News & Resources

Lawsuit Filed To Keep Income Tax Rate At 4.05%

Article courtesy MIRS News, for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter Note: For SBAM’s insight into this income tax lawsuit, watch our Small Business Briefing from August 28, 2023. A coalition of […]

Image of automobiles moving through an assembly line

August 22, 2023

UAW Strike Could Cause $5B in Economic Losses; Peters Stands with Labor

A strike on Detroit’s Big Three automakers by 143,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members could result in a total economic loss of more than $5 billion in 10 days, according to a new analysis released …

Image of someone typing at a keyboard with overlaid graphics of a lock

August 22, 2023

5 Data Privacy Reforms Making Headlines in State Legislatures

When it comes to how state governments are implementing privacy policy, some experts anticipate that artificial intelligence, privacy protection for children using technology and potential data broker regulations could be the top issues.

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August 15, 2023

What Happens to State Budgets if 4.05% Tax Rate Stays Put?

When asked whether the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget would sustain a permanent income tax rollback, the Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) said she thinks it will be dealt with "when it comes."

Image of the words 'sales tax' on a piece of paper

August 15, 2023

6 Years in the Making: Sales, Use Tax Rules Update Pass JCAR

Mostly technical updates to Michigan's general sales and use tax received Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approval Thursday, after the exhausted updates have taken Treasury officials six years to complete.

August 8, 2023

Supremes: No-Fault Reforms Don’t Apply Retroactively

Michigan's 2019 no-fault auto insurance reforms do not apply retroactively, the Michigan Supreme Court held Monday meaning the cost-cutting restraints put in the law do not apply to those catastrophically injured before 2019.

Image of a person completing a slip-and-fall injury report

August 8, 2023

‘Open and Obvious Danger’ Rule In Slip-and-Fall Lawsuits Overturned

The Michigan Supreme Court overturned July 28 a more than 20-year standard that property owners were free from liability in slip-and-fall cases if the danger causing the accident was “open and obvious.”

August 1, 2023

Economists Mixed on Recession Outlook, Labor Market Looks Up

Michigan saw one of the lowest unemployment rates in years, but three economists are not busting out the champagne and still say the high-interest rates and inflation are an issue.

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August 1, 2023

Dem Leadership PACs Raise Nearly Twice as Much as GOP PACs

Democratic senators and representatives with independent political action committees (PACs) raised more than $612,103 altogether from April 21 through July 20.

July 25, 2023

June State Unemployment Falls to Lowest Point in 23 Years

The June unemployment rate has reached the fourth lowest point in the state since 1976, and matched the national rate of 3.6% for the second consecutive month, according to data from the Department of Technology, …

July 25, 2023

Whitmer Signs Record Breaking Education Budget with No Line Item Vetoes

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a $24.3 billion budget Thursday for preK-12 schools, universities and community colleges, without making a single line-item veto.

July 18, 2023

Whitmer Creates New Department for Early, Higher Learning

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Wednesday creating a new Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential – or MiLEAP – to focus on preschool and postsecondary education.

July 18, 2023

Municipalities Hit Spending Struggles with Federal COVID Relief Dollars

Federal funds intended to stabilize the budgets of local communities have proven a daunting task to take down for multiple reasons, a recent policy survey by the University of Michigan found.

July 11, 2023

DHHS Director’s COVID Orders Ruled Unconstitutional

Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog e-newsletter A state law that allowed the state health director to issue pandemic-related orders is “extremely broad” and an “unconstitutional delegation of […]

July 11, 2023

Whitmer Populates Population Council With Popular People

Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog e-newsletter Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed several Michigan insiders, former politicians, and business leaders to the council that would advise her on how to grow […]

July 5, 2023

Nearly $100M Now Available for Small Business & Tech Startups

The Small Business Support Hubs program had $75 million allocated to invest in small businesses and the Michigan Innovate Capital Fund program had $23 million allocated for nonprofits that help high-tech startups.