2022 House Bill 6184

Revise laws to incorporate lessons learned from COVID epidemic

Introduced in the House

June 9, 2022

Introduced by Rep. Julie Alexander (R-64)

To revise the law that authorizes the state health department to impose emergency orders in response to an epidemic, by requiring each such order to identify the epidemic, describe how any restrictions on gatherings or procedures will protect the public health, and more. The bill would also require disclosure of any information the state health department has used to justify issuing an emergency order, including the data or statistics used to determine if it is necessary. Such orders could not extend beyond 28 days without legislative consent. This is part of a Republican legislative package revising various laws to incorporate lessons learned from the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. Many of the proposed amendments also limit administrative agency emergency powers unrelated to epidemics.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight

June 22, 2022

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

July 1, 2022

Amendment offered by Rep. Tommy Brann (R-77)

To require the legislature to convene in session if the director of the state health department asks for an extension of the bill's proposed 28 day time limit on an emergency order issued by the department.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-19)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 4297, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 4287 would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” to the characteristics that define membership in a protected class, against whom it is a crime to discriminate under the state’s Elliott-Larsen civil rights law.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Carol Glanville (D-74)

To tie-bar the bill to House Resolution 307, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that is adopted. HR 307 would express as the view of the House that it supports access to contraception for all individuals.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Brenda Carter (D-29)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5542, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 5542 would repeal the 1931 law that banned abortion in Michigan, and provisions in other statutes restricting abortions.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Kelly Breen (D-38)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5289, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 5289 would authorize enhanced penalties for assaulting or endangering school-related personnel.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 56 to 49 (details)

Received in the Senate

Sept. 7, 2022

Referred to the Committee on Oversight

Sept. 22, 2022

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Sept. 28, 2022

Amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-18)

To permit the state health department director to extend an epidemic emergency order an additional one month if the deaths occurring increase by 1,000 or more per month.

The amendment failed 14 to 22 (details)

Passed in the Senate 22 to 14 (details)

To revise the law that authorizes the state health department to impose emergency orders in response to an epidemic, by requiring each such order to identify the epidemic, describe how any restrictions on gatherings or procedures will protect the public health, and more. The bill would also require disclosure of any information the state health department has used to justify issuing an emergency order, including the data or statistics used to determine if it is necessary. Such orders could not extend beyond 28 days without legislative consent. This is part of a Republican legislative package revising various laws to incorporate lessons learned from the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. Many of the proposed amendments also limit administrative agency emergency powers unrelated to epidemics.

Vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Oct. 14, 2022

Received in the House

Nov. 10, 2022

Referred to the Committee on Oversight