Rep. Greg Markkanen

Maddy summaryHB 4802 allocates over $12.8 million in supplemental funding for Michigan's rural school districts for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It creates two distinct funding streams: $3.89 million for districts with fewer than 250 students and specific geographic isolation (e.g., Upper Peninsula locations >30 miles from other schools or island districts), and $8.38 million for districts with low population density (<10 pupils per square mile) or large land area (>250 square miles). Eligible districts must meet defined criteria, and funds are distributed based on financial need through a cooperative spending plan developed with intermediate superintendents. The bill amends existing school aid appropriation language (sections 11 and 22d of the State School Aid Act) to implement these targeted payments.

Maddy summaryHB 4783 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to grant the Upper Peninsula Natural Resources Commission authority over fish management decisions in the Upper Peninsula. The bill transfers decision-making power from the state Department of Natural Resources to this regional commission for waters including Lake Superior, the St. Marys River, and all inland waters in the Upper Peninsula. Key provisions revise definitions and processes related to fish classification and management, specifically updating sections that govern trout streams and other water bodies. This change directly affects the commission's role in regulating fishing practices and protecting fish species within the designated Upper Peninsula waters.

Maddy summaryHB 4786 creates the Upper Peninsula Natural Resources Commission under Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The commission, appointed by the governor from lists provided by UP legislators, will make rules specifically about game and sport fish management that affect only the Upper Peninsula. Members serve two-year terms without pay but receive expense reimbursement. This bill requires three related bills (HB 4783, 4784, and 4785) to also pass before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 4784 gives Michigan's Upper Peninsula Natural Resources Commission (UP Commission) new authority to manage wildlife specifically in the Upper Peninsula. It authorizes the UP Commission to establish the first hunting seasons for moose and wolves in the region, while requiring all decisions to follow scientific wildlife management principles. The bill also grants the UP Commission exclusive authority over game species that primarily affect the Upper Peninsula or have minimal impact outside the region. This change directly affects the UP Commission's management decisions, hunters pursuing moose or wolves in the UP, and wildlife conservation efforts focused on the Upper Peninsula. The law mandates public hearings and scientific review before implementing hunting regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 4785 creates the Upper Peninsula natural resources commission (UP commission) by amending Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to define it as a new entity. The bill also amends section 40102 to authorize the UP commission to issue orders regarding deer or elk feeding, a specific wildlife management issue. This commission will provide a regional decision-making body for natural resource matters in the Upper Peninsula, particularly concerning wildlife impacts on local ecosystems. The bill is tied to three other related bills (HB 4784, HB 4786, and HB 4783), requiring all to pass together.

Maddy summaryHB 4778 prohibits the administration of gene-based vaccines (including mRNA, modified mRNA, self-amplifying mRNA, and DNA vaccines) by any person or governmental entity in Michigan. The bill amends the Public Health Code to add Section 9228, explicitly banning the ordering or giving of these specific vaccines, while clarifying that "immunizing agents" (like traditional vaccines) remain unaffected. This directly affects healthcare providers, clinics, hospitals, and public health entities that administer vaccines, requiring them to stop using gene-based vaccines. The law focuses solely on gene-based vaccine administration and does not change requirements for other types of immunizations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 151) urges the federal government to purchase Michigan's closed Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco and convert it into a detention center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It directly affects ICE operations and Michigan communities, citing the facility's 2018 closure (which cost hundreds of local jobs) and a 154% rise in ICE arrests in Michigan since 2025. The resolution references Florida's similar facility conversion and requests federal action to support ICE detention capacity. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests federal purchase and repurposing of the property.

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 4751 would remove "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" from the list of protected characteristics under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. This change would eliminate legal protections against discrimination based on these factors in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education. The bill amends multiple sections of the Act (including Sections 102, 202, and 203) to delete these categories from the prohibited grounds for discrimination. If enacted, it would directly affect LGBTQ+ individuals who previously could seek legal recourse for discrimination based on these characteristics. The bill is currently in committee referral after its introduction on July 29, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4753 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to restore protections for employees regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and termination of pregnancy by removing a 2023 exclusion that previously excluded "nontherapeutic abortion not intended to save the life of the mother." It directly affects employees and employers covered by the act, ensuring pregnancy-related conditions - including termination of pregnancy - are treated as protected categories under anti-discrimination law. The key provision redefines "sex" in Section 201 to include pregnancy termination without the 2023 exception, and updates Section 202 to prohibit employment discrimination based on these conditions. This bill reverses a prior amendment, restoring the original language that explicitly covered pregnancy-related medical conditions.