Rep. Erin Byrnes

Maddy summaryHB 4166 prohibits the non-medical use of xylazine (a sedative sometimes mixed with drugs like fentanyl) in Michigan. It defines "illicit use" as any xylazine use not covered under "licit use," which includes legal veterinary applications, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or approved medical treatments. The bill amends Michigan's Public Health Code to make possessing or using xylazine for non-licensed purposes a felony, with penalties ranging from up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $1 million depending on the amount. This directly affects individuals using xylazine outside approved medical or veterinary contexts, aligning penalties with those for other controlled substances like opioids.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 33) calls on the U.S. Congress to restore funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to research universities. It directly affects research institutions that rely on USAID for critical projects in agriculture, food security, public health, and global development. The resolution states that a recent funding freeze has disrupted programs like the Feed the Future Lab, threatening research progress and international partnerships. As a non-binding resolution, it urges Congress to act but does not change funding policies itself.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 34) urges the federal government to consider the economic impacts of tariffs on trade with Canada and Mexico. It directly affects Michigan businesses, particularly in agriculture (where Canada is the top export market), manufacturing, and auto production, which rely on stable North American supply chains. The resolution reaffirms support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and highlights Michigan’s $3 billion annual agricultural exports and $55 billion in annual trade with Ontario. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally advocates for fair trade negotiations to protect Michigan’s economy.

Maddy summaryHB 4134 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to establish specific penalties for crimes that prevent access to healthcare facilities, such as blocking entrances to clinics. It directly affects individuals convicted of obstructing access to medical care, including abortion providers or other healthcare services. The bill modifies existing sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.13n) to create new, higher sentencing ranges for these offenses. This change would apply to cases where someone intentionally interferes with lawful access to a healthcare facility. The bill is currently in committee review after its February 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 4133, the "Access to Health Facilities Act," prohibits physical obstruction, intimidation, or violence targeting individuals accessing or providing reproductive health services at licensed health facilities, including abortion care. It criminalizes actions like blocking entrances, threatening patients, or damaging property at these facilities, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors (up to 1 year jail, $10,000 fine) to felonies (up to life in prison for causing death). The law also allows civil lawsuits for $5,000 per violation and civil fines up to $25,000 for violators. It explicitly protects First Amendment-protected protests but does not affect local abortion regulations or existing protest laws.

Maddy summaryHB 4131 updates Michigan's animal care laws by clarifying definitions and requirements for dog shelter and tethering. It directly affects dog owners, breeders, pet shops, and animal shelters by specifying that dog shelters must include properly insulated doghouses with dry bedding (like straw or cedar shavings) during freezing temperatures, excluding items like blankets, cardboard, or crawl spaces. The bill also requires tethers for dogs to be at least three times the dog's length (nose-to-tail) unless used for grooming, training, transport, or hunting. These changes aim to ensure dogs have adequate protection from weather and prevent harmful tethering practices. The bill is currently in committee after its February 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 4132 amends Michigan's personal protection order law to explicitly include animal-related abuse as a prohibited act in domestic violence cases. The bill adds new language (subsection 1(k)) making it illegal for a respondent to injure, kill, threaten, or remove an animal in which the petitioner has ownership interest, or to retain an animal taken from the petitioner. This directly affects domestic violence victims who rely on pets for emotional support, expanding court orders to protect both people and their companion animals. The provision specifies it does not override lawful animal use (e.g., hunting under state law) and aligns with existing protections for victims.

Maddy summaryHB 4130 amends Section 2 of Michigan's Animal Welfare Fund Act (MCL 287.992) by updating the definition of "State animal anticruelty laws" to explicitly include specific sections of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.49-750.70, 750.70a, and MCL 750.50(8) and (12)). This technical update ensures the fund act correctly references existing animal cruelty laws without creating new policies or funding. The bill affects how the Animal Welfare Fund Act applies to enforcement of current animal protection laws. It is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4109 clarifies that health club staff (including owners and employees) have no legal obligation to provide emergency medical assistance using on-site AEDs during health club incidents. It explicitly states this does not override Michigan's existing Good Samaritan law (1963 PA 17), which protects people who assist in emergencies. The bill requires companion bill HB 4108 to pass first before taking effect. This directly affects health club operations regarding medical emergency response protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 4095 requires Michigan health insurers to process mental health and substance use disorder provider credentialing applications within 60 calendar days (or up to 75 days with justification). Insurers must send written requests for missing information within 10 business days and reimburse providers for covered services if they miss deadlines, using standard in-network rates. This directly affects mental health professionals (like psychologists, licensed social workers, and counselors) seeking to join insurer networks and the insurers themselves. The bill applies to both initial applications and recredentialing, aiming to reduce delays in provider network access.