A new Michigan State Bar Journal article by John Philo from the Sugar Law Center summarizes recent changes to the state's minimum wage and paid sick leave laws (Public Acts 1 & 2 of 2025).

"While most changes expand existing rights of employees, Public Act 2 ... eliminate[s] employees’ ability to bring a civil action against their employer ... vest[ing] enforcement exclusively within complaint procedures established by Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. ... the amendments of Public Act 1 and 2 of 2025 more closely approximate the requirements of the citizens’ initiatives that prompted their enactment. However, the amendments continue to materially deviate from those initiatives in a number of areas. And while seemingly adopted in part at the suggestion of ... the Michigan Supreme Court ... it may remain to be determined just how far a legislative enactment can deviate from the provisions of a citizen’s initiative and still remain compliant with the requirements of Michigan Constitution at art. II, § 9."

Full article available here, at the State Bar of Michigan Journal.