LANSING, Mich — On Tuesday, firefighters from across Michigan came to the Michigan State Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass House Bill 4688—legislation that has been stalled in the Michigan House for more than a year.
The bill would allow staffing discussions during bargaining but doesn't mandate staffing minimums and ability to pay.
If lawmakers fail to act on this bill in December, it will expire. Advocates say that the inaction is "jeopardizing efforts to address critical firefighter staffing shortages across the state that endanger both first responders and the communities they serve."
Advocates say Michigan has just 50 firefighters per 100,000 people—less than half the average of neighboring states.
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
An issue we've been covering across our neighborhoods heads to the steps of the Capitol.
I'm your neighborhood reporter Asya Lawrence and Tuesday, more than 500 firefighters came to support House Bill 4688.
Legislation they say is key to addressing staffing shortages throughout our neigbhorhoods.
"4688! 4688! 4688!" said one firefighter.
Dozens of cities, hundreds of firefighters, all coming together in support of House Bill 4688.
The bill would make minimum staffing a mandatory subject of bargaining.
Michigan Professional Firefighters Union president Matthew Sahr says that change is crucial for adequate staffing for emergency services.
"Without this bill were going to continue to lag behind our surrounding states. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois all have staffing levels that are double what we have here in Michigan." Sahr said.
He says as of 2024, there are 50 professional firefighters per 100,000 residents in the state of Michigan, compared to other Midwestern states that are close to 100.
And firefighters here in my neighborhood feel those effects every day.
"We've had our call volume go from 17,000 calls a year to this year we're going to make almost 30,000 calls a year so to be able to have that conversation for essential staffing so we have the right amount of people on the job and to do it safely is crucial" said Brad Jorae, Lansing firefighter.
Despite the strong stance of these firefighters there is still opposition including from the Michigan Municipal League who says quote -- "the cost and resources required of a municipality to comply would be drastically out of reach for most communities"
"I think a better way would be to prioritize local resources making sure that there isn't disinvestment by the state for our communities, making sure we have reliable funding" said David Hodgkins, MML legislative associate.
Members of the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union say they're still not budging and plan to continue their efforts of getting this bill, that is currently sitting in house, passed before the end of the year.
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