Administrative procedure: guidelines; de novo review during administrative law hearings; allow. Amends secs. 79 & 106 of 1969 PA 306 (MCL 24.279 & 24.306).
Key claim: HB5816 would amend Michigan’s Administrative Procedures Act to allow de novo review during administrative law hearings.
Abstract
(HB5816 · 103rd Legislature) Administrative procedure: guidelines; de novo review during administrative law hearings; allow. Amends secs. 79 & 106 of 1969 PA 306 (MCL 24.279 & 24.306). Latest action (2026-06-11): Referred To Committee On Government Operations
Why this matters
For workers, licensees, and businesses appearing before state agencies in contested cases, a de novo review standard means an administrative law judge can reassess the matter independently rather than deferring to the agency’s initial determination. This procedural shift could meaningfully affect outcomes in occupational licensing disputes, unemployment appeals, wage claims, and other regulatory enforcement actions that shape Michigan’s labor and economic landscape.