Michigan football 2014 year in photos

Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan watches the scoreboard from the bench in the first half against Minnesota at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, September 27, 2014.

(Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News)

LANSING — It's now illegal for student-athletes at Michigan's public universities and colleges to join a union after Gov. Rick Snyder signed Public Act 414 into law Tuesday.

The Michigan Legislature passed the law, formerly House Bill 6074, during the "lame-duck" session, which ended on Dec. 19. Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, introduced the bill in early December.

Detractors criticized the ban as a solution without a problem, as there has been no talk from athletes at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University or the state's other public colleges and universities of unionizing. Supporters said the ban would simply reinforce the idea that student-athletes are students first and should be focused on the classroom rather than their athletic pursuits.

Public Act 414 officially “excludes college athletes from the definition of ‘public employees’ who are entitled to collectively bargain,” according to a release from Snyder’s office.

“The bill would ensure that college athletes are students, first and foremost, and should not be treated as employees by their schools,” the statement read.

The timing of the announcement came at the same time the University of Michigan was introducing Jim Harbaugh as its new head football coach in a press conference in Ann Arbor. Previous coach Brady Hoke said the school's football program encouraged its players to "educate themselves" on unionization, but there was never any further talk of unionization from the Wolverines.

The only serious talk of unionization has come from Northwestern University, which is a private institution.

Football players at Northwestern took a vote on unionization, but the results of that vote are still unknown because he votes were never counted. A regional board determined the football players were employees of the university, but the decision was appealed to the National Labor Relations Board, which has yet to issue a ruling.

A federal judge ruled earlier this year that players can be paid for the use of their likeness, and that ruling will take effect in 2016.

Kyle Feldscher is the Capitol education and MSU reporter for MLive Media Group. Reach him via email at kylefeldscher@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter at @Kyle_Feldscher. Read more stories here.