Maddy summaryThis Michigan law requires all employers with at least one full-time employee to display a specific poster in a visible area of their workplace. The poster must provide contact information and details about various services available to veterans, including mental health support, job training, tax benefits, and resources from both state and federal agencies. The state departments of labor and military and veterans affairs will create and distribute this poster for free to help businesses comply with the new requirement. The rule takes effect on April 2, 2025, aiming to ensure veterans are aware of the assistance they can access through their employers.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan school districts to allow Native American students to wear traditional clothing and bring culturally significant items during school ceremonies. It defines these ceremonies to include events like graduations and honor society meetings, while ensuring that any prohibited weapons or dangerous items remain banned. The law specifically protects the right of Indigenous individuals to express their cultural and ancestral traditions within the educational setting.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies operating in Michigan to cover mental health screenings for new mothers during the postpartum period. The law directly affects health insurers and the women who receive their coverage, ensuring these specific screenings are included in their policies. It achieves this by amending the state's insurance code to mandate compliance with existing public health guidelines regarding postpartum care. The measure becomes effective on April 2, 2025, provided a related companion bill is also enacted.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan election procedures to allow the Board of State Canvassers to use statistical random sampling when checking signatures on ballot initiatives and other petitions. It establishes rules for verifying voter registration and signature authenticity, creating a rebuttable presumption that a signature is invalid if the voter was not registered or did not live in the correct district at the time of signing. The legislation also requires the board to refer signatures that appear obviously fraudulent to the Attorney General for further investigation. Additionally, it sets specific deadlines for declaring petitions sufficient and mandates that the board complete its review at least two months before the relevant election.
Maddy summaryHB 4667 allows certain Michigan law enforcement officers who were first hired after a specific date to purchase retirement credit for their prior service under the state employees' retirement system. To qualify, eligible officers must pay the retirement system an amount equal to the actuarial value of that past service, with the option to pay in tax-deferred installments or as a lump sum. The bill sets a deadline of October 17, 2025, for officers to begin this purchase process and requires them to complete all payments within four years. If an officer does not finish the payment within this timeframe, they will not receive credit for the purchased service. This change applies only to those who are not already receiving a retirement allowance for the same period of service from another system.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's education savings program rules to align with recent changes in federal tax law. It specifically allows account owners to use their savings for qualified expenses related to apprenticeships and student loan interest, in addition to traditional tuition and fees. The legislation also clarifies that withdrawals used for these new purposes remain tax-free, provided they meet other federal requirements. By amending state tax definitions, the law ensures that the program continues to offer tax benefits consistent with current national standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act" to provide legal remedies for individuals harmed by nonconsensual deep fake images depicting sexual conduct. It allows victims to file civil lawsuits against anyone who creates or shares these realistic but fake videos, provided the creator knew or should have known the content would cause harm and was made using artificial technology rather than physical impersonation. The law defines specific protections for identifiable individuals and clarifies that consent is not a valid defense unless it is documented in a clear, signed agreement describing exactly what the fake image entails. Additionally, the legislation sets rules for where lawsuits can be filed and ensures that plaintiffs can use pseudonyms to protect their privacy during legal proceedings.
Maddy summaryHB 5570 updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines to include specific rules for cases involving the creation or distribution of deepfake sexual images. The bill modifies an existing section of the state's criminal procedure code to ensure that judges and prosecutors have clear standards when determining penalties for these offenses. By adding these provisions to the official sentencing framework, the legislation aims to provide consistency in how courts handle new types of digital sexual exploitation. This change directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants involved in cases related to non-consensual deepfake imagery.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act to shield individuals from strategic lawsuits aimed at discouraging them from participating in public discourse or exercising constitutional rights. It allows people who are sued over their speech, press, assembly, or petitioning activities to file a special motion that immediately pauses most court proceedings, including discovery, to determine if the lawsuit is valid. If the court finds the suit lacks merit, it will be dismissed quickly, and the plaintiff may face penalties for filing the frivolous case. However, the law excludes lawsuits brought by government entities regarding public safety threats and does not apply to claims involving employment discrimination, whistleblower protections, or other specific civil rights violations.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the composition of Michigan's Board of Psychology to include more licensed professionals by replacing public members with psychologists who hold limited licenses. It establishes a new limited license category for individuals with a master's degree in psychology, allowing them to practice under specific supervision and advertising restrictions. To qualify for this limited license, applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited program and complete one year of supervised postgraduate experience in a healthcare setting. The legislation also updates the board's membership requirements to ensure that at least five of its voting members hold a doctoral degree in psychology.