Rep. Kimberly Edwards

Maddy summaryHB 5977 modifies the Michigan Industrial Hemp Growers Act by updating how the state manages its industrial hemp program funds. The bill establishes a dedicated industrial hemp fund within the state treasury to hold fees collected from the program, allowing the department to use these monies for auditing, operating, and enforcing hemp regulations. It also mandates that any remaining money in this specific fund be transferred to a different agriculture-related fund on February 1, 2025, at which point the industrial hemp fund will be abolished. Additionally, the legislation repeals numerous existing sections of the 2020 act, effectively resetting the legal framework for industrial hemp administration in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Used Motor Vehicle Warranty Act" to offer buyers of used cars a short-term cancellation option. It requires dealers selling used vehicles with a purchase price of $50,000 or less to provide customers with a contract that allows them to return the car without cause within two days of purchase. Under this agreement, buyers can drive the vehicle up to 150 miles and have it inspected by a mechanic of their choice during that two-day window. If a customer decides to cancel, they must pay a restocking fee that varies based on the vehicle's price, ranging from $175 to $500. The law excludes motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and cars costing more than $50,000 from these requirements, and it does not apply to private sales between individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts health insurance companies in Michigan from covering medical services where the patient's share of the cost, such as copayments or coinsurance, exceeds 50% of the total service price. It directly affects health insurers and the individuals enrolled in their plans by setting a clear limit on how much patients can be charged out-of-pocket for covered benefits. The legislation requires the state insurance director to handle any complaints related to violations of this new rule. Changes made by the bill apply only to new insurance policies or to existing policies when they are renewed or modified after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts third-party administrators from creating contracts for health plans that require individuals to pay more than 50% of the cost for specific medical services through copayments or coinsurance. It directly affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and individuals enrolled in these benefit plans by setting a new financial limit on out-of-pocket costs for covered care. The law gives the state insurance director the authority to investigate and rule on any complaints related to these new restrictions. These rules will apply to new contracts immediately after the bill passes and to existing contracts when they are next renewed or modified.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's domestic violence prevention laws to explicitly allow shelters to accept common household pets, such as dogs and cats, alongside victims and their children. By updating the definition of a "family or household member" and revising shelter requirements, the legislation ensures that emergency housing programs can accommodate animals as part of their crisis support services. Prime sponsors, which include local governments and nonprofit organizations, may use state funds to establish or maintain these inclusive shelter programs that offer counseling, legal aid, and other essential resources. The changes aim to remove barriers for victims seeking immediate safety by recognizing the emotional and practical importance of keeping pets during domestic violence situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan judges and other court staff involved in child custody cases to undergo specific training on recognizing and responding to domestic violence and child abuse. The training must include at least 20 initial hours and 15 additional hours every five years, covering topics such as various forms of abuse, trauma, implicit bias, and the dynamics of coercive control. A key provision mandates that all training content be based on evidence-based research and explicitly defines certain terms like "DARVO" to ensure clarity. Ultimately, the legislation aims to improve custody decisions by prioritizing the safety and well-being of children through better-informed court personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 6012 prohibits insurance companies in Michigan from denying, canceling, or raising premiums on residential property liability policies based solely on the breed or mix of dogs owned by the policyholder. The bill also bans insurers from asking about or investigating specific dog breeds when underwriting these policies. While the law restricts breed-based decisions, it allows insurers to continue adjusting rates or coverage based on other standard underwriting factors unrelated to dog breeds. This change applies to all residential property liability insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Michigan residents to register as anatomical donors by checking a box on their state income tax return instead of visiting the Secretary of State's office in person. It requires the Department of Treasury to send this information to the Secretary of State, who will then add eligible individuals to the official donor registry. The law mandates that the registry be accessible 24/7 to organ procurement organizations at no cost, while ensuring that personal data remains private and is only shared with medical teams when a potential donor is near death.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Michigan Secure Retirement Savings Program to help private-sector employees save for retirement through automatic payroll deductions. It creates a new oversight board and a separate trust fund to manage individual retirement accounts for enrolled workers, ensuring the money remains distinct from state funds. Employers that do not currently offer qualified retirement plans are required to participate by allowing employees to make automatic contributions from their paychecks. The legislation also sets up a separate administrative fund to cover the program's operational costs and defines the specific duties of the state officials who will run the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's civil rights laws to require employers and educational institutions to include a "multiracial" option on forms that ask individuals to identify their race or ethnicity. The legislation mandates that these forms must define "multiracial" as having parents of different races and must remove the generic "other" category. If a federal agency rejects the "multiracial" classification when receiving data, the bill instructs covered entities to redistribute those responses to approved racial categories based on their proportion in the general population. The rules apply to private employers and schools but do not affect public bodies or state universities, which are already governed by separate data collection laws.