SB 1172 - This act establishes the "Cronkite New Voices Act", which provides that in both public high schools and public institutions of higher education, a student journalist, as defined in the act, has the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media. In school districts, the district and student-media advisors may regulate the number, length, frequency, and format of school-sponsored media. School districts shall not engage in prior restraint of school-sponsored media except in the circumstances described in the act. Student journalists shall be responsible for determining the content of school-sponsored media, while student-media advisors are responsible for teaching and encouraging expression and the standards of English and journalism. No student-media advisor shall be subject to disciplinary actions described in the act for refusal to abridge or infringe upon freedom of expression. No publication or other exercise of the rights provided under this act shall be deemed an expression of school or institutional policy. No school district, institution of higher education, or employee of such entities shall be held liable in any civil or criminal action for any publication or other exercise of rights provided under this act, except to the extent that such an entity or person actively participated in conduct that is the subject of a civil or criminal action. School districts and their employees may also be liable if they knew of such conduct and failed to take timely action to prevent or withdraw the publication or expression that is the subject of the action. Student journalists who are not minors may be liable based on material for which they were responsible or involved. School districts shall adopt a written freedom of the press policy that includes reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression. The policy may also restrict speech that is offensive, threatening, or that fits other similar descriptions provided in the act. This act is identical to SB 258 (2025), SB 1217 (2024), SB 440 (2023), SB 855 (2022), SB 434 (2021), HB 480 (2021), SB 923 (2020), HCS/HBs 743 & 673 (2019), and HB 1940 (2018); is substantially similar to HB 1668 (2022), HB 2317 (2020), and HCS/HB 576 (2019); and is similar to HCS/HB 2918 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Barbara Washington

Aligns agricultural labor camp licenses with actual occupancy periods (not calendar year), empowering MDARD to ensure health, heating, plumbing safety during workers' stays.

Second Read and Referred S Education Committee

SB 1172 — Agricultural Labor Camp licensing (amendment to MCL 333.12413)

Status (key dates)
- Introduced in the Michigan Senate: Dec. 3, 2024 (sponsor: Sen. Sue Shink).
- Reported favorably from the Senate Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee (committee analyses dated Dec. 9 and Dec. 17, 2024).
- Passed the Senate (Dec. 12, 2024).
- Committee Fiscal Analyst: Bruce R. Baker. Legislative Analyst: Eleni Lionas.
- Fiscal impact: none reported.

Purpose and intent
- To align the duration of licenses for agricultural labor camps with the actual period those camps will be occupied, rather than automatically tying licenses to the calendar year. The change is intended to ensure licensing and oversight cover the precise occupancy period (for example, including winter occupancy) so that health, safety, heating, plumbing and related standards are maintained while workers are present.

Background
- Part 124 of Michigan’s Public Health Code regulates agricultural labor camps — parcels (including tents, vehicles, buildings, etc.) used in whole or part as living quarters for migratory laborers engaged in agricultural activities (including related food processing). Under current law the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) issues licenses after inspection and the license is valid for the balance of the calendar year in which it is issued.

Key provisions (what the bill changes)
- Amends MCL 333.12413 to change license duration:
- Current: a license is valid only for the balance of the calendar year in which issued.
- New: a license is valid for the occupancy period stated on the face of the license, with that occupancy period determined by MDARD.
- Licensing formality: the license must recite on its face both that the camp operator must comply with Part 124 and the occupancy period applicable to that license.
- Transferability: the license remains nontransferable or nonassignable except by express written consent of the department (existing provision retained).

Who is affected
- Agricultural labor camp operators (licensing period and documentation requirements change).
- MDARD (will determine and record occupancy periods on licenses and enforce compliance).
- Migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (oversight and safety protections are tied to actual occupancy periods).

Rationale and expected impact
- The change permits MDARD to set licensing periods that match when camps are actually occupied (e.g., to ensure winter conditions are covered), improving regulatory oversight of construction, sanitation, heating, plumbing and other health/safety standards while workers are present. The Senate committee analysis reports no state or local fiscal impact.

Statutory citation
- Amends: 1978 PA 368 (Public Health Code), sec. 12413 (MCL 333.12413).