The Overview

About 1.4 million Michigan residents who use Bridge Cards for food or cash assistance will get cards with security chips under a new law meant to stop thieves from skimming their benefits. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed House Bill 4746on July 21, and the state has until Thursday, July 22, 2027, to issue the new cards. ​

Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) sponsored the bill with two Republican cosponsors. The current cards rely on magnetic stripes, which criminals can copy with skimming devices hidden in store card readers.

What The Law Does

The law requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to issue a chip-enabled Bridge Card to every food and cash assistance recipient, meeting industry standards set by the Accredited Standards Committee X9. The department must also keep upgrading the cards with future security features that replace or add to the chip.

The state’s 2026 budget set aside $16 million for the switch, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential. The department told recipients in July that new cards would begin arriving later this year and urged them to keep their mailing addresses current through MI Bridges, The Arab American News reported.

In fiscal year 2024, the state approved 1,664 requests to replace stolen benefits, worth nearly $885,000, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported. Federal money to replace stolen benefits ended in December 2024, leaving victims with no federal way to recover them, Michigan Public reported.

The Debate

The House passed the bill 77-28 on Sept. 3, 2025. The Senate passed it 35-1 on July 3, with Sen. Kevin Daley (R) casting the lone no vote, and it went to Whitmer without changes.

“Taxpayer dollars should never be vulnerable to criminals who are looking to exploit hardworking Michigan families,” Woolford said after the House vote. He has also said he would like the cards replaced faster than the law requires, WZMQ reported.

What’s Next

The law turns a plan the department had already begun funding into a firm deadline, with about nine months left to reach every cardholder. Recipients with an outdated address risk missing their replacement card, which is why the department has asked them to update it now.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article