For Immediate Release
February 14, 2025
Contact:
Laura Millard Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
(517) 281-1084
League opposes Senate bill that would maintain subminimum wages for tipped workers in Michigan
Senate Bill 8 undermines the tipped wage policy set to take place on
Feb. 21 under a Michigan Supreme Court ruling
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy opposes Senate Bill (SB) 8, which passed out of the Michigan Senate last night. While SB 8 would accelerate Michigan’s minimum wage, it would undermine tipped workers by significantly weakening an existing, Michigan Supreme Court-ordered tipped wage policy that is slated to take effect next week. The court-ordered policy will increase tipped wages over the next five years until it reaches 100% of the minimum wage in 2030, while SB 8 would significantly slow tipped wage increases over the next several years and keep tipped wages at 50% of the minimum wage beginning in 2031.
The League also continues to oppose any bill that seeks to weaken the court-ordered earned paid sick time protections that are also scheduled to take effect next week. The statement below can be attributed to League President and CEO Monique Stanton.
“The League continues to oppose any of the Legislature’s attempts to water down the scheduled earned paid sick time and wage protections that workers have been waiting six long years to receive. The House and Senate have voted to undermine the hard-fought rights that Michigan workers deserve — rights those workers were expecting to take effect in just one week.
“While Senate Bill 8 would benefit many minimum-wage earners in our state by accelerating Michigan’s minimum wage increases, it will simultaneously lock tipped wage earners into lower wages into perpetuity.
“The continuation of a tipped minimum wage is fundamentally flawed and detrimental to workers, especially women, who make up the vast majority — 74.3% — of our state’s tipped wage workforce. Business and industry lobbying groups argue that eliminating the tipped minimum wage would harm businesses, particularly restaurants, or that it would end the practice of tipping entirely. However, neither of these claims hold up to scrutiny. Research consistently shows that raising minimum wages has no meaningful negative impact on employment or business growth—including in the restaurant industry. And tipping remains commonplace in states that have already eliminated the tipped minimum wage. The difference in those states is that workers aren’t heavily relying on a steady customer base and the generosity of patrons in order to make ends meet. Instead, their wage itself provides them with greater financial stability and reduces vulnerability to wage theft and employer exploitation.
“Despite resistance from business lobbying groups and some lawmakers, Michigan should stay on the court-ordered path to eliminating the tipped minimum wage and the exploitation it perpetuates. Instead of prolonging the outdated and unjust system of tipped wages, we ask that our state lawmakers prioritize policies that provide all workers with a fair and stable income.
“We also urge our state lawmakers to stay on the court-ordered path for the earned paid sick time protections scheduled to take effect next week. Without these protections, many Michigan workers will have to continue to decide between going without pay or going to work sick, both of which are unsafe choices that can have grave consequences for not just their economic security, but for public health. Continuing to force sick workers into the workplace not only hinders their ability to take care of themselves and get well, but also contributes to the spread of illness among their co-workers and in public spaces.
“Michigan’s workforce deserves policies that strengthen, not diminish, their rights and protections. After a six-year legal battle that should never have had to happen in the first place, they do not deserve to have what has been promised to them stripped away yet again.”
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
