Rep. Erin Byrnes

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's construction code to allow certain interior designers who prepare technical submissions to submit building permit applications directly. The change applies specifically to licensed interior designers working on residential projects and requires them to include their occupational license number and insurance or tax exemption details on the application form. By explicitly including interior designers alongside architects and engineers in the list of permitted applicants, the legislation clarifies their existing ability to handle permit paperwork for residential structures. The bill also mandates that the application form include a warning about penalties for conspiring to bypass state licensing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the owners and top executives of contractors seeking or holding state and local government contracts worth at least $250,000 from making political donations. The restrictions apply to contributions to candidates, political parties, and specific types of advocacy groups during a period starting 18 months before a contract is sought and ending 18 months after the contract concludes. If a contractor violates these rules, they face penalties including the cancellation of current contracts or disqualification from future contracts for up to three years. The law defines "contractor" to include businesses and nonprofits receiving significant government funding and specifies which individuals within those organizations are subject to the donation ban.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses that participate in round-up donation programs to clearly disclose which organization will receive the donated funds. By adding a new section to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, the legislation mandates that these disclosures be made prominently to ensure consumers understand where their money is going. The rule applies to any merchant offering a round-up option where a customer's purchase total is rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the difference donated to a charity or nonprofit. This change aims to increase transparency in charitable giving practices by preventing confusion about the recipient of the contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Child Custody Act to strengthen how courts handle parenting time when domestic violence or abuse is alleged. It requires judges to specifically consider certain evidence, such as protection orders, arrests, and victim assessments, while also establishing stricter rules for admitting expert testimony in these cases. The legislation further restricts courts from removing children from safe, bonded caregivers or ordering reunification therapy unless the treatment is proven safe and effective, and it mandates that courts address the abusive parent's behavior before blaming the other parent for a child's resistance to contact. These changes aim to ensure that decisions regarding custody and visitation prioritize the safety and well-being of children in families affected by violence or coercive control.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies from awarding contracts to companies whose principals have donated to specific political groups within 18 months before signing the agreement. The law defines "principals" to include company owners, executives, board members, and employees involved in government relations, while banning donations to candidate committees, party committees, and certain tax-exempt political organizations. To enforce this rule, contractors must sign an affidavit confirming no prohibited donations were made during the 18 months prior to the contract, throughout the contract term, and for 18 months after it ends. Violations would render the contract void and bar the company from future state contracts for three years, though the ban does not apply to small businesses with less than $250,000 in state contracts or to grants and loans.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of highway M-11 in Kent County as the "Korean War Veterans Memorial Drive." The affected roadway stretches from the intersection with 3 Mile Road south to the bridge over the Grand River. By amending state highway naming laws, the legislation officially assigns this commemorative name to the route. The change applies immediately and does not alter any traffic rules or funding provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's crime victim compensation law to explicitly include reimbursement for pet boarding expenses when a victim must relocate immediately following a crime. The legislation allows victims to receive up to $45,000 total for various out-of-pocket losses, with specific sub-limits for categories such as medical care, counseling, relocation, and funeral costs. By adding pet boarding to the list of eligible expenses, the bill ensures that pet owners can access funds to board their animals while they move to a safer location. The amendment applies to claims filed under the state's existing crime victim services program without changing the overall funding structure or eligibility criteria for other types of compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists in Michigan by modifying existing educational and clinical experience standards. It clarifies that applicants must hold a master's degree from an accredited program and complete specific graduate-level coursework in family studies, therapy methodology, and ethics. The legislation also adjusts the amount of supervised clinical hours needed, increasing the post-degree requirement to 1,000 hours with stricter supervision ratios and face-to-face contact mandates. Additionally, it allows for a waiver of certain clinical hour requirements for individuals who have earned a doctoral degree in the field.

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 amends Michigan law to automatically remove certain criminal convictions from public records without requiring individuals to file a formal application. It establishes specific timeframes and eligibility criteria for expunging misdemeanors and felonies, such as requiring seven or ten years to pass since sentencing or release from prison. The law includes strict limitations, such as capping the number of convictions that can be cleared and excluding serious offenses like assaultive crimes, crimes of dishonesty, and those involving minors. Implementation of these automatic expungements is scheduled to begin two years after the bill's effective date, pending necessary funding and technological setup by state agencies.