South Kent News

State Representative Angela Rigas has expressed approval for a new bipartisan legislative package designed to protect Michigan's restaurant workers and small businesses. The legislation comes in response to the economic impact of a Michigan Supreme Court ruling concerning tipped wages and sick leave.

"This bipartisan compromise isn’t perfect, but it’s a major victory for Michigan’s workforce, business owners, and economy," stated Rep. Rigas. "House Republicans led the charge to protect the wages of tipped workers and fix Michigan’s broken sick leave policies."

The new laws aim to preserve the existing tipped wage system, which is crucial for restaurant workers who depend on tips as part of their income. Without this compromise, there was concern that changes could lead to increased menu prices, job losses, and potential closures of restaurants across Michigan.

"Michigan servers and bartenders overwhelmingly wanted to keep their tips," said Rigas. "By maintaining the tipped wage system, we’re ensuring workers can continue earning far above the minimum wage while keeping restaurants open and thriving."

In addition to addressing tipped wages, the legislation also revises sick leave policies by removing complex mandates in favor of a more balanced approach that considers both worker protections and business needs.

"Our reforms make sure workers can stay home when they’re sick," Rigas explained. "House Republicans and Speaker Hall fought for a fair and balanced approach—one that protects jobs and paychecks without suffocating small businesses with unnecessary mandates."

Despite these efforts, some out-of-state activists are considering launching a referendum campaign against the legislation.

"This isn’t over," warned Rigas. "Left-wing groups want to undo this win... But I trust that Michigan’s workers and business owners will stand firm in protecting their livelihoods."

Rep. Rigas remains committed to advocating for policies that support economic growth while safeguarding small businesses from excessive government regulation.

For further information, interested parties can contact Rep. Angela Rigas at (517) 373-1403 or via email at [email protected].