8 new Michigan laws taking effect in 2025

Higher wages, family protections, and simpler voting. Here’s how Michigan’s new laws could reshape daily life in 2025.

MICHIGAN—New year, new rules.

Democratic state lawmakers passed some big changes into law last year that were largely designed to make life better for Michigan workers, families, and communities. Here’s what to know about eight of the biggest changes to state law that are coming down the pike in 2025 (or are already in effect):

1. Minimum Wage Boost

Good news for Michigan’s minimum wage workers: You’re getting a raise.

The state’s minimum wage increased from $10.33 to $10.56 an hour on Jan. 1—with another significant jump to $12.48 slated to take effect on Feb. 21. Tipped workers will also get a raise from $4.01 to $5.99 per hour, with plans to level up the tipped wage to match the minimum wage by 2030.

The changes are the result of a major ruling last year from the Michigan Supreme Court that effectively restored minimum wage laws that had been reversed by Republican lawmakers.

That ruling also closed a longstanding loophole in state law that has enabled Republican lawmakers to sidestep Michigan voters by adopting—and then substantially altering—citizen-led ballot initiatives, much like they did with a proposal to boost the state’s minimum wage in 2018.

The decision fell along partisan lines, with four justices aligned with the Democratic Party voting to reinstate the changes, and the three Republican-backed judges voting against the decision.

As a result, the state minimum wage is now set to keep climbing to about $15 an hour by 2028.

About 20% of minimum wage workers live below the poverty line and about 215,000 Michiganders live in households where a minimum wage worker lives, Patch reports. And while teenagers often work minimum wage jobs, about 88% of the raises are slated to go to adults.

2. Paid Sick Leave Gains

Sick days are about to get a little sweeter.

As another result of that state Supreme Court ruling, all Michigan workers (except federal employees) will soon begin earning one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Employees at bigger companies (with 10 or more employees) will be entitled to accrue at least 72 hours of paid leave annually. Employees at smaller businesses will be entitled to accrue a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave, as well as receive 32 hours of unpaid sick leave. 

The changes, which are set to take effect on Feb. 21, are part of the state’s Earned Sick Time Act, which states that the paid leave can be used broadly for any reason related to physical or mental health—including for both employees and to care for their immediate family members. 

3. Longer Unemployment Support

Out of work? 

Also starting in February, Michiganders will be entitled to up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits to get back on their feet. That’s up from a maximum of 20 weeks that were allowed before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to expand those benefits in December.

Those unemployment checks will also get bigger—from a maximum benefit of $362 to $446 this year. The new law also implements a schedule for even higher maximum weekly unemployment benefist—gradually raising the weekly benefit to up to $614 over the next three years.

Whitmer’s office says the legislation could help about 90,000 Michiganders annually. The changes mark the first time that unemployment benefits have been expanded since 2003.

4. Paid Surrogacy Legalized

Another package of Democratic-led bills signed into law last year by Whitmer is designed to make it easier for Michiganders to start a family by protecting access to fertility care (including in-vitro fertilization treatment) and repealing state-level restrictions on paid surrogacy contracts.

The new laws, known as the Michigan Family Protection Act, provide “commonsense, long-overdue action” to help protect surrogates, parents, and children, lawmakers have said.

Beyond making it easier for Michiganders to start a family, the new laws are set to help save parents and surrogates time and money on government paperwork, as well as ensure Michiganders maintain access to fertility care amid ongoing attacks from conservatives.

Specifically, the new laws:

• Repeal a state law that had made Michigan the only state in the nation to criminalize paid surrogacy contracts, where a woman agrees to be impregnated through artificial insemination (or another woman’s fertilized egg) in exchange for money.
• Regulate surrogacy—namely by requiring that surrogates must have previously given birth and be 21 or older, have a medical and mental health consultation, and have access to independent legal counsel that’s paid for by the intended parents. 

They also:

• Establish clear legal rights for parents, surrogates, and children who are born using surrogacy and other forms of assisted reproductive technology—including IVF.
• Ensure children born through surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology (including IVF) are treated equally under the law—including when it comes to dealing with inheritances and access to birth certificates and other government records.
• Change an outdated state law that requires LGBTQ families to go through a costly and invasive process in order to legitimize their legal rights as parents, ultimately ensuring that LGBTQ parents cannot be denied their relationship to their child.
• Make it easier (and cheaper) for all families to get formal recognition of their parental rights by eliminating bureaucratic red tape and previously required paperwork.

These new laws will take effect on Feb. 21. 

5. Automatic Voter Registration

The voting process is being made simple.

A state law signed in 2023 that takes effect on June 30, 2025 will ensure that all Michiganders are automatically registered to vote when they update their driver’s licenses or ID cards.

Under the law, the state will also automatically register voters as they apply for Medicaid or leave prison—making Michigan the first state in the US to automate that registration process. 

Don’t want to register to vote? Don’t worry. You can always opt out.

6. Cameras in Work Zones

A new law taking effect this year will enable the Michigan Department of Transportation to place speed detection cameras in construction zones, which will automatically issue speeding tickets. 

In 2023, Michigan tallied more than 8,000 construction work zone crashes that resulted in 24 fatalities, reports the Detroit News. By more closely monitoring speed in construction zones, lawmakers expect the new cameras to help protect construction workers and reduce crashes. 

At least 23 other states also allow for automatic speed cameras in construction work zones.

7. Mental Health Coverage Requirements

A package of Democratic-led legislation signed last year by Whitmer aims to bridge the gap between mental and physical health care—namely by forcing insurance companies to stop skimping out on patient coverage for mental health issues and substance use disorders.

Beginning in February, the new state law will require all insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders at the same level as other physical health services.

Sponsoring state Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) said the changes will close a long-standing loophole in state law and recognize the importance of mental health coverage—particularly as studies show more than half of adults in the US with mental illnesses don’t receive treatment.

“Michiganders’ mental health is no less important than their physical health—no one should go without the care they need because they can’t afford it,” Anthony said in a statement.

Federal law already prohibits insurers from imposing less favorable limitations on mental health treatment, according to a state Senate analysis. The new state-level legislation will effectively ensure that Michigan’s standards are aligned with those existing federal regulations.

8. Child Car Seat Changes

Last year, Whitmer signed a bill that amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to update the state’s child car seat restraint rules—namely to better protect kids and align with federal standards. It’s set to take effect in February, though state officials are focused foremost on educating parents.

Specifically, the updated state law requires that all children age 12 or younger ride in the backseat—with shifting requirements based on age and height, including requiring the use of a child booster seat until the child is either eight years old or at least four feet nine inches tall.

Another law also allows courts to waive any fines for those who violate those new standards, just as long as they complete a course on child passenger safety from a certified technician.

READ MORE: 7 big things Democrats did with their majority in Lansing

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