Bill > HB4291

This bill prohibits employers from paying employees different wages for equal work based on protected attributes or characteristics, such as religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, or marital status. The bill allows for wage differences in specific circumstances, including variations based on seniority systems, merit systems, production quantity or quality measurements, or other factors unrelated to protected characteristics. Employers are explicitly prohibited from reducing an employee's wages in order to comply with the equal pay requirement. The bill draws its definition of "protected attributes or characteristics" from the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which is a Michigan state law that prohibits discrimination in various areas of public life. By adding this provision to existing labor law, the bill aims to ensure fair compensation practices and prevent wage discrimination based on personal characteristics. The bill also repeals a previous section of the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act, suggesting this new provision is intended to replace or update prior wage-related regulations.

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https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4291