LANSING, Mich., March 14, 2023 — The Michigan House passed several major pieces of legislation last week, including House Bill 4003 and its companion Senate Bill 4, which expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to include legal protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
“The passage of this historic legislation is testament that hate has no place in our state. We will stand up to bigoted ideology,” said state Rep. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit). “By passing this legislation, we showed the people in our state, and the country at large, that Michigan is a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community and that they are welcome here. No one should have to live in fear because of whom they love, and this legislation provides protections for just that.”
Several of the bills also dealt with standing up for Michigan workers , including HBs 4004–05, which restore worker freedoms and expand workers’ rights, and HB 4007, which ensures the government only does business with contractors who pay their workers a fair wage.
“House Democrats promised workers that we would stand with them and support them, and we made good on that promise,” Carter said. “I am proud to have had the chance to vote yes on these bills that will restore worker freedoms and expand workers’ rights, while also ensuring they receive fair pay for all the hard work they do. By passing this legislation, we showed the country that we are a place where people can come live and work without fear of being taken advantage of by their employers. We showed that unions in Michigan are strong and that Democrats will fight for the rights of workers.”
The last of the major bills to be passed were HBs 4138, 4142 and 4143, which mandate background checks for all firearm sales and close the private sale loophole.
“As a lifelong resident of Detroit and former law enforcement officer, I’ve seen firsthand how the uniquely American epidemic of gun violence has affected our homes, communities and families,” Carter said. “Too many people have been harmed by the unwillingness of former legislators to regulate guns. Michigan Democrats are doing the work to ensure that all guns sold are going to responsible, law-abiding citizens.”
SB 4 now heads to the governor’s office for her consideration and signing into law. HBs 4003, 4004-05, 4007, 4138, 4142 and 4143 have been sent to the Senate.