Michigan House Bill HB5489

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/29/26
• Refer: 1/29/26

Caption

Health occupations: emergency medical services personnel; licensure of medical first responders and emergency medical technicians; allow at 17 years of age. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 20950a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5488'26

Summary

House Bill 5489 would amend Michigan’s Public Health Code to set minimum age requirements for certain emergency medical services licenses. Under the bill, an applicant for a medical first responder license or an emergency medical technician (EMT) license could be 17 years old, so long as the application is consistent with the Youth Employment Standards Act and, if the applicant is under 18, is signed by a parent or guardian. Applicants for an EMT specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator license would still need to be at least 18 years old. The bill is narrowly focused on licensure eligibility for EMS personnel and does not change training standards, scope of practice, or other licensing requirements beyond age. It also includes a tie-bar provision, meaning it would not take effect unless House Bill 5488 is enacted, indicating the two bills are intended to operate together as part of the same policy change.

Impact

HB 5489 would add a new section to the Public Health Code governing who may apply for certain EMS licenses in Michigan. It would lower the minimum age for medical first responder and EMT licensure to 17, while preserving the age-18 threshold for EMT specialist, paramedic, and EMS instructor-coordinator licenses. The bill would also interact with the Youth Employment Standards Act by requiring compliance with youth employment rules and parental or guardian consent for applicants under 18. Its practical effect would be to expand the pool of eligible entry-level EMS applicants and potentially help address workforce shortages in emergency medical services.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable or at least supportive sentiment toward the bill, with the measure presented as a workforce and recruitment adjustment rather than a major policy overhaul. Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided material, there is no direct evidence of formal opposition or debate in the record supplied. The bill’s tie-bar to HB 5488 also suggests it is part of a coordinated legislative package, which often indicates aligned support for the broader proposal.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the lowering of the minimum age for licensure, especially for applicants who are still minors. Supporters are likely to view the change as a way to create an earlier pathway into EMS careers and strengthen staffing, while critics may raise concerns about maturity, liability, supervision, and whether 17-year-olds should be licensed in emergency response roles. The bill addresses some of those concerns by requiring parental or guardian signature for applicants under 18 and by keeping higher age limits for more advanced licenses.