Summary — HB 5145 (1939 PA 280 — adds Sec. 10h)
Status and introduction
- Bill: HB 5145 (adds section 10h to 1939 PA 280, MCL 400.1–400.119b)
- Introduced / filed: March 13, 2025; subsequent electronic reproduction and reintroduction noted October 28–29, 2025
- Sponsor(s): Rep. Jason Woolford (along with multiple co-sponsors)
- Referred to: Committee on Government Operations (most recent referral). Companion bill: SB 483.
Purpose and intent
- HB 5145 would eliminate the use of self-attestation for proof of identity, income, and Michigan residency when determining eligibility for “public assistance” under the Social Welfare Act. The stated intent is to require verifiable documentation at initial application and during subsequent annual eligibility determinations.
Key provisions
- Prohibition on self-attestation: Beginning on the act’s effective date, the Michigan Department (presumably MDHHS) may not accept self-attestation for identity, income, or Michigan residency for initial applications or annual renewals for public assistance.
- Required verifiable documentation: The bill lists acceptable examples (not exhaustive) for each category:
Identity: Michigan driver license; enhanced driver license or enhanced state ID; official state ID; or, if those are unavailable, birth certificate, Social Security card, voter registration card, or other government-issued identity documents.
Income: Pay stub, W-2, federal tax return copy/transcript; award/benefits letters from SSA, VA, or other benefit agencies; or, if unavailable, written verification from employer, financial institution, or other third party with direct knowledge of income.
Michigan residency: Current lease, mortgage statement, utility bill with name/address; state/federal benefit letter, vehicle registration, or insurance statement listing Michigan address; or documents from Michigan educational institutions or medical facilities verifying residency.
- Alternative verification before denial: If submitted documents do not verify eligibility, the department must attempt collateral contacts, data matches with state/federal agencies, or other readily available documentary evidence before denying assistance.
- MI Bridges portal change: The department must modify the MI Bridges online application to require uploading verifiable documentation before determining eligibility.
Who would be affected
- Applicants and recipients of public assistance programs administered under the Social Welfare Act (the bill’s title and subject matter cite food assistance, medical services, and other services/financial assistance). The scope is defined by the statute’s definition of “public assistance” and may cover multiple programs (e.g., food assistance/SNAP, certain cash or medical assistance programs).
- MDHHS/department staff: additional document review, collateral verification, and IT changes to MI Bridges.
- Third parties: employers, financial institutions, schools, medical facilities, and other entities that may be asked to provide written verifications.
Procedural/timeline notes
- The documentation requirement takes effect “beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section” (i.e., upon enactment).
- The bill mandates immediate procedural changes to the MI Bridges portal to require uploads prior to eligibility determinations.
Potential impacts (practical considerations)
- May reduce reliance on applicant self-attestation and increase verification accuracy.
- Could increase administrative workload, processing time, and IT costs to modify MI Bridges.
- May create access barriers or delays for applicants lacking standard identity, income, or residency documents; the bill includes data matches and collateral contacts as a partial mitigation before denial.
- Fiscal and operational impacts would depend on implementation details and the department’s capacity to perform data matching and collateral verification.
