State Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) testifies in the House Labor Committee on her bill, HB 6058, on Dec. 5, 2024, in the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing.
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 5, 2024 — Democrats in the House Labor Committee took a critical step today to support Michigan’s public employees and their families by passing House Bill 6058, legislation sponsored by state Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren). This bill amends the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act to provide much-needed relief from rising health care costs, making public service careers more accessible and sustainable for hardworking Michiganders.
“Michigan’s public sector is at a breaking point,” Xiong said. “We are experiencing a staffing crisis across schools, public safety departments and essential municipal services. We’ve heard directly from workers about the significant increases in health care costs they are facing. These rising costs are simply unsustainable for our teachers, fire fighters, and police officers. My bill is a step toward alleviating this crisis by making health care more affordable for public employees.”
The legislation ensures that public employees will not pay more than 20% of their health insurance costs under renegotiated, renewed or extended collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, it increases the hard cap dollar amounts for existing agreements to keep up with inflation and provides greater flexibility for employers and employees in the bargaining process.
“This legislation sends a clear message: We value the people who dedicate their lives to serving our communities,” Xiong said. “By improving their access to affordable health care, we can attract and retain the dedicated individuals our state needs to thrive. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues on the Labor Committee for recognizing the urgency of this issue and moving this legislation forward. Together, we can ensure that public employees and their families are supported while securing a stronger, more stable future for Michigan’s public sector.”
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