LANSING, Mich., March 10, 2023 — The Michigan House passed several major pieces of legislation this week. House Bill 4003 and its companion Senate Bill 4 expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to include legal protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. HBs 4138, 4142 and 4143 mandate background checks for all firearm sales and close the private sale loophole. HBs 4004–05 restore worker freedoms, expand workers’ rights. HB 4007 ensures the government solely does business with contractors who pay their workers a fair wage. State Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) issued the following statement applauding the passage of these bills:
“Our state took massive steps toward becoming a safe and inclusive place to live. We showed the people of Michigan and the country that we will stand up to hate and bigotry and that it has no place in our state. We showed the country we will stand with workers by ensuring their freedoms were restored and that they receive fair pay for their work. We showed that we are not afraid to tackle the issue of gun violence in our state. House Democrats have worked hard to pass these bills, and I am proud to have been able to vote yes on all of them.”