Rep. Kimberly Edwards

Maddy summaryHB 5194 is a supplemental appropriations bill for Michigan's fiscal year 2026, providing additional state funding to various departments and agencies. It specifically allocates funds for food pantries, ensuring state resources support organizations distributing food assistance. The bill creates a new budget allocation to supplement existing funds, with conditions on how the money can be spent. This directly affects state agencies managing food assistance programs and community food pantries serving residents in need.

Maddy summaryHB 5195 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates additional state funds for food banks in Michigan for the 2026 fiscal year. It directly affects food banks by providing them with state funding to support their operations. The bill creates a formal funding mechanism through the state budget process, ensuring these funds are available for food bank services.

Maddy summaryHB 5174 amends Michigan's probation law to prohibit courts from delaying sentences for defendants convicted of domestic violence offenses who have prior similar offenses, such as assault or domestic violence. The bill specifically blocks delayed sentencing under certain circumstances for repeat offenders in these cases, directly affecting individuals facing domestic violence or assault charges with prior convictions. Key provisions include requiring courts to impose supervision fees ($30/month without electronic monitoring, $60/month with it) for delayed sentences and defining "assaultive crime" and "interpersonal violence" to clarify coverage. The law also allows fee waivers for indigent defendants and specifies that these fees cannot overlap with existing supervision costs. This changes how courts handle probation eligibility for domestic violence cases without altering sentencing penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 5148 prohibits local governments and towing companies from exchanging payments or fees to secure contracts for towing services. It bans local units from requiring tow companies to pay fees for responding to incidents (like accidents or disabled vehicles) and prevents tow companies from offering payments to governments to gain business. This directly affects local governments entering contracts with towing services and the towing companies themselves. The bill focuses on preventing conflicts of interest in towing contracts, not on altering traffic fine amounts (which are addressed in other sections of the vehicle code).

Maddy summaryHB 5149 prohibits motor vehicle repair facilities in Michigan from charging storage fees while a vehicle is under repair or during billing disputes. It requires facilities to provide customers with a written, itemized estimate before work begins, including all fees and charges, and bans exceeding that estimate without the customer’s written or oral consent. The bill specifically targets hidden storage fees (Section 7e(f)) and strengthens existing estimate requirements (Section 32), applying directly to repair shops and their customers. This policy change aims to prevent surprise charges and increase transparency in vehicle repair billing.

Maddy summaryHB 5147 establishes new rules for towing damaged or disabled vehicles in Michigan. It requires towing agencies to provide written disclosures before towing, including costs, storage location, and owner rights (Section 271), and to issue itemized final invoices detailing all charges and vehicle condition (Section 272). Towing companies must maintain records for five years and post disclosure information visibly (Sections 273-274). These rules directly affect towing businesses and vehicle owners, ensuring transparency before towing and during storage. Violations prevent agencies from charging fees or enforcing contracts (Section 271(6)).

Maddy summaryHB 5040 creates a state licensing system for businesses processing consumable hemp products, such as edibles, beverages, or infused items containing nonintoxicating cannabinoids (e.g., CBD products that don’t cause intoxication). Businesses must apply for a license by providing detailed operational information, including key personnel details and location specifics, and pay required fees. Licenses are valid for one year with renewal options but may be denied for incomplete applications, business locations in dwellings, unpaid fees, or false statements. The bill repeals an older law (2014 PA 547) and establishes a dedicated fund for hemp-related activities.

Maddy summaryHB 5042 clarifies definitions and technical requirements in Michigan's Industrial Hemp Growers Act. It specifically defines key terms like "acceptable THC level" (using measurement of uncertainty to ensure samples meet the 0.3% delta-9-THC limit) and "compliance monitoring testing facility" (lab standards for federal drug agency registration). The bill directly affects hemp growers, testing labs, and state regulators by standardizing how THC testing is conducted and reported. These changes ensure consistent compliance with state hemp regulations and align testing protocols with federal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5047 requires utility providers (including municipal, cooperative, and private electric/gas companies) to automatically enroll eligible customers in winter protection programs. Specifically, it mandates automatic enrollment of senior citizens (65+ or 62+ as of October 2023) starting November 1, 2025, and households with children under 16 starting September 1, 2025. Providers must identify eligible customers using methods like phone calls, mail, or bill inserts, and provide detailed program information via bill inserts 2 months before enrollment. Annual reports on enrollment numbers must be submitted to providers’ governing bodies by April 28 each year, beginning in 2026. The bill amends Michigan’s public utilities code (MCL 460.9o, 460.10t, and adds 460.9x) to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4993 amends Michigan's landlord-tenant law to expand notice requirements for landlords when tenants need to terminate leases early due to certain victims of violence. It directly affects tenants who are victims of violence (such as domestic abuse) and their landlords by requiring clearer, specific written notices about termination options. The bill modifies existing law (MCL 554.601b) to ensure landlords provide tenants with detailed information on how to end a lease early without penalty due to safety concerns. This change aims to make the process more accessible and transparent for vulnerable tenants seeking to leave unsafe housing situations. The bill is currently in committee review after its introduction on September 18, 2025.