LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate on Tuesday passed Sen. Joseph Bellino’s legislation to create a tax credit for Michigan employers who allow their employees to take time off with full pay as they recover from donating an organ to save a person’s life.
“Unfortunately, one of the biggest reasons people don’t sign up to be a living organ donor is the fear of losing income during recovery. This bill would help eliminate that financial stress and ensure no Michigan resident is forced to choose between saving a life and paying their bills,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “This is a compassionate reform designed to balance protecting job providers with creating a safer path for living donors and a brighter future for those in need of a life-saving organ transplant.”
Under Senate Bill 301, workers who donate an organ would be able to take up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave funded through a tax credit to their employer. The employer would receive a state income tax credit equal to 100% of the wages paid during the donor’s leave.
To be eligible for the credit, the donor would need to provide physician verification of the organ donation, and the paid leave must be in addition to existing paid leave benefits.
According to Gift of Life Michigan, 2,700 Michiganders are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, while more than 100,000 are waiting nationwide.
In 2025, the generosity of organ donors in Michigan led to 1,206 organ transplants.
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