Michigan Legislature Passes Only Seven Bills in First Quarter of 2026 as West Michigan Communities Face Policy Stalemate

Michigan lawmakers have passed just seven bills in the first three months of 2026, marking the slowest legislative pace in an even-numbered year this century and leaving West Michigan residents waiting for answers on issues that directly affect their daily lives.

The historic slowdown comes as the politically divided Legislature enters the spring break period before lawmakers return to Lansing next Tuesday. With fall elections looming and campaign season approaching, experts predict minimal movement beyond the constitutionally required budget.

What Has Been Signed Into Law

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed seven bills into law in the first quarter of 026. Five of those bills originated in the Republican-led House where Speaker Matt Hall has at times vocally opposed Democratic legislation.

The signed bills include:

• Two bills banning smartphones from public school classrooms, a long-running effort supported by lawmakers from both major political parties
• Two bills dealing with death certificates, streamlining the certification process and requiring certificates be filed within 48 hours of a death
• A bill renewing Michigans participation in an interstate medical compact, keeping approximately 8000 doctors licenses from expiring
• A measure allowing Harsens Island in St. Clair County to utilize tax incremental financing for downtown development purposes
• A bill designating the wood duck as Michigans first official state duck

Why West Michigan Cares

The slow legislative pace means West Michigan communities face uncertainty on several critical issues. Property tax reform has been high on the to-do list for several lawmakers including House Speaker Matt Hall who represents Richland Township in Kent County. Hall has not yet introduced a specific plan but has defended the minimal lawmaking in Lansing.

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks of Grand Rapids pointed to laws Democrats passed in 2023 when they were still in charge, including elimination of the retirement tax and expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for lower-income residents. Brinks said there is certainly more we can get done this year, with top priorities for her caucus including lowering child care costs and prescription drug prices.

Bills Still Stalled

Several initiatives face an uncertain future in the politically polarized Capitol. A medical debt relief plan approved by the Democratic-led Senate awaits House consideration. Funding for a new runway and infrastructure upgrades at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, approved by the Republican-led House, remains pending. A potential business incentive deal that Whitmer and Hall teased last year has not materialized.

House Speaker Hall has personally blocked a top priority for Senate Democrats, who last year advanced a government transparency proposal to expand Michigans Freedom of Information Act by subjecting the governor and lawmakers to public records requests.

The Broader Context

The slow start follows a historically slow 2025, when lawmakers passed the fewest bills since the Civil War. Michigan Information and Research Service Inc. reported that Whitmer signed 76 of those bills into law in 2025, making it the lowest performing legislative year since 1842.

Nearly half of the new laws from 2025, totaling 36 bills, were signed in December during a year-end flurry. More than 2600 bills have been introduced between the Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate since the current two-year term started on January 1, 2025.

Looking Ahead

As lawmakers leave Lansing this summer to hit the campaign trail ahead of fall elections, experts predict the glacial pace could continue. Republican strategist John Sellek, founder and CEO of the Lansing-based Harbor Strategic communications firm, said we may in fact really not see much movement other than a budget all this year, unless we see a deal on property taxes.

With living costs for housing and other expenses rising, property tax reform has remained a high priority. But Hall has not yet introduced a plan, and his public comments suggest the forthcoming proposal will be complicated.

The second year of two-year terms are typically more productive than the first because lawmakers have learned to work together and already introduced many bills. But so far, 2026 is the slowest start to the second year of a term since at least 1998, which is as far back as legislative records are immediately available.

New Legislation Under Consideration

Beyond the seven signed bills, several pieces of legislation remain under consideration. House Bill 4765, sponsored by state Rep. Jason Woolford from Howell, would require individuals to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote. The proposal comes amid heightened national and state-level debates over election integrity.

Aghogho Edevbie, Michigan deputy secretary of state, raised concerns about Michiganders having to pay to obtain an Enhanced Driver License as a standard license would no longer be an acceptable form of voter ID under the bill.

Senate Bill 502, introduced by state Sens. Sue Shink from Northfield Township and Rosemary Bayer from Beverly Hills, was passed unanimously in the Michigan Senate on March 19. The bill would update the state anti-terrorism statute by adding an intent requirement for prosecuting threats. The legislation comes after the Michigan Court of Appeals raised concerns that the state existing law lacked a clear intent standard.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized the importance of updating the current law to ensure effective prosecution, noting that Michigans existing anti-terrorism law has saved lives and has been instrumental in prosecuting threats against schools, law enforcement, judicial officers and elected officials on both sides of the aisle.

House bills 4412, 4413 and 4414, introduced by state Reps. Donni Steele from Orion Township and Mark Tisdel from Rochester Hills, would expand Michigans mental health code.

What This Means for West Michigan

For West Michigan communities, the legislative stalemate translates to continued uncertainty on issues that directly impact local residents. School districts in Kent, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, and other counties wait for decisions on smartphone bans and education funding. Healthcare providers in Grand Rapids and Battle Creek await clarity on the medical compact renewal and mental health code changes. Business owners in Holland, Muskegon, and other cities remain in limbo on tax policy and potential incentives.

The seven signed bills, while not earth-shaking, address practical concerns. The smartphone ban affects classrooms across West Michigan. The death certificate changes streamline processes for families navigating difficult times. The medical compact renewal protects healthcare access for thousands of doctors serving West Michigan patients.

But the absence of broader legislation on property taxes, child care costs, prescription drug prices, and government transparency leaves communities without the policy changes they need most.

As lawmakers return to the Capitol next Tuesday, West Michigan residents will be watching closely to see if the historic legislative slow start will continue or if the politically divided Legislature can finally find common ground on issues that matter most to their communities.