Rep. Laurie Pohutsky

Maddy summaryHB 5586 creates a new "Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Services" within Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services. The office will administer grants to community-based nonprofits, track violence trends, set statewide goals to reduce shootings and homicides, and coordinate all state violence prevention efforts. It directly affects local governments, community organizations receiving grants, and state agencies managing the program. The bill establishes concrete requirements for data collection, technical assistance, and annual reporting to measure progress toward reducing community violence.

Maddy summaryHB 5579, the "Responsible Artificial Intelligence Security for Employees Act," prohibits most employers from using automated decisions tools (like AI for hiring) or electronic monitoring tools (like tracking software) for employment decisions affecting employees or job applicants. Employers may only use these tools for specific, limited purposes, such as screening large applicant volumes for job skills or monitoring essential work functions, safety, or compliance. The bill requires employers to obtain written consent from workers, provide clear notice of monitoring, ensure data accuracy, and use tools in the least invasive way possible. It directly affects all Michigan employers and their employees/applicants, creating new rules for technology use in the workplace.

Maddy summaryHB 5587 creates a state grant program to fund community-based violence prevention initiatives in areas with high homicide rates. It establishes a "community violence intervention and prevention fund" to award grants to eligible local governments (e.g., cities or counties with 35+ homicides in 2 of 3 years) or community nonprofits with proven experience addressing violence. Grants must support evidence-based strategies focused on trauma care, economic opportunities, and reducing violence without increasing incarceration, with at least 75% of funds directed to community organizations - not law enforcement. The program requires grantees to report on outcomes and coordinate with other violence prevention efforts, and mandates annual reports on best practices from the administering office.

Maddy summaryHB 5555 amends Michigan's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against disability-based harassment in educational settings. It directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and vocational programs (defined as "educational institutions" in the bill) by requiring them to prevent and address harassment of students or staff with disabilities. Key provisions include defining harassment as unwelcome conduct based on disability (including electronic communications), mandating comprehensive prevention policies, and requiring institutions to respond promptly when harassment occurs. The bill adds new sections (402a-c and 606a) that detail how schools must publicize policies, train staff, and remedy harassment, while clarifying that institutions must exercise "reasonable care" to prevent such incidents.

Maddy summaryHB 4530 requires mental health professionals (like therapists and counselors) to share relevant records with child welfare investigators within 7 days when a child abuse or neglect investigation is underway. It overrides standard confidentiality privileges (such as doctor-patient privilege) for these specific records to ensure timely information sharing. The bill also grants legal immunity to professionals who comply in good faith, protecting them from lawsuits unless gross negligence occurs. This change directly affects mental health providers and child welfare caseworkers in Michigan, streamlining access to critical information during investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 5220 requires Michigan's Department of Health to create standardized training materials for mandated reporters (like teachers, healthcare workers, and others legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect). Employers must provide this training to their staff every three years, or use their own updated training based on the state materials. The training must be made publicly available online by the Department. This bill only takes effect if House Bill 4530 is also enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 5527 amends Michigan's penal code to increase penalties for assaulting public officials while they are performing their duties, such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Penalties range from up to 2 years in prison for basic assault to up to 20 years for causing death, based on the severity of harm (e.g., bodily injury requiring medical care or serious impairment of body function). The bill also adds a provision clarifying that attending a protest is protected under the First Amendment and does not by itself violate disorderly conduct laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's abandoned vehicle law to simplify vehicle redemption for owners. It allows owners to pay a $40 fee plus accrued towing/storage costs to reclaim their vehicle instead of posting a bond, directly affecting those who don't contest abandonment claims. The key change replaces bond requirements with a fixed payment option for vehicles deemed abandoned after 48 hours on public property (or 18 hours with valid registration). This applies when owners fail to request a hearing within 20 days of receiving notice from authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 5528 amends Michigan's 1968 riot law (MCL 752.541 and 752.542) to clarify the definitions of riot and incitement to riot. It specifies that a riot occurs when five or more people acting together cause public terror through violent conduct, and incitement to riot involves urging others to commit unlawful violence, property destruction, or interfere with law enforcement officers. The bill explicitly states that peaceful protests - protected under the First Amendment and Michigan's constitution - are not violations of these provisions. This affects individuals participating in public gatherings or protests by defining clear legal boundaries between protected activity and unlawful conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 5503 prohibits Michigan electric utilities from charging residential customers fees for paying bills using credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, electronic transfers, or money orders. The bill directly affects residential utility customers by banning these specific transaction fees. Key provisions require utilities to eliminate these fees for all payment methods listed in the bill, ensuring no additional cost for standard payment options. This policy change applies to all electric utilities operating in Michigan under the amended section 10p of the Public Utilities Act.