This bill amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's source of income. It directly affects landlords, real estate brokers, and anyone involved in property transactions by banning them from refusing to rent or sell homes to individuals using government assistance, veterans benefits, Social Security, or other legal income sources. The law clarifies that these protections apply to all forms of discrimination, including refusing to negotiate, making false claims about property availability, or publishing advertisements that exclude people based on how they pay rent. By adding "source of income" to the list of protected categories, the legislation ensures that housing opportunities cannot be denied solely because a tenant relies on subsidies or retirement funds.
This bill modifies Michigan's penal code to strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking during legal proceedings. It allows courts to admit expert testimony explaining how trafficking victims may behave differently than expected and clarifies that a victim's testimony does not require corroboration. Additionally, the law ensures that victims cannot be forced to testify or produce documents if doing so might incriminate them, with the strict rule that any truthful information they provide cannot be used against them in a criminal case except to challenge their credibility or prove they lied.
This bill modifies the rules for the Michigan Housing Development Authority, allowing it to buy back its own debt notes and bonds to cancel them. Under the new provisions, the authority can purchase these debts at their standard redemption price plus interest, or at a higher price if it determines that doing so serves the organization's best interests. This change gives the agency more flexibility to manage its financial obligations without needing to wait for debts to reach their original maturity dates. The update applies to the authority's existing funds and becomes effective on April 2, 2025.
This bill requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to create and distribute a guide on safe firearm storage to all public and private schools. The guide, which must be available in English, Spanish, and Arabic, will explain current storage laws, answer common questions, and direct parents to resources for purchasing locks and safes. The department is tasked with developing this initial notice by July 1, 2025, and must update it annually by the following July 1 to reflect any legal changes.
This bill amends Michigan's medical assistance program to cover the cost of blood pressure monitors for pregnant individuals and those in the postpartum period. Under the new provision, eligible people can receive a monitor designed for pregnancy use and fitted to their specific needs. The change directly affects recipients of state medical aid who are expecting or have recently given birth. By adding this specific item to the list of covered medical services, the legislation ensures these individuals have access to tools for monitoring their blood pressure without additional out-of-pocket expenses.
This bill updates the definition of the "internal revenue code" within Michigan's ABLE savings program to ensure it references the correct version of federal tax law. By specifying that the code is the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as of January 1, 2024, or the version in effect for the current year, the legislation clarifies which federal rules apply to the program. This change directly affects individuals who use ABLE accounts to save for disability-related expenses, ensuring their accounts align with current federal tax definitions. The update helps maintain consistency between state and federal regulations governing these savings plans.
This law updates the rules for who can serve on Michigan's state and county election canvassing boards. To be eligible, members must be registered voters who have taken an official oath of office and have never been convicted of specific election-related crimes. The bill defines these crimes to include various offenses such as perjury, voter intimidation, and certain felonies. Additionally, county board members cannot hold another elected public office while serving on the board. These changes take effect on April 2, 2025.
This bill modifies Michigan's corporate income tax rules to allow flow-through entities, such as partnerships and S corporations, to elect paying the tax themselves instead of passing it to individual owners. Under the new provisions, these entities can file a return and pay the tax for a three-year period, after which they must re-elect to continue the arrangement. Owners of these businesses can then claim a tax credit for their share of the entity's tax payment, and any excess credit is refunded without added interest for the 2021 tax year. The legislation also clarifies deadlines for making this election, requiring filings by mid-March for years starting before 2024 and by mid-September for years starting in 2024 or later.
This bill modifies Michigan's name change laws to strengthen fraud prevention by requiring fingerprint checks for all applicants aged 22 or older. Under the new rules, individuals with a criminal record are presumed to be seeking a name change fraudulently and must prove otherwise, while the court covers the cost of background checks. The legislation also mandates that courts notify relevant state agencies if a name change is approved for someone with a criminal history, ensuring the change is recorded in correctional and law enforcement databases. Additionally, the bill clarifies consent requirements for minors, requiring those aged 14 or older to sign their own consent in front of the judge if the court deems them capable of expressing a preference.
This law requires Michigan public school academies to make detailed information about their operations and finances publicly available, similar to the requirements for traditional school districts. Specifically, the bill mandates that these academies disclose data such as board member lists, meeting minutes, budgets, teacher salaries, and copies of major contracts and facility leases. Additionally, it sets specific criteria for authorizing bodies to consider when awarding contracts to new urban high school academies, including requirements for financial stability and plans to improve graduation rates. The legislation also outlines strict rules for contracts, including annual independent financial audits and prohibitions on certain family relationships among board members and company officials.
This bill requires health insurers in Michigan to issue rebates to policyholders if the insurer fails to meet federal medical loss ratio standards. The law mandates that companies report their financial calculations and rebate details to both the state department and the federal Department of Health and Human Services. However, the requirement does not apply to plans that are exempt under federal law, such as those covering retirees or grandfathered policies. Essentially, the measure ensures that insurers pass unused premium funds back to consumers when their spending on medical care falls below a specific threshold.
This law requires public school academy operators to display specific information on their signage, advertising, and promotional materials. The bill mandates that these materials clearly identify the authorizing body, the board of directors, and the contract term, ensuring transparency for the public. It also updates the rules for how contracts are awarded and renewed, emphasizing improved academic achievement for all student groups as the primary factor for renewal. Additionally, the legislation establishes a process allowing school voters to approve or reject academy contracts if a school district board refuses to issue one. Finally, it sets new requirements for the board of directors, including a mandate that all members must be U.S. citizens.
