Rep. Stephanie Young

Maddy summaryHB 5557 amends Michigan's planning laws to require local governments to forecast and incorporate housing needs into their master plans. The bill mandates that these plans include a range of housing types and costs to serve a diverse population. Additionally, it establishes specific rules for appointing planning commission members to ensure the groups represent various community segments and include school board representatives in counties. These changes affect cities, villages, townships, and counties by updating how they structure their planning commissions and develop long-term development strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time tax credit of up to $10,000 for Michigan residents who incur unreimbursed costs related to live organ donation. Starting in the 2025 tax year, eligible individuals can claim this credit for expenses such as travel, lodging, lost wages, and child care, provided they submit proof of the donation and related costs. The credit is not refundable, meaning it can only reduce the tax owed to zero but will not result in a cash payment if the credit amount exceeds the taxpayer's liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month throughout the state of Michigan. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about domestic violence and encourage education on preventing such abuse. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic declaration to highlight the issue within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers in Michigan from selling specific weight loss dietary supplements and diet pills to anyone under the age of 18. To enforce this, the law requires physical stores to check identification before a sale and mandates that online orders include age verification through independent government databases and secure shipping methods that prevent minors from receiving the product. The state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will create and annually update a list of covered products based on their marketing claims regarding weight loss or appetite control. Retailers found violating these rules could face civil fines of up to $1,000 or other legal remedies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Michigan courts to appoint volunteer advocates, such as lawyers or law students, to represent the interests of animals in cruelty and welfare cases. These advocates would monitor proceedings, review relevant records, attend hearings, and provide recommendations to help judges make decisions that consider the animal's well-being. To serve in this role, attorneys and law students must complete approved training and cannot receive monetary payment, though they may earn pro bono hours or academic credit. The legislation applies to criminal prosecutions involving the treatment or custody of vertebrate animals and takes effect 90 days after becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to use records of deferred domestic violence charges as evidence when deciding child custody and parenting time cases. It requires courts to make these previously sealed records available to judges and the parties involved in custody disputes to help determine the best interests of the child. The legislation does not change how domestic violence cases are handled but instead ensures that past deferred charges are visible in family court proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 6009 amends Michigan's penal code to establish new guidelines for expert testimony in assault cases involving domestic violence or attacks on healthcare workers. The bill requires that any expert witness testifying in these specific prosecutions must have demonstrated expertise and experience working with victims of domestic violence. Additionally, the legislation defines key terms such as "dating relationship" and "health professional" to clarify the scope of protected individuals and situations. These changes aim to ensure that expert testimony in such cases is provided by individuals with relevant background knowledge.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Home Rule City Act to clarify how cities can establish administrative hearings bureaus to handle blight violations. It allows qualifying cities to create these bureaus to adjudicate specific issues like zoning, property maintenance, and sanitation violations, with fines capped at $10,000 and the cost of operation borne by the city. The legislation also updates the process for serving violation notices, permitting cities to use email with a read receipt confirmation and requiring a sworn statement for notices that demand a hearing. Additionally, it restricts the issuance of blight notices to landlords during routine inspections unless there is an immediate emergency or the landlord has been given a chance to correct the issue first.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the month of May each year in Michigan as Huntington's Disease Awareness Month. The legislation aims to increase public and medical knowledge about Huntington's disease, a progressive neurological condition that currently has no cure. By officially recognizing this time period, the state hopes to encourage greater understanding of the disease's challenges and support ongoing research efforts.

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.