House Bill 4491 requires merit-based hiring attestations and civil fines for state economic development program applicants

Original title: Economic development: other; application process for critical industry program and Michigan strategic site readiness program; revise.

Last action · May 14, 2025: bill electronically reproduced 05/13/2025Sponsors: Angela Rigas and 12 others

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What This Bill Would Do

House Bill 4491 conditions state economic development grants and loans on applicants and end-users submitting a signed form attesting to merit-based hiring and promotional practices for at least five years or the duration of their agreement. The bill imposes a $5,000 civil fine and perjury liability for false attestations, while revising application and reporting requirements for the Critical Industry Program and the Michigan Strategic Site Readiness Program.

Why it matters

Businesses and local governments seeking state economic development funds must commit to strict merit-based personnel practices or face disqualification, $5,000 fines, and potential criminal perjury charges for false statements. The measure also establishes explicit timelines, repayment obligations, and annual legislative reporting rules for multi-million-dollar state incentive programs.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Economic development program applicants

Applicants must execute a hiring and promotional practices form, commit to merit-based employment practices for five years or the agreement duration, and face fines or disqualification for false statements.

Directly affected

Site end users

End users operating on improved strategic sites must submit signed hiring practices attestations or have the applicant attest on their behalf under penalty of perjury and civil fines.

Directly affected

Local economic development corporations

Local corporations applying for site readiness grants must ensure end-user compliance and incorporate merit-based attestation requirements into their project applications.

Key Facts

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Frequently Asked Questions

What must businesses submit to qualify for economic development funds under this bill?

Applicants must submit a completed hiring and promotional practices form attesting that they use objective merit-based criteria for hiring and internal promotions, and will continue doing so for at least five years or the duration of their agreement.

What happens if a company submits a false hiring attestation?

The person making the false attestation is guilty of perjury under the Michigan penal code and is subject to a civil fine of $5,000.00.

What are the repayment timelines if a company breaches its investment agreement?

Any money subject to a or specific repayment provision must be fully paid within 90 days of notification by the fund, or face a penalty of 1% per month prorated daily.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

May 14, 2025House
bill electronically reproduced 05/13/2025
May 13, 2025HouseCommittee
referred to Committee on Government Operations
May 13, 2025HouseIntroduced
read a first time
May 13, 2025HouseIntroduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Angela Rigas

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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