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Michigan House Approves Bill To Ease Occupational Licensing Penalties
Russ Survance
Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:56:28 EST
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The Michigan House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan legislative proposal aimed at reducing regulatory burdens for licensed professionals. Sponsored by State Representative Timmy Beson, House Bill 5284 seeks to provide a pathway for workers to clear minor infractions from their public records.
The legislation addresses current state law, which requires the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to publicly list all disciplinary actions, regardless of severity. Under the new plan:
Infraction Removal: Professionals can make a one-time request to remove minor violations - such as missing continuing education hours - from the state's public website.
Eligibility Criteria: To qualify, individuals must prove they have since completed the required education and have maintained a clean disciplinary record for at least five years.
Affected Industries: The change applies to several sectors, including certified public accountants (CPAs), architects, engineers, surveyors, and real estate brokers.
Rep. Beson framed the bill as a necessary step to keep Michigan competitive with other states. He compared the proposed system to "forgiveness procedures" used for minor traffic violations, arguing that small administrative oversights should not permanently penalize a worker's livelihood or discourage job providers from operating in the state.
HB 5284 is part of a broader bipartisan initiative in the House to streamline permitting and licensing processes across the healthcare and housing sectors. Following its overwhelming approval in the House, the bill now moves to the Michigan Senate for further deliberation.
