Rep. Jason Hoskins

Maddy summaryHB 5570 would allow single exit stairways in small multi-family buildings (up to 4 floors above ground or 3 floors with an occupiable roof) under strict safety conditions. It applies to buildings with no more than 4 units per floor and 4,000 square feet per floor. Required safety features include fire alarms, smoke detectors in common areas (like hallways and laundry rooms), and sprinklers meeting NFPA standards. This change would affect housing developers building qualifying new or renovated apartment buildings.

Maddy summaryHB 5571 allows single interior exit stairways in multi-family apartment buildings with 4-6 levels (or 3-5 levels with an occupiable roof), directly affecting developers and builders of such structures. The bill requires buildings to have no more than 4 units per level, limit floor area to 4,000 sq ft per level, and ensure exit access travel is ≤125 feet from any point. Key safety provisions include mandatory smoke detectors in common areas (like hallways and laundry rooms), manual fire alarms, automatic smoke detection systems, and sprinklers meeting NFPA standards. It also mandates that the building’s fire department must be accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and hold a Class 1-2 public protection rating. The bill is contingent on HB 5570 passing into law.

Maddy summaryHB 4103 adds a new section to Michigan's health occupations law to implement an occupational therapy licensure compact. This bill allows occupational therapists licensed in Michigan to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses, and vice versa for therapists from other compact states. It directly affects occupational therapists seeking to work across state lines, reducing barriers to practice. The compact mechanism establishes standardized licensing requirements among participating states, streamlining the process for therapists to provide services in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 4104 updates Michigan's occupational therapy licensing rules to join a multi-state licensure compact. This would allow occupational therapists licensed in Michigan to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill modifies existing law to align with the compact's standards and adds new sections for implementation. It directly affects occupational therapists seeking to work across state lines within the compact.

Maddy summaryHB 6170 updates the definitions within Michigan's Wolf-Dog Cross Act to ensure consistency with other state laws regarding animal shelters and law enforcement. The bill clarifies terms such as "animal control officer," "animal control shelter," and "law enforcement officer" by referencing existing statutes from the Dog Law and the Animal Industry Act. It also provides specific criteria for who qualifies as an expert on wolf-dog cross identification and defines what constitutes a wolf, a dog, and a wolf-dog cross. This legislation does not create new regulations but rather aligns the terminology used in the Wolf-Dog Cross Act with current legal definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Michigan to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement among states to award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes nationwide. The legislation declares that the one-person, one-vote principle requires the candidate with the highest national total to become President and outlines how Michigan's chief election official would count votes and designate the winner once the compact is active. The agreement only takes effect when states participating in it collectively hold a majority of the Electoral College votes, ensuring the current system remains in place until that threshold is met. If the compact becomes active, Michigan's laws regarding elector appointment will follow the compact's rules rather than conflicting state statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 6172 updates the Michigan Public Health Code to clarify how animal shelters and other Class B dealers can legally obtain and use sodium pentobarbital for euthanizing injured, sick, homeless, or unwanted domestic pets. The bill requires these facilities to secure a limited permit, maintain usage records, and ensure staff complete specific training programs approved by the state veterinarian that align with American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines. Additionally, it establishes a transition period for existing staff to meet new training requirements by January 1, 2022, while also reinforcing general rules for prescribing and dispensing controlled substances by practitioners and pharmacists.

Maddy summaryHB 6173 updates the Michigan penal code to clarify definitions and strengthen penalties related to animal fighting and baiting. The bill explicitly defines "animal control agencies" as shelters licensed under the Animal Protection Act and expands prohibitions to include renting or obtaining venues for these illegal activities. It also mandates that animal control agencies sterilize or secure a deposit for sterilization before adopting animals with fighting histories. Additionally, the legislation imposes stricter sentencing guidelines for owners whose trained fighting animals attack people and establishes specific misdemeanor charges for failing to restrain such animals on their property.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Michigan to count payments made by patients or on their behalf toward out-of-pocket maximums and cost-sharing requirements for prescription drugs. The rule applies to both standard plans and high-deductible plans, with a specific exception for high-deductible plans where counting such payments would disqualify a patient's health savings account. The legislation takes effect for policies delivered, issued, or renewed in the state after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 6171 updates the definitions within Michigan's Large Carnivore Act to clarify terms such as "animal control officer," "animal control shelter," and "large carnivore." The bill specifically aligns these definitions with existing laws regarding dog control and the Animal Shelter Act, ensuring consistency across different statutes. This legislative change directly affects the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, local animal control agencies, and facilities housing large carnivores like lions, tigers, and bears. By standardizing terminology, the bill aims to improve clarity for law enforcement officers, veterinarians, and permit holders operating under the act. The measure does not create new regulations but rather refines the language used to describe roles and facilities already covered by the law.