Michigan’s participation in a nationwide medical licensure compact is secure after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a renewal bill into law on Thursday.

Whitmer signed House Bill 5455, sponsored by state Rep. Rylee Linting, R-Wyandotte. Michigan joined the compact when the law was passed and signed during Whitmer’s first term, but the agreement had a sunset date of 2022. That was pushed back to expire on March 28 of this year, and was set to lapse if lawmakers couldn’t get it together to reach another deal.

The compact allows out-of-state doctors the ability to practice in Michigan, as the agreement aligned standards in both Michigan and other states who also signed on.

If the law was allowed to lapse, thousands of doctors and physicians who received their licensure through the compact would lose those licenses.

Whitmer said in a statement that she was pleased to keep Michigan involved in the compact.

“I’m committed to protecting access to health care and growing small business,” Whitmer said. “Communities across our state, especially in rural areas, are already facing a shortage of health care workers. Historic federal cuts to Medicaid are raising health care costs for everyone. That’s why I’m signing a bipartisan bill to ensure 5,000 doctors can continue practicing in Michigan and making a difference in their communities.”

HB 5455 will now become Public Act 6 of 2026.

Additionally, Whitmer signed a bill that would designate the wood duck as the state’s official duck — House Bill 4044. A public act number for the wood duck recognition was not provided by the governor’s office, but it would likely be the seventh piece of legislation signed by the governor this year.

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