Michigan Rolls Out Wave of New Laws Starting Jan. 1

Michigan will activate 27 laws on Jan. 1, 2026. These changes span wage boosts, cannabis taxation, bot-blocking measures, and protection protocols. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed 74 bills in 2025, one of the slowest legislative sessions the state has seen.

Minimum wage climbs to $13.73 per hour from $12.48. The rate for tipped workers jumps to $5.49, which sits at 40 percent of standard minimum wage.

A 24 percent wholesale tax on recreational marijuana kicks in Thursday. Officials project $420 million will flow in each year for road construction and infrastructure work. Critics say higher prices might send buyers back to unregulated sellers.

Unemployment benefits filed after Jan. 1 can reach $530 per week, up from $446. Money for each dependent rises to $19.33 from $12.66, capped at five dependents.

The "Taylor Swift" bills crack down on automated bots that scoop up huge numbers of concert and event tickets for resale at inflated prices. The attorney general can now prosecute those using ticket bots. Fines hit $5,000 per ticket acquired through fraud.

Licensed child care centers can install temporary door locking systems on classroom and facility doors under Senate Bills 96, 97, and 98. This extends protections K-12 schools have had for years.

House Bill 4285 requires state agencies to create a model elective firearm safety course for students in grades 6 through 12.

"In Michigan, hunting isn't just a pastime, it's a tradition," said state Rep. Curt VanderWall, according to Click On Detroit. "Protecting this sport across the state starts with training young, aspiring hunters."

Senate Bill 25 allows auto repair shops to register a nearby auxiliary facility under the same license. Changes aim to reduce costs and delays while improving mechanic certification processes.

House Bill 4666 doubles fines for insurers that engage in discriminatory practices based on race.

Senate Bill 23 raises the number of parcels that can be split from a single tract of land from four to ten.