Legislator: House Republicans prioritize urgent issue facing Michigan

State Rep. Timmy Beson, of Bay City, highlighted the first bills recently introduced by the Republican-controlled Michigan House – plans that put local job providers and their hardworking employees first.

House Bills 4001 and 4002, which Beson co-sponsored, will help bring solutions to a short-sighted Michigan Supreme Court decision from last summer that strike a needed balance between fostering economic growth, protecting livelihoods and preventing mass closures. Without legislative intervention, the court’s decision to phase out the tip credit and enact other unrealistic mandates for sick leave and wages will be effective Feb. 21 and would lead to local job providers having to lay off staff, cut hours or close entirely.

“Time continues to run out on many small businesses and workers throughout Bay County and the state,” Beson said. “They need solutions so they can stay in business and people can keep their jobs. House Republicans have heard from people we represent about this issue for several months and this immediate action will help us develop a better way forward.”

The bills preserve tipped wages, move toward a higher minimum wage, and maintain the status quo for earned sick leave while ensuring small businesses with low staff numbers are not harshly impacted by no-notice sick leave that would routinely leave them understaffed and overwhelmed.

House Democrats did not take up legislation on these issues to close out the 2023-24 term, despite bipartisan support for reform and continued pleas from servers, bartenders and the state’s small business sector regarding what the ruling would do to their livelihoods.

House Republicans also announced the formation of a new committee – the Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses – that will work to address tipped wage and earned sick time legislation.