Rep. Karl Bohnak

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 5219 would allow direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw milk and raw milk products in Michigan by amending the Food Law. It defines "direct farm-to-consumer product" to explicitly include raw milk meeting requirements under the 2001 Manufacturing Milk Law, enabling farmers to sell these products directly to consumers on their property. The bill adds new sections (4102a and 4102b) to establish this sales pathway while maintaining existing pasteurization requirements for other sales. This change directly affects farmers producing raw milk and consumers purchasing it directly from farms, without altering commercial milk sales rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5217 would allow direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw (unpasteurized) milk and milk products by dairy producers who comply with specific safety standards under Michigan's Food Law (2000). It amends existing milk regulations to explicitly permit this sale method, provided producers meet requirements in Section 4102a of the Food Law and adhere to the definition of "direct farm-to-consumer producer" from the Food Law. This change affects small dairy farms selling directly to consumers, not restaurants or grocery stores, and maintains existing pasteurization requirements for all other milk sales. The bill requires compliance with state safety protocols but does not alter pasteurization rules for commercial distribution.

Maddy summaryHB 5534 requires Michigan state departments and agencies to submit annual reports to the legislature within 90 days of each legislative session's start. These reports must include specific recommendations for reducing the rules and requirements (regulatory burden) imposed by each department or agency. The bill directly affects all state executive branch departments and agencies by mandating this transparency and accountability measure. It creates a formal process for the legislature to review and potentially act on agency regulations, without specifying any required changes to the regulations themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 4981 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to update the terminology from "limited licensed counselor" to "limited licensed professional counselor" in multiple sections governing mental health licensing and client privileges. The bill directly affects counselors holding a limited license, ensuring consistent terminology in legal references to their practice and the associated client privilege protections. This technical correction standardizes language across the code without changing existing practice requirements or scope of services for these professionals. The change aligns with current regulatory terminology used in the state's licensing framework for mental health counselors.

Maddy summaryHB 5522 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to update delegation rules for physician assistants (PAs). It clarifies that supervising physicians may delegate specific medical tasks to PAs under certain conditions, including direct physical supervision during procedures. The bill specifies that PAs can perform surgical tasks only when a licensed physician is present, and outlines requirements for health facilities to authorize such delegation. These changes directly affect PAs, physicians, and healthcare facilities by defining clearer boundaries for PA scope of practice under supervision.

Maddy summaryHB 4845 proposes to adjust competitive bidding requirements for road construction projects in Michigan. It raises the threshold for mandatory competitive bidding from $100,000 to $350,000 for individual local road projects (or $1,350,000 annually per agency, excluding cities over 500,000 population) and adds an annual inflation adjustment using the Consumer Price Index. The bill exempts traffic signal system upgrades and local road resurfacing from bidding rules. It directly affects state and local road agencies (counties, cities, villages) managing projects above these thresholds, requiring them to justify non-competitive contracts to oversight bodies. The changes aim to modernize cost thresholds while maintaining public bidding for significant infrastructure work.

Maddy summaryHB 4855 would amend Michigan law to permit bow hunters to carry a pistol while hunting. This directly affects licensed bow hunters who currently cannot possess a firearm during hunting activities under existing law (MCL 324.43510). The bill changes the prohibition in the 1994 Michigan Penal Code to allow pistol possession specifically for bow hunters during hunting. The amendment would remove the current restriction, enabling bow hunters to carry a pistol for lawful use while hunting.

Maddy summaryHB 5489 would allow 17-year-olds to apply for medical first responder and emergency medical technician (EMT) licenses in Michigan, provided their application includes parental or guardian consent. It maintains an 18-year-old minimum for higher-level roles like paramedics, emergency medical services instructors, or EMT specialists. The bill amends Michigan's Public Health Code to establish these age requirements for EMS licensure, directly affecting young individuals seeking entry into emergency medical careers. This change requires the concurrent passage of HB 5488 to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5490 removes the existing list of prohibited nonnative species from Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The bill amends Section 41301 to eliminate specific prohibitions on species like giant salvinia, Asian longhorned beetles, and Eurasian ruffe, which previously required DNR oversight. This change directly affects individuals and businesses that previously had to comply with restrictions on these species. The key mechanism is deleting the defined prohibitions, reducing regulatory authority for the Department of Natural Resources regarding these specific nonnative species.