The new year means new laws in Michigan. Check out some major
new legislation that goes into effect in 2017. Happy 2017, Michigan.
1. Good news for your wallet. The minimum wage is going up to
 $8.90 an hour statewide. This is part of a four-phase, incremental
 minimum wage hike that became law in May 2014. Below is an outline
 of the minimum wage increase details:
-Sept. 1, 2014: The minimum wage rose to $8.15.
-Jan. 1, 2016: The minimum wage jumped to $8.50.
-Jan. 1, 2017: The minimum wage climbs to $8.90.

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-Jan 1, 2018: The minimum wage increases to $9.25.
2. It'll be more expensive to gas up in 2017. Michigan's gas tax of
 19 cents a gallon is increasing by 7.3 cents and the diesel tax of
15 cents a gallon is jumping by 11.3 cents. It doesn't stop there -
 the law calls for automatic annual inflationary adjustments in
 2022 and thereafter. Why are gas taxes going up? You can take
 it up with Governor Rick Snyder, who in Nov. 2015 signed a
 $1.2 billion road funding package, which included the gas tax
 hikes, to pay for improving Michigan roads. Something to think
 about the next time you drive over a pothole.
3. Leave your wallet out - it'll also cost more to register your
 vehicle in 2017! That's because in addition to raising gas taxes,
that $1.2 billion road funding package is also increasing vehicle
registration fees by 20%. And plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle
owners, you're looking at even more charges. To estimate your
2017 registration, click here. Note: If your birthday is within
six months of the New Year, you can avoid the 20% price jump
 by registering your vehicle before Jan. 1, 2017.
4. A new telehealth law is coming to Michigan in 2017. What the
heck is telehealth? It's basically the use of telecommunications
 technology to offer virtual health services and share health-related
 information. For example, telehealth could be a mom using
Skype to show a doctor her son's chicken pox instead of actually
 going into the doctor's office. Telehealth is a booming industry -
 and there are all sorts of apps that link you with on-demand
doctors that will treat you virtually 24-7. Well, Gov. Snyder
signed Michigan's new telehealth law on Dec. 21, 2016 - and it
 spells out new telehealth practice standards in an effort to
regulate the industry. One big component: Under the new law,
doctors can remotely prescribe medication via telemedicine -
 except for controlled substances. The law goes into effect
 March 21, 2017.