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Read. Follow. Verify.Michigan Bans Medical Debt on Credit Reports and Regulates Collection Practices Under Senate Bill 451
Last action · June 17, 2026: referred to second readingSponsors: Sarah Anthony and 10 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Michigan bans ing agencies from including medical debt in consumer reports and prohibits s and collectors from reporting medical debt, except for credit transactions exceeding the federal conforming loan limit for a single-unit property. Collection agencies must also include a specific disclosure in their initial written communications to consumers and are barred from threatening credit reporting for medical debt under the threshold. The bill establishes civil remedies allowing individuals to sue for actual damages, injunctive relief, costs, and attorney fees.
- Senate Bill 451 was introduced in the Michigan Senate during the 2025-2026 legislative session and passed the Senate before moving to the House committee. context
- Medical debt has historically been a significant contributor to negative consumer credit scores across the United States. context
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.
consumers
Consumers are shielded from having medical debt reported on consumer reports and gain the right to bring civil actions for violations.
collection agencies
Collection agencies are restricted from reporting medical debt, threatened reporting, and are required to add specific text to initial written communications.
medical creditors
Medical creditors are prohibited from communicating or reporting any information regarding a medical debt to a consumer reporting agency.
consumer reporting agencies
Consumer reporting agencies are prohibited from making consumer reports that contain adverse items of information concerning medical debt.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What remedies do consumers have if a collector violates this act?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
13 actions- Jun 17, 2026Housereferred to second reading
- Jun 17, 2026HouseCommitteereported with recommendation without amendment
- Mar 11, 2026HouseCommitteereferred to Committee on Health Policy
- Mar 11, 2026HouseIntroducedread a first time
- Mar 11, 2026Housereceived on 03/11/2026
- Mar 11, 2026SenateFloorPASSED ROLL CALL # 26 YEAS 27 NAYS 8 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0
Show 7 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026SenatePLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)
- Mar 10, 2026SenateSUBSTITUTE (S-2) CONCURRED IN
- Mar 10, 2026SenateREPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)
- Nov 13, 2025SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1)
- Nov 13, 2025SenateCommitteeREPORTED FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1) 11/12/2025
- Jun 26, 2025SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
- Jun 26, 2025SenateIntroducedINTRODUCED BY SENATOR SARAH ANTHONY
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 6 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Comprehensive State-Level Medical Debt Shield
The bill shifts enforcement by barring both credit reporting agencies and medical debt collectors from sharing medical debt data under standard loan thresholds and establishes civil liability for violations.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.mi.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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