ACTION ALERT: Support Amending the Insurance Code to Protect All Michiganders

The legislature has been back in session for less than a week and we have hit the ground running. Below are a few actions that we need your help with!

SUPPORT AMENDING THE INSURANCE CODE TO PROTECT ALL MICHIGANDERS

House Bills 4619-23 would amend the Insurance Code to add various health insurance requirements and protections for insured individuals in Michigan, including gender identity & sexual orientation, and folks with pre-existing conditions.

The House Health Policy committee will vote on these bills on Wednesday, September 13th.

Take action here!

URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT

The Reproductive Health Act (RHA) (HB 4949-4959) seeks to further advance the will of Michigan voters that spoke loud and clear last year in supporting the Reproductive Freedom for All initiative as well as the state constitution, remove archaic barriers to health care access, and take politics out of medical procedures and doctor's offices.

This important package of bills repeals and amends outdated and unconstitutional prohibitions on reproductive health care to bring it more in line with the treatment of other forms of medical care:

• Repeal the ban on Medicaid coverage of abortion care and replace it with affirmative coverage for Medicaid patients.

• Remove TRAP (targeted regulation of abortion providers) laws, which impose medically unnecessary and financially burdensome regulations on abortion providers, severely limiting access to care.

• Remove barriers to state and federal funding for health care entities that also provide abortion care.

• Repeal laws that require patients seeking abortion care to receive biased, medically inaccurate information.

• Repeal law requiring patients seeking abortion to undergo a state-mandated 24-hour delay.

• Codify current standards of medical practice regarding which qualified health care professionals can provide abortion.

• Prohibit criminal punishment of pregnant people for actions they take during pregnancy that would not otherwise be made criminal or punishable.

• Lift the ban on private insurance coverage for abortion care

Take action here!

SUPPORT FAIR CHANCE HOUSING

The legislation would prohibit landlords from requiring the disclosure of criminal history records for most housing applicants and allow formerly incarcerated individuals to have a fair chance at having their rental application approved. 

This bill builds upon the successful work by advocates to get a similar ordinance passed at the local level. For example, in 2019, the Detroit City Council passed Fair Chance at Housing legislation, which banned background checks on housing applications. After its passage, Detroit saw an 8% reduction in housing vacancy rates alongside an increase in property values. Additionally, a year later, the Kalamazoo city council passed a similar ordinance, followed by the cities of Ann Arbor and Jackson in 2021. 

Take action here!

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & GUN SAFETY

Senator Stephanie Chang introduced a package of bills to protect survivors of domestic violence from abusers with guns, SB 471 and SB 472. State Representative Amos O’Neal is introducing companion bills in the House.

Abusers kill 55 Michigan women and 25 children with a firearm every year. 31 states prevent abusers from possessing guns – but Michigan isn’t one of them. These bills would change our law so that all those convicted of domestic violence, felony or misdemeanor, are prohibited from having firearms for 8 years after their sentence.

This is an action on behalf of the Michigan Gun Safety Coalition.

Email your legislator

OTHER BILLS WE ARE WATCHING

HB 4948 : prohibit landlords from requesting information from prospective tenants regarding certain juvenile records

https://www.votervoice.net/NASWMI/Bills/57145

HB 4960: prohibits employers from requesting or maintain a record of criminal history information about a job applicant or employee

https://www.votervoice.net/NASWMI/Bills/57146

HB 4273 : requires landlords to provide notice of condemnation to tenants

https://www.votervoice.net/NASWMI/Bills/57148