Rep. Mai Xiong

Maddy summaryHB 5432 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates additional state funding for multiple departments, agencies, and the legislative branch for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides specific monetary amounts to cover budget gaps or new needs identified during the fiscal year, with conditions on how the funds may be spent. This bill directly affects state government operations by ensuring funding continuity for essential services and programs across various agencies. As a procedural funding measure, it does not change policy but adjusts financial resources for existing government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 5431 allocates supplemental funding for Michigan public schools, primarily targeting districts affected by drinking water emergencies. It provides $10 million from the state school aid fund and $4.8 million from the general fund (2025-2026) for districts with at least 4,500 students (or 2,600+ post-2016) in cities with declared water emergencies, to hire staff like nurses and mental health workers and provide related services. The bill also allocates $12.5 million for educator talent programs through intermediate districts. All funds require reporting on service usage and must be expended by 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Macomb Community College to obtain a special license for selling alcohol at its Sports and Expo Center Complex during regularly scheduled events. The college's governing board would receive this license from the Liquor Control Commission, bypassing standard quota limits. Alcohol sales would be restricted to scheduled conference activities only, prohibiting sales to unscheduled patrons or at unplanned events. This expands alcohol service options for college-hosted events at Macomb's venue under specific, controlled conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 5421 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to create a new exception allowing victims of stalking to qualify for benefits if they leave employment due to stalking. Currently, an exception exists for domestic violence victims under Section 29(a)(iv), but this bill replaces "domestic violence" with "stalking" in that provision. The change means individuals who leave jobs to escape stalking would no longer be disqualified from benefits, directly affecting stalking victims who might otherwise lose unemployment eligibility. This policy update modifies the disqualification rule without altering other existing provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 5422 amends Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act (2018 PA 338) to clarify and expand permissible uses of accrued sick time for workers. It specifically updates Section 4(1) to allow sick time for medical care related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or violent crime; school meetings about a child's health or disability; and public health emergencies. The bill also refines notice requirements for employers, permitting advance notice up to 7 days for foreseeable absences. This amendment directly affects Michigan workers covered under the existing sick time law, ensuring clearer access to time off for health, family, and safety needs.

Maddy summaryHB 5423 prohibits Michigan employers from taking adverse actions (like firing, refusing to hire, or harassing) against employees who are victims of violent crimes or involved in related legal proceedings. It directly protects employees and their family members who experience violent crimes, ensuring employers cannot retaliate for attending court, requesting workplace adjustments (such as schedule changes or safety modifications), or seeking help. Employers must post notices about these protections and provide them to all employees in their primary language. Employees can file lawsuits within three years to seek remedies like reinstatement, back pay, or damages if their rights are violated.

Maddy summaryHB 5389 modifies how Michigan manages state funds for specific projects (called "work projects"). It requires that such projects must have a clear purpose, specific plan, estimated cost, and completion date to qualify. The bill also changes the timeframe for unused funds to expire (48 months after the fiscal year ends) and gives the director authority to propose lapsing project accounts, but requires both legislative committees to disapprove such proposals within 30 days. Additionally, it mandates annual reports to committees detailing all active work project accounts, their balances, and any funds that lapsed.

Maddy summaryHB 5390 modifies Michigan's budget law to clarify rules for "work project" appropriations, which are funds designated for specific, time-bound projects. It requires all work projects to meet four criteria: a specific purpose, a clear plan, an estimated cost, and a completion date. The bill strengthens legislative oversight by allowing appropriations committees to disapprove the director's decisions to lapse funds or designate new work projects, requiring a two-thirds vote and committee hearings within 30 days. This affects state agencies managing project funds and legislative committees responsible for budget review.

Maddy summaryHB 5394 requires Michigan's unemployment insurance agency to automatically waive repayment of benefits improperly paid due to the agency's own administrative or clerical errors, rather than requiring claimants to seek a waiver through a separate process. This applies specifically when overpayments result from the agency's mistakes (e.g., data entry errors), excluding cases involving fraud, identity theft, or intentional misrepresentation by claimants. The bill ensures claimants affected by such agency errors do not face repayment demands or interest, streamlining relief for those who received benefits due to the state's administrative errors. It does not change eligibility rules or apply to overpayments caused by claimant error or fraud.

Maddy summaryHB 5393 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to change how overpaid benefits are recovered. It requires the unemployment agency to issue a repayment demand within 3 years of a final determination about overpayment, and prohibits recovery actions after that deadline (except for suspected identity fraud). The bill creates specific waiver conditions where repayment may be forgiven, including cases of agency errors, low household income (below 150% of federal poverty guidelines), or unintentional wage reporting mistakes by employers. This directly affects unemployed Michiganders who received incorrect benefits, ensuring they aren't required to repay overpayments after the 3-year window unless fraud is involved.