Senate Labor Cmte. hears testimony on House-blocked legislation that would lower health care costs, boost retirement benefits for public workers
LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 29, 2025) — Today, the Senate Labor Committee heard testimony from professionals in public safety, schools, transit, and others who would be impacted by legislation to boost retirement benefits for law enforcement officers and lower health care costs for firefighters, teachers, and other public sector employees. This legislation, House Bills 4665–4667 and 6058, are among several of the bills that were passed by both the House and Senate last session but are now being held up unconstitutionally by the new House Republican leadership.
“Our public workers give their blood, sweat, and tears to ensure our students prosper and our communities are safe and secure. This legislation shouldn’t be controversial — it’s about taking care of those who’ve taken care of us for so long and continue to do so every single day,” said Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. “I’m incredibly grateful to the teachers, firefighters, corrections officers, public safety officers and others who showed up to voice their concerns today. I truly hope Speaker Matt Hall listens to them by sending these bills to the governor for her signature. House Republicans need to stop playing political games and deliver actual solutions for our public workers.”
House Bills 4665-4667 would improve retirement options for corrections officers and other law enforcement professionals, ensuring they can receive the benefits they’ve earned and can retire with dignity and financial security. These bills, which are nearly identical to a legislative package Sen. Cherry helped spearhead in the Senate, would allow new corrections and other state law enforcement officers to become members of the Michigan State Police (MSP) hybrid retirement system and allow current officers to choose to move retirement systems. These bills had bipartisan support in the House and Senate last session and the backing of thousands of corrections, conservation, motor carrier and other officers and their families around the state.
“Every day, my fellow officers and I respond to life-saving law enforcement calls in every corner of the state. We are trusted members of the communities that we serve and keeping Michigan State Police motor carrier officers on the roadway and in the field is essential to our great state,” said Clyde Gentry, a nine-year motor carrier officer with the Michigan State Police’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, in testimony before the committee. “I am here today to advocate on behalf of my fellow officers regarding the pension bills that have been passed by both the House and the Senate and are currently awaiting Gov. Whitmer’s signature.”
“We appreciate Sen. Cherry and the Labor Committee for hearing our testimony today, though we regret we must advocate once again for what should already be settled law,” said Ray Sholtz, Executive Director, Michigan Corrections Organization. “Enough is enough. The health and well-being of Michigan’s corrections officers has been pushed to the brink, and the safety of our communities hangs in the balance.”
House Bill 6058 would tackle the rising cost of health care, address Michigan’s teacher shortage, and provide much-needed support to all other public sector employees by ensuring that they do not pay more than 20% of their total health care plan costs. Known as the 80/20 law, this bill would make 80% the floor instead of the ceiling for the public employer’s share of health care expenses. While supporting retention and recruitment efforts for teachers, firefighters, transit workers and more, it would also boost hard dollar amounts for existing agreements to keep up with inflation and increase flexibility for employers and employees in the bargaining process.
Though these bills were previously passed by the House and Senate and ordered enrolled at the end of last session, the new House Speaker Matt Hall — in defiance of his constitutional duty — is blocking them from being sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature, abandoning the needs of public school teachers, first responders, and so many other public workers.
“Speaker Matt Hall’s inaction to send this, and other bills, to the governor’s desk is inexcusable. Playing party politics with people’s health care and income is deplorable,” Kim Sandefur, a public school teacher and constituent of the Speaker Hall’s, wrote in testimony submitted to the committee. “We are struggling to recruit and retain highly-qualified teachers as it is. They should not have to choose between health care and the job that they so love doing.”