Rep. Jason Hoskins

Maddy summaryHB 4628 updates Michigan's Revised Judicature Act to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with neutral language such as "spouse" or "individual" across multiple sections. It specifically amends provisions in Sections 1410, 2005, 2162, 2807, 3344, 5451, 6023a, and 6131, which govern civil procedures, spousal privileges, property rights, and bankruptcy exemptions. The bill does not change legal rights or procedures but ensures court documents and laws use inclusive language. This affects anyone involved in Michigan civil or family court cases, including plaintiffs, defendants, and legal professionals.

Maddy summaryHB 4638 amends Michigan's Administrative Procedures Act to exclude environmental cleanup criteria and target detection limits from the definition of "rules" requiring formal rulemaking. This specifically affects the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), as their cleanup standards under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act will no longer need to follow standard rulemaking procedures. The bill adds these environmental standards to an existing list of exclusions in Section 7 of the Administrative Procedures Act. This change streamlines regulatory processes for EGLE's environmental cleanup work without altering the standards themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 4636 amends Michigan’s environmental cleanup law to require that contaminated site cleanups meet residential land use standards and restore groundwater to safe drinking water standards, where technically feasible. It directly affects property owners, developers, and environmental agencies responsible for cleaning up polluted sites by establishing clear cleanup categories (like residential or nonresidential) and allowing site-specific alternatives only when meeting standard criteria is proven technically infeasible. The bill specifies that cleanups must protect public health, stop contamination spread, and comply with state/federal standards, with exceptions permitted only if documented technical infeasibility exists or if the environmental benefit of stricter cleanup would be outweighed by negative impacts. This update clarifies existing rules under Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.20118 et seq.) without creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHB 4637 would allow individuals exposed to a proven toxic substance to pursue legal claims for medical monitoring costs. It amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (1994 PA 451) by adding Section 20136 to enable these lawsuits, while also modifying existing liability provisions in Sections 20126 and 20140. The bill directly affects people exposed to toxic substances who seek ongoing medical monitoring, though the provided text does not detail specific eligibility criteria or procedural requirements for the new claim. The context lacks the full text of the added Section 20136, so key mechanisms like cost coverage or qualifying substances cannot be described. This is a substantive policy change, not a procedural resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 4630 amends Michigan law to make marriage license provisions gender-neutral by removing the phrase "of the opposite sex" from the existing secrecy provision for marriage licenses. The bill affects individuals seeking to keep their marriage date confidential, ensuring the process applies equally regardless of the applicants' genders. Key provisions update Section 1 of 1897 PA 180 (MCL 551.201) to allow probate judges to issue marriage licenses without publicity for any applicant with a valid reason, without specifying gender. This change aligns the law with current marriage equality standards but does not alter the underlying secrecy process or requirements. The bill's effective date depends on a related constitutional amendment request (HJR F'25) being approved.

Maddy summaryHB 4640 updates Michigan's environmental cleanup rules by clarifying how background levels of contaminants in soil are determined. It requires property buyers to conduct an "all appropriate inquiry" before purchase to establish baseline contamination levels, preventing unnecessary cleanup costs for naturally occurring pollutants. The bill amends cleanup standards to use scientific data from the Michigan Background Soil Survey, directly affecting property developers, real estate transactions, and environmental agencies managing contaminated sites. This change ensures cleanup efforts focus only on pollution caused by human activity, not natural soil conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 4627 amends Michigan's Campaign Finance Act (MCL 169.261) to replace gendered language with inclusive, gender-neutral terms. Specifically, it changes references like "husband and wife spouses" in Section 61(2) to remove gender specificity, ensuring the law applies equally regardless of marital or gender identity. This technical correction affects how the campaign finance law is written but does not alter funding mechanisms, contribution limits, or eligibility rules for campaign finance participants. The bill solely updates outdated terminology to align with current inclusive standards. As a procedural amendment, it requires no substantive policy change to the state campaign fund system.

Maddy summaryHB 4625 updates Michigan's Worker's Compensation Act to replace gendered terms like "wife" with gender-neutral language such as "spouse" in Sections 118, 335, and 353. It specifically revises references to dependents (e.g., changing "dependent wife" to "dependent spouse") and clarifies definitions of household domestic servants and dependents. The bill directly affects workers, their spouses, and dependents receiving compensation under the act by ensuring language does not discriminate based on gender. This is a technical correction to align the law with modern gender-neutral standards, not a change to eligibility or benefit amounts. The bill does not alter existing compensation rules or create new benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 4631 updates Michigan's Public Safety Officers Benefit Act to remove gendered language from key definitions. It changes "husband or wife" to "spouse" in the definition of "surviving spouse" (subsection k) and replaces gendered references like "his or her" with neutral terms throughout the act. This ensures the law applies equally to all public safety officers and their spouses, regardless of gender, without altering benefit amounts or eligibility rules. The bill affects public safety officers (including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) and their families covered under the benefit act.

Maddy summaryHB 4626 updates Michigan's community property law (MCL 557.253 and 557.254) by replacing gender-specific terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language such as "spouses." This change modernizes the statute's wording without altering the substance of property rights or rules related to community property. The bill applies to all property governed by the law, including existing holdings and future acquisitions, ensuring consistent language for married couples regardless of gender. It is a technical revision to align the legal text with inclusive standards, not a substantive policy change.