State Rep. Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township) today voted to ensure hiring decisions in state government are based on qualifications, not identity.

House Bill 4288, which received overwhelming bipartisan support, would require state agencies to use objective criteria such as education, work experience, and job-related skills when filling certain at-will positions. Agencies that violate the law could face fines of up to $10,000 per offense, enforced by the Michigan Attorney General. The fines would be directed to the state’s general fund.

“State government shouldn’t be hiring people based on how they identify. It should be hiring people based on whether they can do the job well,” said Wozniak. “We’re putting merit and qualifications back at the heart of public service.”

In recent years, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have increasingly influenced hiring and training decisions across state departments.

“This bill ensures that state government gets back to focusing on performance, skill, and experience, not race, gender identity, or other personal characteristics,” said Wozniak. “Taxpayers deserve a government staffed by the most qualified individuals, not those selected through politically motivated preferences.”