LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed Sen. Joseph Bellino’s legislation to support organ donation by creating 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.
“This is about ensuring no one in Michigan is forced to choose between saving a life and paying their bills,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “Many people don’t volunteer to be a living organ donor because of the fear of losing income while they recover. I want to thank the governor for signing this compassionate reform to help eliminate that financial fear. This measure will 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, now Public Act 39 of 2026, workers who donate an organ will be able to take up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave funded through a tax credit to their employer. The employer will 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 will 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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Editor’s note: The above photograph of Bellino is available by clicking on the image or by visiting SenatorJosephBellino.com/Photos.
Photo caption: Sen. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe, and Chief of Staff Josh Stump joined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as she signed Senate Bill 301 to support organ donation by creating 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.