MichiganVotes Bills

Michigan House bill would ban COVID vaccine mandates, but never got a vote

With Democrats taking the gavels in January, it’s unlikely House Bill 4736 will ever pass.

Awaiting a vote in the Michigan House Health Policy Committee: House Bill 4736, which would ban the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from mandating the experimental COVID-19 vaccine.

MichiganVotes.org reports that House Bill 4736 was introduced by State Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, in April 2021.

The bill runs a single page, and instructs that:

“[T]he department shall not promulgate or enforce a rule requiring an individual to be immunized against COVID-19. As used in this section, "COVID-19" means coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

Despite Meerman’s post as majority vice-chair of the health policy committee, the bill hasn’t seen any further action. Meerman will continue in the legislature in January, but in 2023-24, Democrats will hold the majority in both the Michigan House and Senate. 

To become law, a bill must be passed by both houses of the legislature, then signed by the governor. If the governor vetoes a bill, lawmakers can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. 

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.