Rep. J.R. Roth

Maddy summaryHB 5318 modifies Michigan's sales tax exemptions for fundraising by specific organizations. It raises the annual sales cap for tax-exempt fundraising events from $25,000 to $75,000 per event (adjusted for inflation) for schools, churches, hospitals, parent cooperatives, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3)/(4) status. It also increases the cap for veterans' groups (501(c)(19) organizations) from $25,000 to $75,000 per event, with both limits adjusted yearly using the Consumer Price Index. The bill affects qualifying nonprofits, schools, and veterans' organizations conducting fundraising sales under these exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 5572 modifies Michigan's property tax exemption rules to expand eligibility for certain nonprofits. It adds a new exemption for conservation organizations maintaining nature areas open to the public for activities like hiking and bird watching. The bill also clarifies that nonprofits providing healthcare services (such as nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, or adult foster care) qualify for tax exemptions if they meet specific licensing requirements. This change directly affects nonprofit hospitals, educational institutions, conservation groups, and healthcare providers seeking property tax relief.

Maddy summaryHB 5573 expands property tax exemptions for specific nonprofit organizations in Michigan. It adds new exemptions for conservation land held by qualified nonprofit groups (like nature preserves open for public recreation) and clarifies exemptions for nonprofit hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and educational institutions. The bill specifies detailed requirements for organizations to qualify, such as perpetual land preservation for conservation groups and licensing for healthcare facilities. These changes directly affect qualifying nonprofits, conservation organizations, and healthcare providers by allowing them to exclude certain properties from local property taxes. The bill refines existing tax exemption rules without creating new tax rates or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 5210 allows commercial fishing license holders to list multiple vessels on a single license instead of requiring separate licenses for each boat. Licensees can add or remove vessels anytime by providing written notice to the department. The bill also clarifies rules for transferring licenses when boats are sold, damaged, or lost, including fee adjustments for larger vessels or non-resident transfers. All vessels listed under one license must operate within 50 miles of the originally designated port.

Maddy summaryHB 5535 would allow plumbing inspectors to provide plumbing services without violating state law. Currently, plumbing inspectors (registered under Article 10) are prohibited from engaging in the plumbing business, such as installing pipes or selling materials, due to potential conflicts with their inspection duties. The bill amends Section 1123 of Michigan's Skilled Trades Regulation Act to remove this prohibition, permitting inspectors to work for or own plumbing businesses. This change directly affects local plumbing inspectors who wish to operate in both roles simultaneously.

Maddy summaryHB 5543 increases the annual funding for grade crossing surface improvements from $3 million to $6 million per year by amending Section 10(1)(b) of Michigan's Transportation Fund Act (MCL 247.660). This change directs more state transportation funds toward safety and surface repairs at railroad crossings - locations where roads intersect train tracks - across Michigan. The bill specifically adjusts the allocation within the state trunk line fund, ensuring doubled resources for maintaining these critical infrastructure points. It does not alter other funding mechanisms but directly affects how money is distributed for grade crossing safety upgrades.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 22-28, 2026, as School-Based Health Care Awareness Week in Michigan. It recognizes Michigan's over 300 school-based health centers that provide primary, mental, and preventive care to students, highlighting their role in improving attendance, academic performance, and health outcomes. The resolution serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of these centers' work and does not create new policies, funding, or legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5317 amends Michigan's law governing county parks and recreation commissions by changing their membership requirements. It allows counties with fewer than 100,000 residents (starting January 1, 2027) to reduce appointed members from seven to four, while still requiring at least one county commissioner on the commission. For counties with populations between 750,000 and 1,000,000, it adds a requirement to appoint a neighborhood representative living near the most frequently used county park. The bill directly affects county governments managing parks and recreation commissions, modifying how these advisory bodies are structured and composed.

Maddy summaryHB 4402 requires Michigan's health department to create and distribute educational materials about cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common virus that can cause birth defects. The materials must cover CMV transmission, associated birth defects, diagnosis, prevention, and resources for parents of affected infants, and will target women who may become pregnant, expectant parents, parents of newborns, and healthcare providers. The bill also amends existing newborn screening laws to include CMV testing as part of routine infant screening, with results reported to parents and the health department. These changes aim to improve awareness and early detection of CMV infections during pregnancy and infancy.

Maddy summaryHB 5035 creates a legal remedy for individuals harmed by false claims in assisted reproduction services. It allows patients who gave birth to a child through such services, their spouses at the time, children conceived via the false representation, or gamete donors to sue providers for economic damages, non-financial harm, attorney fees, and punitive damages. The law requires lawsuits to be filed within 3 years of discovering the false representation and specifies that this new cause of action applies alongside existing criminal or civil penalties. The bill directly affects patients, families, and donors involved in assisted reproduction when providers make misleading claims about services or results.