Rep. Noah Arbit

Maddy summaryHB 4385 amends Michigan's shoreland protection law to allow property owners to install temporary erosion control structures without a permit during high water events. This directly affects homeowners and landowners near water bodies who face immediate erosion risks during flooding. The bill removes the standard permitting requirement for these temporary structures when water levels are high, as defined by the law. It modifies specific sections of the Natural Resources Code (MCL 324.32312 et seq.) and adds a new provision (32510a) to enable this change. The bill is currently in committee review.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution (HR 132) urges the federal government to reinstate the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which was suspended indefinitely by President Trump's January 2025 executive order. It directly affects refugees currently blocked from entering the U.S. due to the suspension, citing court challenges and a 2024 report noting refugees undergo the most rigorous screening of any immigrant group. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action to resume refugee admissions. It was introduced on June 12, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Maddy summaryHB 4600 amends Michigan's law on terrorism threats and false reports, specifically modifying Section 543m of the Penal Code. The bill clarifies that making a threat of terrorism (even without intent to carry it out) or knowingly reporting a false terrorism incident can be prosecuted as a felony. It removes the defense that a defendant lacked the intent or capability to commit the threatened act. This law directly affects individuals who make threatening communications about terrorism or falsely report terrorism incidents, with penalties including up to 20 years in prison or a $20,000 fine. The bill was introduced on June 10, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 4633 amends Michigan's probate code to strengthen rights and information for individuals alleged to be incapacitated during guardianship proceedings. It requires court-appointed guardians ad litem to explain key rights, including the right to contest the petition, request limits on a guardian's powers (especially regarding do-not-resuscitate orders or physician treatment orders), and the right to legal counsel. The bill mandates that if an individual requests legal representation or the guardian ad litem determines it's necessary, the court must appoint counsel at state expense if the individual is indigent. This directly affects people facing guardianship hearings, ensuring they receive clear information about their medical directives and legal options before a guardian is appointed.

Maddy summaryHB 4623 amends Michigan's Uniform Partnership Act to remove gendered language from the definition of a partnership. Specifically, it replaces the phrase "husband and wife" with gender-neutral terms like "spouses" or "partners," ensuring the law applies equally to all partnership types regardless of gender or marital status. This change directly affects all businesses in Michigan that operate as partnerships, including those formed by same-sex couples or non-married individuals. The bill updates existing statute MCL 449.6 to reflect modern business practices without creating new requirements. It does not alter partnership rights or obligations, only the language used in the legal definition.

Maddy summaryHB 4639 modifies Michigan's statute of limitations for groundwater contamination cases involving hazardous substances. It specifies that legal claims for damages accrue when a plaintiff discovers the contamination or should have discovered it, rather than when the contamination initially occurred. This change directly affects individuals or communities suing over groundwater pollution from sources like industrial leaks or spills. The provision aims to give plaintiffs more time to pursue claims once they become aware of the harm, aligning the timeline with actual discovery of the issue.

Maddy summaryHB 4635 creates a new process for appointing temporary guardians for individuals who cannot make decisions for themselves (incapacitated persons), requiring immediate action to protect their welfare. Courts may appoint a temporary guardian for up to six months if specific conditions are met, such as following court rules for emergency orders or complying with existing petition requirements. During this period, the temporary guardian assumes care and custody, suspending the authority of any permanent guardian, and must report to the court. A permanent guardianship appointment must be scheduled within 28 days of the temporary appointment, streamlining the transition while ensuring timely oversight. This bill directly affects vulnerable individuals and their families navigating urgent guardianship needs.

Maddy summaryHB 4641 would remove a prohibition preventing dark sky preserves in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The bill amends Section 75102 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate subsection (2), which currently bans such preserves in that region. This change would allow local governments and park authorities in the Upper Peninsula to establish dark sky preserves on public lands, aligning with existing designations elsewhere in Michigan. The bill does not create new preserves but removes a barrier to future designations in the Upper Peninsula.

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.