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HB 4291

Labor: discrimination; certain protected attributes and characteristics of an employee; prohibit an employer from basing the employee's wage rate on. Amends 1978 PA 390 (MCL 408.471 - 408.490) by adding sec. 13b & repeals sec. 13 of 2018 PA 337 (MCL 408.943).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Arbit and 36 co-sponsors

Michigan bill prohibits employers from setting wage rates based on protected employee characteristics, strengthening wage discrimination protections under state labor law.

bill electronically reproduced 03/25/2025
#civilrights:employmentdiscrimination #labor:discrimination #labor:hoursandwages
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Bill Summary · HB 4291

Legislative bill overview

HB 4291 amends Michigan's wage discrimination law to prohibit employers from basing employee wage rates on certain protected attributes and characteristics. The bill adds new protections under the Michigan Payment of Wages law and repeals a provision from a 2018 law, suggesting an expansion or modification of existing wage discrimination protections.

Why is this important

Wage discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, gender, religion, or other attributes directly affects workers' economic security and can perpetuate systemic inequality. This bill clarifies and potentially strengthens protections that determine whether employees receive equal pay for their work, which impacts household income stability across Michigan's workforce.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: The bill references "certain protected attributes and characteristics" without spelling them out in this summary, leaving unclear exactly which categories receive protection and whether this aligns with federal law or expands beyond it
  • Business compliance burden: Employers may argue the law creates administrative and compliance costs, particularly for smaller businesses implementing pay equity audits and documentation systems
  • Interaction with prior law: The repeal of a 2018 law provision suggests this reverses or replaces earlier policy; the rationale for why that prior approach was inadequate remains unclear without detailed legislative history

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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