The Michigan Senate has approved legislation to help people who donate organs while they recover. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Joseph Bellino, offers a tax credit to employers who give their employees paid time off after donating an organ.
Senator Bellino said the bill aims to remove a major obstacle: fear of losing income. He said, “Many people hesitate to donate because they worry about paying bills while they recover.”
Senate Bill 301 would allow workers who donate an organ to take up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave. Employers would get a tax credit equal to 100% of the wages paid during that time.
Currently, 2,700 people in Michigan are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, according to Gift of Life Michigan. Across the country, more than 100,000 people are waiting for organs. In 2025, Michigan donors helped make 1,206 organ transplants happen.
The bill has been sent to the Michigan House of Representatives, where it was referred to the finance committee.