LANSING — The Michigan Senate passed a revamped Michigan Consumer Protection Act this week, hoping to provide more accountability to certain industries.
A series of decisions from the Michigan Supreme Court have weakened the state’s consumer protection law over the years, not allowing the state to investigate businesses if they sell a product that is regulated by the government.
“We’re trying to make sure that Michigan is back being a leader of the pack protecting our residents,” said Sen. Sam Singh, (D) District 28, East Lansing.
The bill — SB 134 — would also add fines for a violation of the act against an elder or vulnerable adult.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure that if somebody gets their roof not completed, or they have something faulty done to their car, or something that is going to be hurtful to them and their family, that they actually have the protections within the law to be able to sue and be able to get a reward back from there,” Singh said.
Business groups like the Michigan Chamber say that the bill would unfairly hurt lawyers, doctors and auto dealers.
The Democratic-controlled Senate passed a similar policy last session, but that never made it through the House.