Rep. Erin Byrnes

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 5397 eliminates a tax exemption for data center equipment under Michigan's Use Tax Act. It repeals Section 4cc, which previously allowed data center businesses to claim an exemption from use tax on equipment purchases. This change means data center operators will now pay the standard use tax on qualifying equipment instead of claiming the exemption. The bill directly affects data center businesses that previously utilized this tax exemption.

Maddy summaryHB 5396 eliminates a sales tax exemption for data center equipment in Michigan. The bill repeals Section 4ee of the General Sales Tax Act (MCL 205.54ee), which previously allowed data centers to avoid paying the standard 4% sales tax on equipment purchases. This change directly affects data center businesses operating in Michigan, requiring them to pay sales tax on qualifying equipment starting when the bill takes effect. The policy change removes a specific tax break, aligning data center equipment purchases with standard sales tax rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5398 amends Michigan's General Property Tax Act to remove a tax exemption for data centers located in Renaissance Zones. Specifically, it eliminates the exemption previously available for "eligible data center property" in zones approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund in 2016 with at least $100 million in investment. This change directly affects data center operators in designated Renaissance Zones who previously qualified for reduced property taxes. The bill updates Section 7ff of the tax act to reflect this repeal, ensuring data centers no longer receive the tax break.

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 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.

Maddy summaryHB 5392 updates Michigan's unemployment benefits recovery process by expanding eligibility for claimants to request waivers of repayment for improperly paid benefits. It allows claimants 60 days after receiving an overpayment notice to submit evidence showing repayment would be "contrary to equity and good conscience," such as administrative errors by the agency, employer-provided incorrect wage data, or household income below 150% of the federal poverty level. The bill clarifies that waivers apply retroactively from the date of the error or application, and requires refunds for payments made after the waiver request. This directly affects individuals who received unemployment benefits they later had to repay due to agency or employer errors.

Maddy summaryHB 5366 requires real estate wholesalers to provide mandatory disclosures to buyers when transferring purchase agreements. It defines "assignment fee" as the payment for such transfers and mandates clear disclosure of these fees to buyers before closing. The bill directly affects real estate wholesalers and brokers who facilitate these transactions, ensuring buyers understand all financial terms upfront. This change aims to increase transparency in real estate wholesaling without altering licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's property recording rules to standardize formatting and privacy requirements for deeds, mortgages, and other property transfers recorded with county registers of deeds. Key changes include requiring documents to be printed on 20-pound white paper in 10-point font with clear addresses, obscuring the first five digits of Social Security numbers after specified dates, and mandating legible signatures with printed names beneath them. These rules apply to anyone submitting property documents for recording, ensuring consistent formatting and reducing privacy risks. The bill focuses on procedural clarity rather than substantive policy changes to property transactions.