Fix Healthcare
Get involved now to enact critical health care cost changes
MEA members, leaders and staff have pushed for months to get a solution to the health care cost crisis. Our hard work resulted in HB 6058 being passed by the state House and Senate in December 2024.
But new House leadership under Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) has yet to present the bill to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her review. The State Constitution clearly states that, “Every bill passed by the Legislature shall be presented to the governor.”
HB 6058 News
MI Supreme Court holds oral arguments in case impacting educators’ health insurance costs
Kim Sandefur, a fifth-grade teacher in Comstock Public Schools, speaks Wednesday at a press conference outside of the Michigan Hall of Justice, where the Supreme Court was set to begin oral arguments in the “stalled bills” case. Before the state Supreme Court held oral arguments Wednesday morning in the “stalled bills” case, MEA members and other public employees gathered outside…
HB 6058 update: MEA congratulates Michigan Senate on victory in lawsuit against state House
Update 12/12: The House of Representatives and House Speaker Matt Hall have appealed this ruling to the Michigan Supreme Court. Stay tuned to MEA.org and subscribe to MEA’s e-newsletters to remain up to date on the latest developments. The Michigan Education Association on Monday congratulated the Michigan Senate on its court victory against the House of Representatives, which, since January, has…
Statewide survey: Average Michigan public school educator paying $2,400 more annually for health care
Survey results highlight need for House Bill 6058 to be signed into law without further delay In a statewide MEA survey, 80% of Michigan public school educators who responded said they have been paying more out-of-pocket health care costs since January, with the average increase at $2,400 more per year. The survey results highlight the need for House Bill 6058…
MEA praises MI Senate’s legal action to rein in rising health care costs for educators and other public employees
UPDATE 4/2: In response to the Senate's legal action, the Court of Claims judge said that she would not issue a ruling but instead urged the Supreme Court to accept the bypass application to issue a final ruling in the matter. The Supreme Court denied the bypass application but has ordered the Court of Appeals to expedite their consideration of…
Sign petition calling for held bills to be presented by House
On March 12, House Republicans passed a resolution stating they would not present Gov. Whitmer with nine bills being held from December’s “lame duck” session – including HB 6058, which would lower skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs for public employee health insurance. At the same time, under the leadership of Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp), the House GOP caucus appealed a judge’s…
Victory in Senate lawsuit vs. House on hold-up of HB 6058
On Thursday, the state Senate was victorious in their lawsuit against the House to compel the presentation of bills being held back from the governor – including HB 6058, which works to reduce skyrocketing out-of-pocket health insurance costs for educators and other public employees. Court of Appeals Judge Sima Patel ruled in favor of Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and the Michigan…
Labor files support of lawsuit after lawmakers update Winter Conference on health care legislation
Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) and Bob Callender, president of the Warren Education Association, at the MEA Winter Conference. Xiong sponsored HB 6058 after learning of the impending crisis from MEA staff and leaders, including Callender. By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor In a passionate address before a capacity crowd at the MEA Winter Conference last week, Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) recalled…
Michigan Senate sues House for withholding bills
The Democratic-led state Senate filed a lawsuit on Monday to compel Republican House Speaker Matt Hall to transmit House Bill 6058 and eight other bills to Gov. Whitmer for a signature as the state constitution requires for all measures passed by both chambers of the Legislature. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) held a press conference to announce the…
MEA members join plea to House Speaker: Stop playing politics with people’s lives
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor UPDATE FEB. 3: Today the Democratic-led state Senate filed a lawsuit to compel Republican House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) to follow the state constitution and transmit House Bill 6058 and eight other bills held in limbo to Gov. Whitmer for a signature. Read more. MEA member Kim Sandefur normally teaches math to fourth and fifth…
Press conference, Senate lawsuit push for health cost bill to be presented, signed
UPDATE JAN. 22: The state Senate adopted a resolution today authorizing Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) to bring a lawsuit against House Speaker Matt Hall to compel him to send HB 6058 to the governor for her review. Read more about this developing story. State Rep. Mai Xiong speaks at Tuesday's press conference about the importance of HB…