With divided government and a chilly relationship between the two chambers, the 103rd Legislature is off to an uncharacteristically slow start. Within the first 90 days of session, only two bills were signed into law (changes to Michigan’s minimum wage and the Earned Sick Time Act), and those likely only saw movement due to an external deadline that would have let harsher changes take effect if the legislature chose not to act.
Now it’s summer in Michigan, which means the predominant legislative focus is on the state’s budget. While it’s become common practice to finalize most budgets in June or July, this year’s process could take all summer long, and even creep into the fall.
Per the usual schedule, Governor Whitmer debuted her Executive Budget Recommendation in early February, and both the House and Senate have spent the spring deliberating internally before proposing budgets of their own.
This year, however, House Republicans are intentionally slowing down the process, signaling publicly that they intend to prioritize quality and transparency over sheer speed, even if that line-by-line review results in a longer-than-usual timeframe.
MRA is monitoring the budget process closely, advocating for continued funding for the FORCE (Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement) team within the Attorney General’s department budget.
The FORCE team has been a successful collaboration between retailers and law enforcement, and we want to continue that success story through the next budget cycle. Whether that happens in the heat of the summer or in the first cool days of fall remains to be seen.
Monthly reminders:
Quarterly reminders: