Rep. Erin Byrnes

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Michigan Mobility Trust Fund within the state treasury to support transportation projects. It allows the state treasurer to accept money from various sources, including existing tax revenues, and directs that all interest earned on these investments be added to the fund. Money in the fund will not be lost at the end of each fiscal year but will remain available for future use. The bill designates the Transformational Projects Authority as the administrator responsible for auditing and spending the fund, but only after a specific appropriation is made. This legislation does not take effect unless several other related bills are also passed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Michigan distributes revenue collected from the corporate income tax, establishing a specific allocation plan for the years 2025 through 2035. Under the new rules, funds are prioritized to support the general fund, housing initiatives, local revitalization projects, transportation improvements, and economic development programs before any remaining money goes back to the general fund. The legislation also repeals an older section of the tax act and includes a condition that it will only become effective if several related bills are passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's environmental laws to clarify definitions and reporting requirements for anaerobic digesters and the materials they produce. It establishes specific criteria for what counts as "beneficial use" for various waste by-products, such as ash and digestate, when used in construction, agriculture, or other applications. Additionally, the legislation sets new benchmarks for curbside recycling access, requiring municipalities to provide services to at least 90% of urban single-family homes by 2026 and 2028. These changes aim to standardize how waste management facilities operate and ensure that recycled materials are used safely and effectively across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's environmental laws to clarify how materials like digestate from anaerobic digesters are classified, ensuring they are treated as beneficial by-products rather than solid waste. It achieves this by amending existing definitions to explicitly include digestate from registered digesters or those with submitted notifications, thereby streamlining compliance for waste management facilities. The legislation also refines the definitions of various waste types and beneficial uses, such as specifying conditions under which coal ash and other materials can be reused without being categorized as solid waste. These changes aim to provide clearer regulatory guidance for industries managing organic waste and recycling programs while maintaining the state's environmental protection standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of a veteran in Michigan to explicitly include commissioned officers from the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Currently, the state's definition covers those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, but this change ensures that public health service officers are recognized under the same veteran status laws. The amendment aligns Michigan's statutes with federal criteria, allowing these officers to access benefits and protections previously reserved for military service members. This change directly affects public health service officers and the state agencies responsible for administering veteran benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in Michigan to reimburse telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person office visits. It mandates that insurers cannot deny coverage for remote care if the service is appropriate and provided by a licensed professional in the patient's state. The law defines telemedicine as remote communication using secure audio or video technology or online messaging. While patients still pay the same copays and deductibles as they would for a physical appointment, the insurance coverage itself must be equal to that of face-to-face care.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to enforce federal standards for asbestos emissions during building renovations and demolitions in Michigan. It requires owners or operators to pay a $100 notification fee and a $10 modification fee for each change to their project plans, with public entities allowed to pass these costs to contractors under certain conditions. The state will use the collected fees to fund mandatory inspections, starting with 15% of projects in 2023 and 2024, and gradually increasing to 25% of projects by 2027. All revenue generated from these fees will be deposited into a dedicated state fund used exclusively for asbestos-related inspection activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that Michigan's Medicaid and Healthy Michigan programs reimburse telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person office visits. It directly affects healthcare providers and patients who use remote medical services by ensuring financial parity between virtual and physical appointments. The legislation does not alter existing rules about where telehealth can be conducted or who must verify patient eligibility, but it specifically mandates equal payment rates for these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments and land bank authorities in Michigan to include specific clauses in contracts with asbestos abatement and demolition contractors. Under the new rules, these public entities can withhold payment if a contractor, subcontractor, or their team enters into or begins negotiating an administrative consent order for environmental violations related to asbestos projects. Additionally, the bill mandates that contractors must disclose any existing or pending legal orders from environmental agencies to the hiring government body before work begins. These measures aim to ensure that contractors adhere to environmental regulations by creating financial incentives for compliance and transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Medicaid and Healthy Michigan programs to expand coverage for telemedicine services, specifically clarifying that visits originating from a patient's home or school are covered. It defines a "distant site" as the location of the healthcare professional providing the service, allowing for both audio-only and video interactions. The legislation requires providers to verify patient eligibility, ensure a private environment for the visit, and follow clinical guidelines while prohibiting restrictions on reimbursement rates or technology that are more strict than those for in-person care. Additionally, it ensures that services delivered through federally qualified health centers are eligible for reimbursement and mandates that managed care programs include these telemedicine services in their rate development.