Rep. Noah Arbit

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6290 establishes the Office of Primary Care Transformation within the Department of Health and Human Services to improve access to and the quality of primary care services. The office is tasked with providing technical assistance to medical practices, expanding the healthcare workforce, addressing patient social needs, and strengthening partnerships with community organizations. Additionally, the bill creates a dedicated primary care transformation fund in the state treasury to support these initiatives, with funds remaining available across fiscal years rather than lapsing. This legislation only takes effect if a related companion bill is also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill requires electric providers to offer a voluntary green pricing program that allows customers to choose how much of their electricity comes from renewable sources. It mandates that regulated utilities create a specific "clean technologies accelerator tariff" for commercial and industrial participants, ensuring these businesses directly pay for the renewable energy they procure rather than spreading those costs across all ratepayers. The legislation also protects customers who source at least half of their power through the program from paying certain compliance surcharges and requires providers to notify other participants about additional fees. The bill only takes effect if seven related companion bills are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryMichigan's HB 6265 requires owners and operators of data centers to submit annual reports to the state public service commission detailing their total water and electricity consumption, along with the sources of that water and the percentage of electricity derived from renewable energy. These reporting obligations begin on March 1, 2028, and if the commission finds a submitted report inaccurate or incomplete, it must notify the operator to file corrected information within 30 days. The bill authorizes civil fines of up to $10,000 for each day a violation continues, with collected penalties deposited into the state general fund. This legislation only takes effect if several other specific bills from the current legislative session are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6264, titled the "data center energy standards act," requires owners and operators of data centers in the state to source 100% of their annual energy use from clean or renewable sources by January 1, 2040. The bill allows facilities to meet this requirement through on-site generation, power purchase agreements, or other energy instruments approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Violations of these standards are subject to civil fines of up to $10,000 per day, which must be deposited into the state's general fund. This legislation only takes effect if seven companion bills from the 103rd Legislature are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify definitions and procedures for commercial fishing in the state's Great Lakes waters. It directly affects licensed commercial fishermen, fish dealers, and the Department of Natural Resources by establishing precise meanings for terms like "abandoned gear," "quota," and various types of fishing nets. The legislation also adds new definitions to improve record-keeping requirements for fish production, storage, and sale, ensuring that all commercial activities are clearly regulated. By amending multiple existing sections and adding a new one, the bill aims to provide a more structured framework for managing allowable catch limits and enforcing fishing privileges.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the powers and duties of Michigan's Office of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman, which handles complaints from prisoners, their advocates, and legislators regarding conditions in state correctional facilities. Key changes require the ombudsman to notify complainants and affected prisoners when investigating or declining to investigate complaints, and mandate that the office consult with the Department of Corrections before issuing any report that criticizes the department or its staff. The legislation also establishes strict reporting requirements, forcing the ombudsman to publish detailed monthly and annual reports on complaint statistics and department responses, while adding protections to ensure that individuals cannot be penalized for filing complaints or cooperating with the ombudsman. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the ombudsman's authority operates alongside, rather than replacing, existing legal remedies and appeal processes for prisoners.

Maddy summaryHB 5920 expands the powers of Michigan's Office of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman to better investigate issues within the Department of Corrections. The bill allows the ombudsman to launch investigations based on complaints from prisoners, legislators, or family members, as well as on their own initiative regarding safety and security concerns. Key provisions include granting the ombudsman access to medical and mortality records, the ability to hire qualified experts for inspections, and the authority to enter correctional facilities at any time, including during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires K-5 teachers and literacy support staff in Michigan to complete specific professional training focused on reading and literacy instruction by the 2029-2030 school year. The legislation designates a single state-approved provider to deliver the training, which must cover evidence-based reading methods, assessment strategies, and a multitiered system of supports for addressing learning difficulties. School districts must report annual compliance data to the state department, which will publish public reports on implementation progress and recommend funding adjustments as needed. The training includes mandatory components on phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and data-driven decision-making, with phased implementation beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Charter Township Act to clarify procedures for township board meetings and establish a conflict of interest rule for officials. It requires boards to hold regular monthly meetings, mandates specific notice periods and public access for special meetings, and ensures all business is conducted openly in compliance with the Open Meetings Act. The legislation also updates provisions regarding quorums, meeting minutes, public access to records, and the authority to enforce orderly conduct at meetings. Additionally, it introduces a mechanism allowing board members to abstain from voting if they identify a personal conflict of interest or if they seek appointment to fill a vacancy. These changes directly affect township supervisors, clerks, and other elected officials in Michigan charter townships.

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.