SAFEGUARDING WOMEN’S HEALTH
Abortion Reporting and Abortion Complication Reporting
HB 5201, 5202 & 5203
State Reps. Brad Paquette (R-37), Rachelle Smit (R-43), and Jennifer Wortz (R-35)
RLM Position: Support
House Bills 5201-5203 were introduced by Reps. Brad Paquette, Rachelle Smit, and Jennifer Wortz respectively on November 4, 2025. The bills amend the public health code and require abortion reporting and abortion complication reporting. In addition, the bills require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to publish an annual report on abortion statistics and provide criminal penalties for releasing private patient information. These bills would restore laws Michigan had for over four decades that required reporting on the number and type of abortions, as well as abortion complications. Women have a right to know accurate information about the procedure they are considering undergoing or medicine they are considering taking. This begins with data that demonstrates associated safety or risk. The former laws were repealed by radical pro-abortion lawmakers in the previous session, ending decades of oversight and transparency despite a 38% spike in reported abortion complications in the final 2024 report. The House Committee on Health Policy heard testimony on November 11, 2025, and the bills were voted out of committee with a 9-3 vote (with 5 members absent) on December 10, 2025, along party lines. RLM provided testimony in support of the bills.
PARENTAL RIGHTS/CONSENT
Resolution Opposing Health Education Standards
HR 195
State Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-78)
RLM Position: Support
House Resolution 195 was introduced by Rep. Gina Johnsen on October 23, 2025. This resolution condemns the health education standards submitted by the Michigan Board of Education. The new “health” education standards insert highly sexualized content into mandatory health education classes. The standards anticipate teaching children how and where to access “reproductive healthcare” and encouraging children to consider “valid” resources, such as Planned Parenthood, and reject other resources, such as pregnancy resource centers. Due to overwhelming pressure (including this resolution), the Board did modify the standards slightly before adopting them to ensure parents’ right to opt their children out of sex education and to reiterate that abortion can’t be taught as a method of family planning. The resolution was reported along party lines by the House Oversight Committee on October 28, 2025, and passed by the House along party lines on November 4, 2025. RLM submitted a card of support.
EXPANDING SUPPORT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
The State Child Tax Credit
HB 4055
State Rep. Bill Schuette (R-95)
RLM Position: Support
House Bill 4055 was introduced by Rep. Bill Schuette on February 4, 2025. The bill amends the state tax code to create a state child tax credit equal to 50% of the federal child tax credit. This tax credit would be in addition to the federal credit, providing additional tax relief for families with young children. Economic concerns are often cited as a reason a woman chooses an abortion. Additional tax relief may help ease financial worries for pregnant women. The House Committee on Economic Competitiveness heard testimony on March 20, 2025, but no vote was taken. RLM provided testimony in support of the bill.
Tax-Free Childcare Savings
HB 4056 & 4057
State Rep. Bill Schuette (R-95)
RLM Position: Support
House Bills 4056 & 4057 were introduced by Rep. Bill Schuette on February 4, 2025. These bills create a tax-free childcare savings account similar to an educational 529 plan which allows parents, grandparents, or others to contribute money to an account for childcare expenses. Money contributed and used in accordance with this law would not be subject to state income taxes. The cost of childcare can be prohibitive and lead some women to consider abortion. These bills allow for childcare savings to begin even before a woman is pregnant, lessening the financial strain of having to consider childcare costs after having a baby. The House Committee on Economic Competitiveness heard testimony on March 20, 2025, but no vote was taken. RLM provided testimony in support of the bill.
Tax-Free Baby Items
HB 4058 & 4059
State Reps. Kathy Schmaltz (R-46) and Nancy DeBoer (R-86)
RLM Position: Support
House Bills 4058 & 4059 were introduced by Reps. Kathy Schmaltz and Nancy DeBoer on February 4, 2025. These bills remove state sales tax on items related to newborn children, including diapers, baby clothes, and strollers, etc. Financial concerns are cited as one of the main reasons women either choose not to have a child or have an abortion. While these two bills will not completely eliminate the financial pressures facing pregnant women, they are an excellent start to help ease this financial burden. The House Committee on Economic Competitiveness heard testimony on March 20, 2025, but no vote was taken. RLM provided testimony in support of the bills.
ANTI-LIFE LEGISLATION
State FACE Act
HB 4133 & 4134
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-17)
SB 154 & 155
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-8)
RLM Position: Oppose
House Bills 4133 & 4134 were introduced by Rep. Laurie Pohutsky on February 26, 2025. These bills create new criminal penalties for preventing access to abortion clinics that are similar to the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances or FACE Act. Fearing a repeal of the federal law, proabortion state lawmakers are trying to create a parallel state law to criminalize anyone who interferes with abortion clinics’ entrances. In some instances, the FACE Act has been used to limit the reach of sidewalk counselors by intimidation. The bills were referred to the House Committee on Government Operations where no hearing or vote has taken place.
Senate Bills 154 & 155 were introduced by Sen. Mallory McMorrow on March 13, 2025. These bills are identical to House Bills 4133 & 4134. The Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety committee heard testimony on the bills on May 22, 2025, where RLM provided testimony in opposition to the bills. The bills were voted out of committee along party lines on June 5, 2025, and were passed by the Senate on June 25, 2025, with a vote of 19-17 along party lines. Sen. Jim Runestad offered two amendments: one to clarify “intimidate” and the other to protect places of worship in keeping with the federal law, but neither was adopted.
Data Privacy Act
SB 359
State Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-13)
RLM Position: Oppose
Senate Bill 359 was introduced by Sen. Rosemary Bayer on June 5, 2025. This bill presumably creates a robust consumer privacy act and prevents data from being collected and shared. However, couched in a bill that purports to protect personal data, Senate Bill 359 actually limits the choices presented to a woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, so that abortion seems to be the only option. By banning geofencing around “reproductive or sexual health facilities,” the bill prevents ads for pregnancy help centers from being sent to women within 1,750 feet of an abortion clinic. This isn’t safeguarding women’s personal data; it is limiting the options presented to women. Testimony was heard in the Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Protection on June 11, 2025. RLM submitted written testimony in opposition to the bill. The bill was voted out of committee along party lines on the same day.
Reproductive Health Data Privacy Act
HB 5769
State Rep. Mai Xiong (D-13)
RLM Position: Oppose
House Bill 5769 was introduced by Representative Mai Xiong on March 19, 2026. This bill would prevent geofencing around “reproductive health clinics” including abortion clinic thus preventing PRCs from sending advertisements for pregnancy help to women within 1,850 feet of an abortion clinic. In addition, the bills require detailed consent prior to gathering any reproductive health data, including pregnancy status, which would impede the ability of the pregnancy help hotline from offering timely referrals to pregnancy centers. Lastly, the bill would allow the attorney general, or anyone aggrieved by a perceived breach, to bring a civil lawsuit against an entity which has “deceptive design,” defined as any design which someone may interpret as impairing their choice. The bills were referred to the House Committee on Government Operations where no hearing or vote has taken place.