As families settle into a new year, it’s a good idea to read up on the new Michigan laws taking effect in 2025.
Many new laws will come into effect this year, but we’ve focused on the six most important laws for families. These bills will impact family’s savings, safety, education and more.
Here are the six new Michigan laws that will affect families in 2025 and in the future.
This article was recently updated on Jan. 9, 2025, by Chicago Parent’s freelance writer, Amanda Rahn. This update highlights key new Michigan laws for 2025 impacting schools and families. Questions? Please reach out to our editorial team at editor@metroparent.com.
New Michigan laws metro Detroit families should know about
Legalizing surrogacy through the Michigan Family Protection Act
The Michigan Family Protection Act contains nine bills designed to legalize and regulate surrogacy.
The legislation contains rules to make sure surrogates are compensated fairly, have their own legal representation and are screened by medical professionals before signing surrogacy contracts.
The bills also ensure children born by surrogacy and other methods like IVF treatments are treated equally under the law. The legislation will also make it cheaper and easier to gain parental rights and treats LGBTQ+ families seeking parental status more equally.
Michigan is the last state to decriminalize paid surrogacy.
Consumer protections from utility companies
Senate Bills 353, 880 and 881 will help lower Michiganders’ utility bills by increasing eligibility and funding for the state’s energy assistance program.
The bills ensure that all utility companies are participating in the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) or their own assistance program. Before the signing of this legislation, utility companies could opt out of using the assistance programs.
The legislation lowers the family income to qualify, making roughly 335,161 households eligible for the program, the governor’s office said in a press release.
“Prior to the legislation, for example, a four-person household was only eligible if they made $46,800 or up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines,” said the governor’s office. “Under the new legislation, the same household is eligible for MEAP if they make $61,861 or up to 60% of the state median income.”
The legislation will also abolish automatic adjustment clauses, prohibit certain rate increases without notice and reduce rates for some.
Child car seat regulations
Children ages 12 and younger must sit in the backseat of the car in most cases. There are other specific requirements for carseats based on a child’s height, weight and age.
More flexibility for education savings trusts
The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is a 529 prepaid tuition savings program that allows you to put money toward a future college payment at the current inflation rate.
A new Senate bill will now allow students to use their METs on qualified vocational schools, trade schools and more. The bill also allows families more flexibility in getting a refund from the savings trust if certain conditions are met.
School safety plans for cardiac arrest
Districts must have a safety plan for cases of cardiac arrest at the school or a school-sponsored event by the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.
Coaches, assistant coaches and other staff placed on a cardiac arrest team will be trained on defibrillator use and resuscitation.
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