Bill > HB4891

This bill amends the Michigan Debt Management Act by revising licensing requirements and definitions related to collection agencies. The bill updates the process for issuing licenses by requiring the department to thoroughly investigate applicants, including their officers, partners, managers, or other controlling individuals. The department cannot issue a license if an investigated individual has been convicted of certain crimes, violated previous debt management regulations, had a license revoked, defaulted on payments, or is under 18 years old. The bill also introduces a comprehensive definition of "collection agency" that includes various entities engaged in collecting or attempting to collect claims, while specifically exempting certain organizations like banks, credit unions, attorneys, and public officers from being classified as collection agencies. Additionally, the bill clarifies certification requirements, mandating that individual applicants be certified as counselors before receiving a license, and that non-individual applicants must have their counselors certified within 180 days of employment. The bill is tied to another House Bill and will only take effect if that companion bill is also enacted into law.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4891