Lansing Update: MCC Supports Bills Limiting Children’s Access to AI Chatbots; Social Media
Posted March 6, 2026
Governor Lists Literacy, Housing & Healthcare Costs as Final Year Policy Priorities
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave her final State of the State address last week during a joint session of the House and Senate. The Governor is in the final year of her second four-year term, the maximum a governor can serve under the state constitution.
In her speech, the Governor outlined three priorities she would like to work on with the Legislature this year: Improving student reading, increasing availability and access to housing, and lowering healthcare costs.
Regarding literacy, MCC has consistently supported legislation to improve student reading, given the importance of reading for better education outcomes. An example of this is MCC’s support of legislation signed into law from last session that require dyslexia screenings in public schools to identify students who need additional reading support.
MCC advocates that state resources to improve literacy—including training for teachers—also be made available to the state’s nonpublic schools, which educate 100,000 Michigan children.
Within the Blueprint for the Common Good—the set of principles formed by Catholic social teaching that guide MCC public policy advocacy—it is stated that MCC supports policies that promote affordability and accessibility to housing and healthcare. Both housing and healthcare are regarded by the Church as basic human needs that should be available to all.
The Governor in her speech also called for lawmakers to send her a budget by the date required by law, June 30. Last year, the budget was not completed until after the beginning of the fiscal year in October.
The process to determine the next state budget is underway, and MCC will continue its advocacy for key priorities related to schools and help for the poor in ongoing discussions with lawmakers this spring.
MCC Supports Limiting Children’s Access to AI-Powered Chatbots
MCC this week offered support for legislation to protect Michigan children from “companion chatbots” powered by artificial intelligence and unfettered access to addictive social media feeds.
Senate Bills 757 through 760 would implement limits on how social media companies and AI providers interact with minors in Michigan. MCC supports the legislation in the interest of protecting children from harmful online practices, particularly social media algorithms designed to keep users scrolling, as well as AI technology that attempts to mimic human relationships.
Under Senate Bill 760, companies could not make available a “companion chatbot” to a minor that was foreseeably capable of undermining the minor’s safety, wellbeing, or development. By companion chatbot, the legislation is referring to a generative AI platform that simulates a sustained human relationship with the user who interacts with it, according to an analysis of the legislation.
MCC’s support of this legislation aligns with comments Pope Leo XIV has made regarding AI technology that mimic human interactions. In his recent message for World Communications Day, the Holy Father made these observations about chatbots:
“Chatbots based on large language models (LLMs) are proving to be surprisingly effective at covert persuasion through continuous optimization of personalized interaction. The dialogic, adaptive, mimetic structure of these language models is capable of imitating human feelings and thus simulating a relationship. While this anthropomorphization can be entertaining, it is also deceptive, particularly for the most vulnerable. Because chatbots are excessively “affectionate,” as well as always present and accessible, they can become hidden architects of our emotional states and so invade and occupy our sphere of intimacy.”
Another bill in the package, SB 757, would block social media providers from providing minors with an “addictive feed” without obtaining parental consent. The Attorney General could bring charges against social media providers who violate the act, which would also prohibit social media companies from sending children notifications regarding an addictive social media feed either overnight or weekdays during the school year.
Senate Bill 758 would block social media companies from using specific tactics toward minors, such as targeted advertisements, profiling, or promotion of harmful products. The bill also requires the implementation of parental controls in social media apps, including screen time monitoring.
The final bill in the package, Senate Bill 759, would make a violation of the provisions in SB 758 a violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The bill package received testimony only during a hearing before the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee.
Bill Requiring Ongoing Training to Prevent Child Abuse Easily Clears House
Legislation supported by MCC to require continued education for mandatory reporters of child abuse was approved by the state House in a 108-1 vote last month.
State law requires certain professionals who have established relationships with children to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. The list of mandatory reporters includes physicians, nurses, social workers, teachers, school counselors, members of the clergy, and more.
House Bill 5220, sponsored by Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), would require mandatory reporters to complete continuing education developed by the state every three years. The legislation was referred to a Senate committee for further action.
The bill would allow employers to provide their own training materials if the training is updated based on the state training. This provision will allow Michigan dioceses to continue their safe environment programs and training for Church employees and volunteers, which includes continuing education about recognizing and preventing child abuse.
MCC supports legislation like HB 5220 that implement strong child abuse prevention policies, much like the protections the U.S. bishops have adopted in dioceses in the 25 years since the approval of the Dallas Charter. For more information about Church’s efforts to protect children, see the MCC publication On Mission to Protect and Heal.
The Word From Lansing: MCC Looks to Build on Budget Advocacy Success for Schools
As the process to set the next state budget begins again, MCC shared with a broader Catholic audience in its latest Word from Lansing column about the success in securing more state funding for Catholic and nonpublic schools in last year’s budget process.
State funding to support school safety and mental health for Michigan’s 100,000 nonpublic students jumped from $1.5 million in 2024 to $21 million in 2025, the current year budget.
To read the recap of these advocacy efforts and how it relates to MCC’s ongoing work to support Catholic schools, click or tap here.
This Easter, 3,700 Michiganders Projected to Join Catholic Church
At this year’s Easter Vigil, as many as 3,700 Michiganders are expected to officially join the Catholic Church, according to catechumen and candidate numbers reported by the seven dioceses in Michigan and compiled by MCC.
In the early days of Lent each year, the Rite of Election is held to formally present to the local bishop of each diocese the candidates and catechumens who wish to be fully received in the Church at Easter.
Candidates have already received a valid baptism and wish to be fully received into the Church and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. Catechumens are unbaptized and wish to receive all three sacraments.
In recent weeks, dioceses across the state have reported the estimated individuals who will enter the Church at Easter, with some reporting the highest totals in years—or even decades.
Based on projections reported by the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Gaylord, and Marquette, there will be roughly 3,700 new Catholics in Michigan by Easter Sunday this year.
Pray for all candidates and catechumens, their sponsors and godparents, and all charged with their preparation and formation in these final weeks before they receive the sacraments of initiation. Praise be to God!