MLC Insider Intelligence: November 14, 2025
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Weekly Recap: The House and Senate held their typical Tuesday-Thursday session schedule, and committees met throughout the week.
Senate Passes Election Reforms: Legislation aimed at tackling election disinformation and improving transparency and integrity in the petition circulation process passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The overall proposal also includes legislation passed by the Senate in September.
Key Points: It bans petition organizers from paying circulators per signature, requires circulators to direct potential signers to a factual summary of the ballot proposal’s contents and purpose before collecting their signature, and ensures that only one signature is counted if two identical signatures appear on a single petition. Additionally, the reforms prohibit false statements or misrepresentations concerning elections.
Next Steps: The three bills passed this week were referred to the House Election Integrity Committee for consideration. The legislation passed earlier this fall was referred to the House Government Operations Committee for consideration.
Unemployment COVID Overpayments Legislation Moves: Legislation prohibiting the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) from seeking to recover improperly paid benefits after three years was reported by the Senate Labor Committee this week. The program is a joint Federal-State program, and the U.S. Department of Labor requires states to get back a portion of overpaid benefits.
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, $2.7 billion in overpayments were sent to recipients. Given the sharp increase in claims filed, the UIA was moving quickly to get funds to claimants, which led to errors. Around 350,000 residents are being asked to repay those funds. Recovery of the funds was put on hold for three years while a legal challenge worked its way through the courts. However, this past fall, collections were allowed to restart.
Key Points: The legislation prohibits recovery of the funds after three years from when the funds were paid. Additionally, it requires the UIA to consider benefits paid between February 7, 2020, and September 5, 2021, to be considered an administrative or clerical error, and the agency must waive the recovery of those benefits. The bill provides exemptions for benefits paid due to fraud or identity fraud.
Operation Safe Neighborhood Reaches Milestone: Over 900 illegal guns have been taken off the streets since Operation Safe Neighborhood began. The operation seeks to reduce gun violence by getting illegal guns off the street and out of the hands of people who cannot legally possess them due to prior criminal history. Nearly one in three reported violent crimes in Michigan involves a firearm.
Key Points: Michigan Department of Corrections parole and probation agents teamed up with local law enforcement statewide and conducted enhanced compliance checks on probationers and parolees who are legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Under the operation, law enforcement officials have conducted 9,405 check-ins with felony offenders, leading to the removal of guns from the streets. The plan the department devised and implemented is aimed at focusing on high-risk individuals who have weapons possession in their criminal history that could be used to commit further crimes.
Importance: “Michigan Department of Corrections agents are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe and ensuring those on probation and parole follow the conditions of their supervision,” said Heidi Washington, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections. “We have agents in every county in Michigan, and this initiative allows us to collaborate closely with local law enforcement to stop crime before it happens. We will continue to work every day to make sure that these illegally possessed firearms are off Michigan streets.”
Spotlight On Senator Erika Geiss: Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) is serving her second term in the Senate. She was elected by her peers to serve as Assistant President Pro Tempore this term after serving as Democratic Caucus Chair during her first term. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives. Senator Geiss earned her bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from Brandeis University and her master’s degree in art and architectural history from Tufts University.
District: She represents the 1st Senate District, which includes Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, and portions of Allen Park, Detroit, and Taylor.
Committees: Senator Geiss serves as majority vice chair of the Education Committee and is a member of the following committees: Economic and Community Development, Health Policy, and Housing and Human Services.
Next Week: The legislature is on its annual two-week recess; neither committees nor session are scheduled during that time. On November 20, the Michigan Republican Party will host its third debate for candidates in the Republican primary race for governor.
Congratulations to MLC lobbyist Amber Chandler on her 4th anniversary at the firm!