Rep. Ken Borton

Maddy summaryHB 4781 amends Michigan's Whistleblowers' Protection Act to strengthen penalties for employers who retaliate against employees reporting violations. It increases the civil fine for violations from $500 to $2,000 per offense and requires employers to pay triple back wages to affected employees. The bill directly impacts workers who report wrongdoing (whistleblowers) and employers who retaliate, ensuring greater financial accountability. All collected fines must be deposited into the state general fund.

Maddy summaryHB 4046 designates a specific segment of US-31 in Grand Traverse County (between Three Mile Road and Bunker Hill Road) as the "Trooper James E. Boland Memorial Highway." This procedural bill amends Michigan's highway naming statute to honor Trooper James E. Boland through a permanent memorial designation. It has no policy or funding mechanisms - only renaming a public roadway. The bill took immediate effect upon approval by the Governor on August 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (HJR K) proposes allowing either Michigan legislative house to suspend a member's salary or expense allowance by a two-thirds vote when the member acts unethically or is excessively absent from regular sessions. It amends Article IV, Sections 12 and 16 of the state constitution to establish this process, requiring the house to document the suspension reason in its journal with voting records. The change directly affects state legislators who face disciplinary action for misconduct or attendance issues. If approved, this would give legislative bodies a formal mechanism to withhold compensation for specific violations, rather than relying solely on expulsion.

Maddy summaryHB 4081 allows counties and municipalities in Michigan to set higher limits than the current state cap on the number of separate land parcels created when dividing a single property. It amends state law (MCL 560.108) that previously limited most land divisions to 12 parcels. The bill directly affects local governments, developers, and property owners by giving communities more flexibility to manage land use and development density. This change removes the state-imposed cap, enabling local authorities to establish their own parcel limits based on community needs.

Maddy summaryHB 4390 expands Michigan's vehicle code to allow testing of oral fluid (such as saliva) for controlled substances, alongside blood, breath, or urine, when determining impairment. It directly affects commercial drivers who refuse chemical tests for controlled substances or alcohol while operating commercial vehicles. The bill adds a new definition of "other bodily fluid" to include oral fluid and creates a process for "preliminary oral fluid analysis" conducted by certified experts at the scene. This change updates existing suspension rules for commercial drivers who refuse testing, ensuring consistent enforcement for controlled substances alongside alcohol. The policy change specifically targets commercial motor vehicle operators who decline chemical tests for drugs or alcohol.

Maddy summaryHB 4391 expands Michigan's vehicle code to allow law enforcement to test for intoxication using other bodily fluids beyond blood or breath, such as urine or saliva. It directly affects drivers suspected of operating a vehicle while impaired, updating sections 625a, 625c, and 625g of the 1949 Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.625a et seq.). The bill amends existing testing methods to include these additional fluids, providing more flexibility for officers during DUI investigations. The bill passed the Michigan House on July 17, 2025, with immediate effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4712 creates a new program through which the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will reimburse eligible Michigan National Guard members for premiums paid toward Tricare Reserve Select or Tricare Dental coverage. The program allows the department to award grants to qualifying members who apply using a department-provided form, covering premiums for these specific health plans. It directly affects Guard members who are not on active duty and lack other employer or private health insurance. The bill establishes the framework for administering these reimbursements but does not specify funding amounts or application deadlines.

Maddy summaryHB 4426 amends Michigan's Motor Carrier Safety Act (MCL 480.12d) to set a minimum age of 21 for drivers transporting hazardous materials requiring placards under federal rules. It maintains the existing 18-year-old minimum for most commercial driving but specifically raises the age requirement for hazardous materials transport. The bill does not change medical waiver or grandfathered driver provisions. This change directly affects commercial drivers operating in Michigan who transport hazardous materials requiring placards.

Maddy summaryHB 4558 allows contact lens examinations and evaluations to be conducted via telemedicine (e.g., video call) in addition to in-person visits, but only under specific conditions. It requires that patients have had an in-person exam within the past two years, maintains the same standard of care as in-person visits, and prohibits telemedicine for initial prescriptions or changes to refractive power. The bill affects contact lens patients, optometrists, and ophthalmologists who write prescriptions, ensuring telemedicine options are available for renewals without compromising safety. Existing requirements for valid prescriptions - including detailed information, expiration dates, and provider credentials - remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryHB 4655 prohibits Michigan state departments or licensing boards from requiring implicit bias training as a condition for health professional licensure or license renewal. The bill directly affects licensed healthcare workers (like nurses, doctors, and therapists) who would otherwise need to complete such training to obtain or maintain their licenses. It achieves this by amending Michigan's Public Health Code to add Section 16149, which bans the enforcement of rules mandating this training, and by rescinding a related section of the Michigan Administrative Code (MCL 338.7004). The bill removes a potential requirement for healthcare professionals seeking initial licensure or renewal.