hertel. “Unlike the political games that got us here, this package is the result of open, honest conversations with those who are most impacted by the legislation. Thanks to their input I’m hopeful the legislature can find a reasonable compromise that sets us on a path to create a fairer, more robust economy that works for everyone.”
The first half of the package was introduced to address the impending damage created by Michigan Republicans in 2018 when they undermined a citizen-driven ballot initiative aimed at improving the state’s minimum wage and paid leave policies. These unconstitutional and unethical actions would have put businesses in an impossible situation and left workers with smaller paychecks and less benefits — a direct contradiction of what voters had intended.
“No one should have to choose between their health and keeping their job or paying their bills,” said Sen. Singh. “Paid sick time would ensure workers have the ability to care for themselves when they need to — it’s a policy that’s not just good for workers, but smart for businesses too.”
During the crafting of these bills, Sens. Hertel, Singh, and Camilleri engaged a broad coalition of stakeholders, including workers, small business owners, and policy advocates, to listen to their concerns and find a balance that ensures that workers have strong rights, employers are able to run their businesses, and that the spirit of the ballot initiative process is upheld.
Spearheaded by Sens. Hertel and Singh, Senate Bills 8 and 15 would:
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Accelerate the increase of Michigan’s minimum wage to $15/hour by 2027, shortening the original timeline where the increase would not take full effect until 2028.
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Protect and improve the tipped credit, having it remain at 38% for the remainder of 2025, then gradually increasing and capping it at 60% over 10 years.
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Guarantee access to paid sick time for workers by requiring larger businesses to provide a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick time to full-time employees, while expanding more flexible requirements to small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
“Michigan’s workers put in long hours to support their families, and they deserve fair compensation for their efforts,” said Sen. Camilleri. “By bolstering our laws against wage theft, we are making vital strides toward safeguarding the livelihoods of hardworking Michiganders.”
Additionally, Senate Bills 6 and 7 seek to strengthen the state’s laws regarding wage theft, which poses a significant risk to Michigan workers. Currently, minimum wage, overtime, and other payroll fraud violations cost Michiganders who have the hardest time making ends meet millions of dollars every year. In 2022, the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $2.6 million in stolen wages. These actions not only impact workers, but residents across the state, as payroll fraud forces taxpayers to foot the bill for millions in lost tax revenue and creates an unfair disadvantage for employers who play by the rules.
To ensure bad actors cannot continue to game the system and shrink workers’ paychecks, Senate Bills 6 and 7 would:
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Enhance wage transparency for workers.
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Allow workers to file anonymous complaints against employers.
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Strengthen civil and criminal penalties for wage theft.
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Prohibit employers from misclassifying workers as “independent contractors,” which allows them to pay a wage lower than the legal minimum.
Building on Senate Democrats’ previous work, this package would ultimately create a more equitable economy where residents across race and place have a fair shot at securing a good-paying job and raising a family right here in Michigan.
Senate Bills 6 and 7 now head to the Senate Committee on Labor for their consideration, with Senate Bills 8 and 15 slated to be taken up by the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee.