The Michigan House Rules Committee on an administrative-business day heard testimony on two bills intended to streamline medical licensing and increase transparency for health-care providers.

Representative Aaron Mueller, sponsor, described one measure as "a pretty straightforward bill" that would require medical license applicants to provide their legal name so "it will provide for more transparency." Mueller said the change was drawn from a red‑tape review and is aimed at helping the public hold medical practitioners accountable when looking up credentials and reviews.

Representative Chelsea Pavel, sponsor, told the committee that a second bill would create a voluntary process for a licensee to relinquish a medical license. Under that proposal, a licensee would deliver the certificate of license or registration along with a written notice of intent on a form provided by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA); the license would be "considered surrendered on the date the department receives the aforementioned form," Pavel said. Pavel argued the change would reduce unnecessary work for LARA by avoiding notices and lapse procedures when a licensee intends to stop practicing.

Committee members asked whether the legal-name requirement would apply to all licensed occupations or be confined to medical licenses. "This my bill is specifically for the medical licenses," Mueller said, adding he did not know whether other bills in the package address nonmedical occupations. Representative Martin said he would like to see a broader application, citing building licenses where name changes can be used by repeat offenders.

Chair Schuette thanked the sponsors and noted the proposals were part of ongoing efforts to cut red tape.

No formal committee votes on either bill were recorded in the transcript excerpts presented to the committee; both bills were presented during the meeting for testimony and committee questions only.

The proposals now move through the Rules Committee process; sponsors and committee members repeatedly framed both bills as administrative fixes intended to reduce paperwork and improve public accountability for medical licensure.