Rep. Ken Borton

Maddy summaryHB 4186 increases Michigan's business income tax rate from 4.95% to 30% for all business activity occurring on or after January 1, 2025. This rate change directly affects businesses operating within Michigan that are subject to the state's business tax, including those previously filing under the corporate income tax act. The bill amends sections 201 and 500 of the Michigan Business Tax Act (2007 PA 36) to implement this rate increase and adjust the tax base calculations for businesses. The change represents a significant policy shift in how Michigan taxes business income, effective in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4304 prohibits intentionally injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals or devices into the atmosphere to alter weather patterns or sunlight intensity. This directly affects individuals or entities conducting weather modification activities, such as cloud seeding or experimental atmospheric interventions. The bill adds this specific prohibition to Michigan's environmental protection law, making such actions illegal under state statute without requiring additional regulatory steps. It focuses on preventing intentional atmospheric interference for weather-related purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 4170 permanently sets Michigan's individual income tax rate at 4.05% for all taxpayers, replacing a temporary 4.25% rate scheduled to take effect in 2024. It creates a mechanism where the rate could decrease further if state revenue growth exceeds inflation, requiring annual revenue reviews. The bill directly affects all Michigan residents who pay individual income tax. The change takes effect immediately for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, with the 4.05% rate now permanent unless triggered by the revenue growth condition.

Maddy summaryHJR G is a proposed constitutional amendment (not a law) that seeks to remove three education governance bodies from Michigan's state constitution. It would eliminate the state board of education, the superintendent of public instruction, and the state board for public community/junior colleges by amending Article VIII, Sections 3 and 7. If approved by voters, these positions and boards would be abolished, shifting oversight of public education away from state-level governance. This is a procedural constitutional change requiring voter approval at the next general election.

Maddy summaryHB 4060 amends Michigan's school code to update rules for funding area career and technical education (CTE) programs through local property taxes. It sets specific millage limits: new programs can levy up to 1 mill, while existing programs can increase to 1.5 times their 1993 rate (with elector approval only for new increases). The bill requires school districts to audit and publicly post CTE fund usage online, mandates repayment if funds are misused, and defines allowable CTE program expenses to include inter-district contracts. These changes directly affect intermediate school districts operating CTE programs and ensure tax dollars are used solely for designated career education purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 4199 allocates $6.7 million from the general fund for public and nonpublic schools to implement mobile panic alert systems, as required by existing law (MCL 380.1308c). The funds are designated as a "work project" for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with unspent amounts carried forward to 2025-2026. Schools must complete installation of these systems by September 30, 2027. The bill directly affects all schools covered by Michigan's revised school code, providing dedicated funding for emergency alert infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 4032 permanently extends Michigan's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact by removing a scheduled expiration date (sunset) from the law. This change directly affects physicians in Michigan who use the compact to practice medicine across state lines, as it eliminates the need for periodic legislative renewal. The bill's key provision amends Michigan's Public Health Code to make the compact's terms permanent, ensuring uninterrupted eligibility for physicians seeking multi-state licensure. The compact allows doctors to obtain licenses in multiple participating states more efficiently, reducing administrative barriers for cross-state medical practice.

Maddy summaryHB 4176 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.73102) to allow property owners to use purple paint marks as a legal alternative to posted signs for marking "no trespassing" areas. Specifically, it requires purple paint marks to be vertical lines 8 inches long, placed 3-5 feet high on trees or posts, spaced no more than 100 feet apart, and visible from all approaches. This change directly affects property owners who can now use this method to legally prohibit recreational activities or trapping on their land without physical signs. The bill does not alter existing exceptions for farm property, fishing, or retrieving lost dogs, and it requires companion bill HB 4177 to also pass for full implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 4177 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to strengthen rules about purple paint marks used to indicate no-trespassing areas for recreation. It prohibits removing, defacing, or destroying existing purple paint marks (Sec. 73104) and bans placing new marks on others' property without written permission from the owner, lessee, or agent (Sec. 73105). The bill directly affects property owners, recreational users (like hunters or anglers), and land managers who use these marks to restrict access. It creates a clear legal requirement for written authorization before marking private property, ensuring property rights are respected during recreational activities.

Maddy summaryHB 4188 amends Michigan's Vehicle Code to clarify that operating a vehicle "in a careless or negligent manner likely to endanger any person or property, but without wantonness or recklessness" would be classified as a civil infraction. This change directly affects drivers whose behavior meets this specific standard - non-reckless, careless driving - by treating it as a civil matter rather than a criminal offense. The bill modifies Section 626b of the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.626b) to explicitly exclude cases involving "wantonness or recklessness," which would remain subject to more severe penalties. The amendment is procedural and aims to refine the legal definition of the infraction. The bill was introduced on March 6, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.