This bill requires political candidates in Michigan to submit an affidavit of identity that explicitly discloses if they hold dual citizenship with any other country. The affidavit must list the name of each foreign country, how the candidate obtained that citizenship, and whether their status is active or inactive. Candidates who fail to provide this information or include false statements face disqualification from the ballot and potential criminal penalties for perjury. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State post the names of candidates with dual citizenship on the state website within two business days of receiving the affidavit.
This bill proposes an amendment to the Michigan state constitution to change the rule regarding how long a member of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission must wait before running for partisan office. Currently, commissioners are barred from holding partisan elective office for five years, but the amendment would shorten this waiting period to end on December 31 of the year following the next federal census. The change directly affects individuals serving on the commission who wish to run for partisan positions sooner than the current five-year restriction allows. By modifying the eligibility timeline in the state constitution, the bill aims to adjust the balance between maintaining commission independence and allowing commissioners to return to partisan politics.
This bill expands Michigan's Essential Health Provider Repayment Program to include licensed pharmacists alongside other healthcare professionals. By amending the Public Health Code, it allows the state to repay student loan debt or training expenses for pharmacists who agree to work full-time in designated health resource shortage areas. The program maintains a maximum annual repayment of $40,000 and a total cap of $300,000 over a period of at least 10 years, contingent on the pharmacist fulfilling their service obligation.
This bill modifies Michigan's Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to update how the state manages funds for cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated properties. It establishes a specific grant and loan program administered by the Michigan Strategic Fund to support eligible redevelopment activities on brownfield sites. The legislation sets a 60-day limit for the fund to review and decide on applications, requiring written agreements that outline project terms and penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill clarifies how various tax capture revenues from redevelopment plans are deposited into and distributed from the state Brownfield Redevelopment Fund. Because the bill contains an enacting section, it will only become law if a companion bill, SB 898, is also passed.
This bill modifies Michigan's environmental laws to update and expand the state's brownfield redevelopment grant and loan program. It directly affects local governments, counties, cities, and other public bodies that manage sites with potential for economic reuse. The legislation clarifies definitions for terms like "brownfield project" and "eligible activities," which now include a broader range of tasks such as environmental assessments, hazardous material removal, and specific demolition work. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to issue funding from existing state funds to support these redevelopment efforts, provided the projects demonstrate measurable economic and environmental benefits.
SB 808 creates the Secure Retirement Savings Board within Michigan's Department of Treasury to oversee a new retirement savings program. The board will have seven members, including the state treasurer as chair, two public experts appointed by the governor, and representatives from employers and enrollees. This bill establishes the board's structure and appointment process but does not take effect unless companion bill SB 807 is enacted. The summary focuses solely on the board's creation, as the bill is procedural rather than describing specific retirement program rules.
SB 807 creates the Michigan Secure Retirement Savings Program, requiring certain employers without existing retirement plans to automatically enroll eligible employees (ages 18+ with Michigan wages) in a payroll-deducted retirement savings plan. The program establishes a separate trust fund outside the state treasury for individual retirement accounts, meeting federal IRA standards, while employers must set up payroll deductions for participation. It also creates an administrative fund to cover program costs, funded by state allocations, grants, and other sources. The law mandates automatic enrollment (with opt-out options) for employees at qualifying employers, aiming to provide low-cost, portable retirement savings for workers who lack access to employer-sponsored plans.
SB 771 regulates septic and other onsite wastewater systems to protect public health and water quality. It requires property owners with such systems to connect to public sewer lines when an "available public sanitary sewer system" is within 200 feet, unless an approved alternative system (like composting toilets) is used. Local health departments will enforce new rules under "part 128," including inspections and evaluations for non-compliant systems. The bill directly affects homeowners with septic systems, local health departments, and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, aiming to prevent health hazards and water pollution from poorly maintained systems.
HB 5307 amends Michigan's hunting regulations to modify penalties for failing to report a deer harvest or retain a required confirmation number. The bill targets hunters who do not comply with reporting requirements for deer, which is a specific violation under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Key mechanisms include adding or adjusting penalties for this reporting failure, potentially affecting hunters who miss these requirements. The bill does not change penalties for other hunting violations (like taking deer without a permit), which remain detailed in the existing section. (Note: The provided bill text shows existing penalty structures but does not specify the exact amendment language for the reporting requirement change.)
SB 451 prohibits consumer reporting agencies in Michigan from including medical debt in credit reports, protecting residents from negative credit impacts due to unpaid medical bills. The law requires collection agencies to disclose this restriction in writing to consumers and forbids them from claiming medical debt will appear on credit reports unless the debt relates to a mortgage exceeding the federal conforming loan limit ($766,550 for 2024). It directly affects consumers who receive medical care but have unpaid bills, as their credit scores will no longer be harmed by such debt. The law also provides legal remedies, including damages and attorney fees, for violations.
SB 450 amends Michigan law to require public hospital boards to follow the Hospital Financial Assistance Act when setting patient payment policies for non-charity care. It directly affects county public hospitals by making their financial assistance policies subject to existing state standards under the Hospital Financial Assistance Act. The bill updates Section 17 of the 1913 Public Act 350 to clarify that hospital trustees' authority over patient fees is governed by this act, ensuring consistent financial assistance rules across public hospitals.
SB 701 amends Section 3 of Michigan's Consumer Protection Act (MCL 445.903) to modify provisions related to unfair credit practices. The bill title indicates it aims to set a maximum interest rate for medical debt, but the provided bill text only shows the current language of Section 3 (which lists unfair trade practices like deceptive advertising, false representations, and misleading credit terms), not the proposed changes. The context does not include the specific amendment language or how it would alter the medical debt interest rate. Without the actual proposed text of the amendment, the precise policy change cannot be summarized. The bill is currently in committee for review.
