Michigan Democrats race to pass key bills before Republicans take over state House

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) anticipates long days—and late nights—in Lansing as Democrats push to pass several bills before the holidays.

LANSING—The clock is ticking for Democratic lawmakers at the Michigan State Capitol, and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) knows it.

With Democrats losing majority control of the state House of Representatives in January, lawmakers have just a few weeks left to pass several bills before Republicans formally take the reins—and break up the Democratic trifecta that has defined state politics for the last two years.

In an exclusive interview with The ‘Gander, Brinks laid out her vision for this month’s “lame duck” session in Lansing, warning that legislative activity could soon accelerate—and that Michiganders should expect a “flurry of activity” at the state Capitol before the end of the year.

“It’s incumbent for us to try and get some things done that we know we won’t have support for after the first of the year,” Brinks said “I don’t anticipate that [Democrats and Republicans] will all be singing Kumbaya all of a sudden and getting a whole bunch of new things done [in 2025].”

And the stakes couldn’t be higher. 

Brinks said this month’s legislative agenda includes bills dealing with reproductive rights, maternal health, access to contraception, prescription drug affordability, transparency in Michigan’s charter schools, economic development incentives, and a whole lot more.

“People should pay attention,” Brinks added. “We’re certainly planning to be as productive as we can be in the Senate in the last few weeks of the year. We will have long days and committee meetings if we need to have them. … News may come quicker, and it might be more dense.”

Here’s what’s on the table and how Brinks views the road ahead:

Charter School Transparency 

Over the last few months, Democratic lawmakers have moved quickly to advance a series of bills they hope will hold charter schools more accountable for how they’re spending state funds.

That includes nine bills that have passed through a committee (and are now en route to the Senate floor) which would require Michigan’s charter schools to open up their financial audits and individual expenditures to the public—similar to what’s required of other public schools.

The legislation could ultimately shed light on how hundreds of Michigan’s charter schools are spending billions of dollars in state tax revenue, as well as deter shady business practices and ensure that Michigan taxpayers are getting a bigger educational bang for their collective buck.

Michigan Republicans have generally opposed the concept of charter school reform. But Brinks said that the proposed transparency measures are long overdue—and that Michiganders may end up seeing those bills passed and signed into law sometime before the end of the year.

“We’re taking a look at support for those [nine bills] on the Senate floor and we’re still evaluating that,” Brinks said. “But that’s something that is teed up. You could see movement on that.”

Lowering Healthcare Costs

Democratic lawmakers are also pushing for legislation to create a new, state-level Prescription Drug Affordability Board—or PDAB, for short. This five-member board would be appointed by the governor and would be tasked with setting upper limits on drug costs in the state. 

The bills to create the board were introduced last year but are still reportedly awaiting a hearing in the state House of Representatives’ Insurance and Financial Services Committee. 

Brinks told The ‘Gander that she’s “still engaged in conversations” about getting the bills passed this year and remains “hopeful” that lawmakers will understand the importance of the reforms.

“It’s one of those things that really can make a difference in your bottom line and in your family budget and has such an impact on people’s ability to live a happy and healthy life,” Brinks said. “It’s not one of those expenses you can just skip without really significant consequences.”

Six other bills under consideration in the state House aim to transition Michigan away from the federally managed health insurance marketplace to a new, state-based exchange that could lower costs and provide greater flexibility to meet the health care needs of Michiganders.

In a release, state lawmakers said that transitioning to a state-based exchange would allow the revenue generated by the exchange to stay in Michigan rather than being returned to the federal government—and ultimately provide the state with more “flexibility, affordability, and autonomy” to take a “more tailored” approach to meet the healthcare insurance needs of all Michiganders.

Lawmakers may also consider pending legislation to create a new paid family and medical leave program for thousands of workers across Michigan—though Brinks doubts it will pass this year.

“Our caucus is well aware of the value of that kind of project, but as you know, the weeks are short and it would require a lot of work with stakeholders,” Brinks said. “I don’t know that we have enough agreement to get that finished by the end of the year, but I do think that’s one of those things that would clearly provide a lot of value to folks who are grappling with rising costs.”

Reproductive Rights and Maternal Health 

Other legislation introduced this year in the state Senate would require insurance providers and Medicaid to cover over-the-counter contraceptive medication—with or without a prescription.

The bills—Senate Bills 973 and 974—have been collectively dubbed the “Freedom to Plan Act,” and are currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health Policy. And Brinks said she is counting on her Democratic colleagues to advance them into law over the coming weeks.

“It’s really just about ensuring Michiganders have access to all forms of contraception,” she said.

If passed and signed into law, the bills would require private insurers and Medicaid to provide coverage for over-the-counter oral hormonal contraceptives, or birth control, and emergency contraceptives, commonly known as the “morning-after pill,” with or without a prescription.

The legislation would also build on a series of actions taken by Democratic lawmakers to protect reproductive rights—including repealing a nearly 100-year-old statewide abortion ban and passing other bills to protect access to reproductive care, including in-vitro fertilization.

Brinks also expects state lawmakers to advance at least a portion of a wide-ranging package of bills dealing with maternal health—with a specific focus on enhancing community-driven programs and care, as well as amplifying the voices of Black and Brown women statewide.

“I’m not certain how these issues will be approached by a Trump administration, but I think our ability to address issues with maternal and infant health is important,” Brinks said. “There’s a direct relationship with access to reproductive health care and the health of women and babies.”

Economic Development

State tax incentives needed to secure final financing for a massive, new manufacturing facility in Mundy Township near Flint could also reportedly be a prime focus of the state Legislature’s lame duck session in the coming weeks. And Brinks is optimistic about the future of the project.

The redevelopment calls for clearing about 1,200 acres of land near the Bishop International Airport for a $55 billion advanced manufacturing facility that will employ 10,000 workers. In addition to state incentives, developers are also reportedly pursuing federal grants and loans. 

“I think [the project] looks good,” Brinks told The ‘Gander last week. “I think Michigan is ideally positioned to be the place where that project would land—but I cannot predict what the federal government will do. We’d certainly like to know so that we can understand the opportunity.”

The transformation of the Renaissance Center in Detroit could also reportedly hinge on how much state funding is put toward the redevelopment project during the final weeks of the year. 

Developers have reportedly requested $250 million in state funds to finish the $1.6 billion renovation—which would include demolishing two towers while converting the other three into a mix of hospitality and housing. If that state funding doesn’t come through, however, General Motors could pursue an alternative plan that involves demolishing the structure altogether.

What’s next?

State lawmakers returned to Lansing on Tuesday for this month’s lame duck session. The last scheduled day of the session is Dec. 23. The new Republican House majority takes over Jan. 8. 

Before then, state lawmakers are also reportedly considering bills dealing with changes to the state’s minimum wage and tipped wage, as well as several measures to bolster safety in public schools. Brinks said Michiganders can also expect a potential expansion of the state’s Freedom of Information Act, as well as laws that restrict lawmakers from immediately becoming lobbyists. 

Other bills that could make their way through this month’s lame duck session include legislation to hold corporate polluters accountable, protect clean water, promote solar energy, and more. 

The narrow, 56-54 Democratic majority in the state House means that internal division or attendance issues could derail plans to pass the Democrats’ remaining priorities. But Brinks said that she’s confident in her colleagues’ ability to make productive use of the rest of the year.

“We know the assignment, what’s in front of us, and we are resolved to do the best we can with what we’ve got and to make improvements,” Brinks told The ‘Gander. “There’s empowerment in the next few weeks of this trifecta and we intend to use it to look out for the people.”

READ MORE: 32 questions with Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks

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