Critical funding measure for county Medical Care Facilities heads to governor
A critical funding system for county Medical Care Facilities (MCFs) will continue in 2026 after much-delayed legislation finally cleared the Michigan Senate without opposition on Thursday.
House Bill 4726, by Rep. Matt Bierlein (R-Tuscola), extends the so-called “Maintenance of Effort” reimbursement framework for MCFs to Dec. 31, 2030 (or until a new reimbursement system is implemented). Without action this week, that framework would have expired at the end of 2025.
The bill cleared the House easily in November but had been stuck in the Senate as political skirmishing between the two legislative chambers has dominated recent weeks in Lansing.
On Thursday, after sustained advocacy from the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council (MCMCFC) and MAC, the Senate approved a motion to discharge HB 4726 from the Senate Health Policy Committee and advance it directly to the floor for immediate consideration. The bill then passed 35-0 and was given immediate effect. HB 4726 now goes to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.
“MCF administrators, board members for our facilities and others reached out numerous times recently to their senators, Senate leadership and committee members to impress upon them how important this legislation was to county-owned facilities and their ability to fulfill their mission to provide access and care to those most in need,” said Renee Beniak, executive director of MCMCFC, which represents county-owned facilities. “Our members are nonprofit, so the added dollars provided to them through the MOE tax are used to ensure access to more Medicaid residents and provide additional care hours at the bedside.”
For more information on this issue, contact Jimmy Johnson at Johnson@micounties.org.
House approves ‘ban on bans’ bill for natural gas
A bill to prohibit local units of government from imposing a ban on the use of natural gas or installation of natural gas infrastructure, in other words ― a “ban on bans” ― was approved by the House this week. House Bill 4486, by Rep. Steve Frisbie (R-Calhoun), specifically prohibits a county, city, village, or township from adopting an ordinance, resolution or policy that bans the use of natural gas, or the installation of infrastructure to transport or distribute natural gas. Any ordinance adopted on or after the bill’s effective date would be unenforceable.
MAC opposes HB 4486 and all efforts to preempt local control.
For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
Podcast 83 team reviews surprise spending slash in House, financial disclosure legislation and more in new episode
A surprising move by the House Appropriations Committee and the potential new financial reporting requirement for commissioners topped the latest regular report from Lansing by the Podcast 83 team.
“You never know these days in town, but, last week, at the end of the week, we had some fireworks, that have to do with work projects, how they’re funded, where the money goes,” said host Stephan Currie. “So, let’s talk a little bit about that. Let’s talk about the process, what happened, what we know, what we don’t know.
“What we saw this week was the House Appropriations Committee cancel all kinds of work projects that were previously approved by the Appropriations Committee, and signed by the governor, so these are things that people get grants for,” replied Deena Bosworth. “So, whether it’s, you know, a park, a special building or an infrastructure project in people’s districts ― these are what we call work projects.
“And we saw the House Appropriations Committee cancel over $600 million of them last week. And they can do that, unilaterally.
“The only way to really get them back,” Bosworth continued, “is for the Legislature to act to do a transfer package. Which we see on a regular basis. Or to do a supplemental budget appropriation.
“But with the way the House and the Senate are getting along with each other, and the fact that the House unilaterally acted to cut all of these work projects without the input of the Senate … It’s a little bit concerning. Not sure how well that bodes for a supplemental budget bill.”
Steve “Well, let’s move on a little bit. So, Deena, there were some bills that came up last week that have to do with financial reporting for county commissioners.”
“A bill introduced by Rep. Donnie Steele of Oakland County, House Bill 5091, received testimony last week. What that bill does is it says county commissioners in larger counties, so those counties that have a population of 150,000 or more, must comply with the same financial reporting requirements that state legislators have …”
Learn more about the commissioner disclosure bill, the status of a new tax on marijuana and more by watching the full episode, recorded on Dec. 15.
MAC releases webinar video on Open Meetings Act
MAC’s general membership now has access to a County Commissioner Academy webinar focused on the Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In August, Matt Nordfjord, a managing shareholder with the firm of Cohl, Stoker & Toskey, P.C. in Lansing, led the CCA session on the laws as they relate to county commissioners’ daily tasks.
Topics covered included the purpose of the OMA, rights of the public, legal requirements and best practices for public comment, notice requirements for regular and special meetings, the permitted basis to enter closed sessions (identifying their purpose) and when and how to formalize a decision after a closed session.
Other items discussed were the application of FOIA, definition of “public record” and a brief overview of FOIA exemptions and the appeal process to the “head of the public body” (i.e. the county board of commissioners) and recent case law impacting the OMA related to delegation to committees.
House committee advances bill to alter rules on deer baiting
A bill to lift Michigan’s ban on feeding or baiting deer by changing sections of the state’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act advanced out of a House committee on Dec. 17.
The House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee advanced House Bill 4445, by Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R–Branch).
Testimony on the measure on Dec. 10 focused on hunters’ ability to manage the herd and day-to-day realities in rural communities. Proponents argued that allowing limited baiting could help older and mobility-limited hunters, improve harvest in high-density areas, and potentially reduce crop damage and deer–vehicle crashes by drawing animals away from fields and roads. Supporters also framed the bill as a shift in baiting policy from the Natural Resources Commission into statute, giving the Legislature a more direct role.
Concerns centered on disease and science-based management. Members and witnesses spent time on chronic wasting disease and other illnesses that can spread when deer congregate at artificial food sources, and on how HB 4445 would interact with existing state orders that use baiting restrictions as a disease-control tool.
The bill now moves to the full House.
For more information on this issue, contact Jimmy Johnson at Johnson@micounties.org.
New tool offers guidance on using opioid funds on prevention efforts
The Partnership to End Addiction has released a new tool, Guidance for Investing the Opioid Settlement Funds in Primary Prevention, to assist decision-makers. The complete guide outlines what prevention is, the types of prevention efforts, why they are effective, which approaches to utilize, and provides practical examples. The document intends to help communities invest in prevention strategies that reduce current risks but also protect the next generation.
Additionally, a one-pager detailing green flags and red flags to look for when funding primary prevention activities. The document can be found here and outlines:
- Green Flags
- Evidence-based
- Address risk factors
- Engage families
- Address community needs
- Red Flags
- One-time events
- Guest speakers
- Standalone media campaigns
- Scare tactics
- Punitive practices
- Reliance on a single product
For more information, or to request technical assistance, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.
MAC sets holiday schedule
The Michigan Association of Counties has released its holiday schedule for 2025:
- Tuesday, Dec. 23: MAC offices close at noon.
- 24-26: MAC offices are closed for the Christmas holiday.
- 29-30: MAC offices will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 517-372-5374 for assistance.
- 31-Jan. 2, 2026: MAC offices are closed for the New Year’s holiday.
- Monday, Jan. 5, 2026: MAC offices resume normal hours and operations.
The next edition of MAC’s Legislative Update will be released on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
Staff picks
- Michigan quickly deletes government chats, raising transparency questions (Bridge Michigan)
- Worries over Michigan’s dams resurface as repair funds run dry, reforms lag (Bridge Michigan)
- Oakland County child diagnosed with measles, ER possible exposure site (Detroit Free Press)
- Housing declared a ‘public health crisis’ by Michigan county (MLive)