Legislative updates for November 2025

This update includes recently introduced bills and those moving through the legislative process. Michigan Farm Bureau’s positions are rooted in the organization’s member-developed policy. 

MIOSHA Reporting Requirements 

House Bill 4017, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd), seeks to reduce the financial penalty a family farm could face if the death of a qualifying family member occurs on the farm and isn’t reported to MIOSHA within the required eight-hour window. While the bill maintains the requirement to report workplace fatalities, it would reduce the penalty for late reporting by 80% for farms with no prior violations. MFB supports the bill, as our policy opposes enforcement actions against owner/operators for self-imposed accidental injuries. 

This is the third time the bill has been introduced, receiving broad bipartisan support each time. The first version was vetoed by Governor Whitmer due to a technicality, while the second stalled in the Senate without being taken up. The current version passed the House 80-25 on Sept. 9 and was given consideration by the Senate Labor Committee on Oct. 23. 

Read the related story: Farm Bureau, Rep. Neyer urge Senate action on bill to protect grieving farm families

Contact: Josh Scramlin 

EGLE Warrant Requirement

House Bill 4421, introduced by Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare), would prohibit an employee or officer of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy from entering private property without consent from the property owner. Farm Bureau supports the bill that passed the House 63-37 on Nov. 4 and awaits consideration by the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee.

Contact: Josh Scramlin 

Excused School Absences

House Bill 4665, introduced by Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp), would amend the School Code to excuse students from school when attending events for FFA, 4-H or other school board-approved agricultural organizations. The bill limits such absences to six per school year. MFB supports the concept of the bill, which passed the House 101-4 on Oct. 23 and now awaits consideration by the Senate Education Committee.

Contact: Rebecca Park

Career & Technical Education

Senate Bill 614, sponsored by Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), would amend the Michigan Merit Curriculum to replace the two-credit foreign language requirement with three credits in life skills. These could be fulfilled through a Career and Technical Education program, foreign language or fine arts. MFB supports the bill, which has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.

Contact: Rebecca Park

Hunting and Fishing License Fees

Senate Bills 276 and 277, sponsored by Sens. John Cherry (D-Flint) and Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon), propose changes to Michigan’s hunting and fishing license fees.

SB 276 would:

• Increase the resident base hunting license fee from $10 to $15 and raise the surcharge from $1 to $5, to continue supporting the Michigan Wildlife Council, hunter and angler recruitment and education, and the Hunters Feeding Michigan venison donation program.
• Adjust deer license fees by raising antlered permits from $20 to $25, reducing antlerless permits to $5, and dropping Deer Management Assistance Permits (DMAPs) from $10 to $1.
• Authorize the Natural Resources Commission to establish “earn-a-second-buck” rules, requiring hunters to harvest an antlerless deer before using a second buck tag.
• Update other species and fishing license fees.

SB 277 would use existing state funds to cover revenue losses from discounted licenses, including those for seniors and antlerless deer.

MFB supports SB 276 and does not have a position on SB 277. The legislation passed the Senate with a vote of 23-12 on Oct. 21 and now awaits consideration by the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.  

Contact: Rebecca Park