Rep. Noah Arbit

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the composition of Michigan's Board of Psychology to include more licensed professionals by replacing public members with psychologists who hold limited licenses. It establishes a new limited license category for individuals with a master's degree in psychology, allowing them to practice under specific supervision and advertising restrictions. To qualify for this limited license, applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited program and complete one year of supervised postgraduate experience in a healthcare setting. The legislation also updates the board's membership requirements to ensure that at least five of its voting members hold a doctoral degree in psychology.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include providing legal representation for youth in juvenile court cases, in addition to its existing role for adults. By amending the state's indigent defense act, the legislation ensures that young people facing delinquency charges receive effective legal counsel starting from their initial court appearance. The commission will be responsible for setting minimum standards for how local courts deliver these services to both adults and youth, while also managing funding adjustments based on economic indicators. Ultimately, the bill aims to standardize the quality of legal defense available to financially unable defendants across the state's juvenile justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to advise the state on research, diagnosis, and treatment for rare diseases. The council will be composed of a diverse group of members, including medical professionals, patient advocates, industry representatives, and individuals with rare diseases, who will serve four-year terms. Once established, the council is authorized to hold public hearings, consult with experts, and apply for grants to develop recommendations for improving care and support for those affected by conditions that impact fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan Liquor Control Code to prevent the Liquor Control Commission from using certain past violations to deny, suspend, or revoke liquor licenses. Specifically, it states that if at least two years have passed since a violation occurred, the commission cannot consider it when making licensing decisions. The law defines a "qualified violation" as any breach of the liquor code that is not a criminal offense or a state civil infraction. This change aims to ensure that older, non-criminal mistakes do not permanently bar individuals or businesses from holding liquor licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan law governing county apportionment commissions, which are responsible for drawing district lines for county boards of commissioners. The primary change involves adjusting the number of districts within these commissions to align with updated population data or structural requirements. By amending specific sections of the existing apportionment act, the legislation alters how county commissioner districts are defined and managed. This update directly affects county officials and residents by changing the geographic boundaries used to elect local representatives. The bill was passed by the House with immediate effect and is now being reviewed by the Committee on Government Operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the discount that specially designated distributors and on-premises licensees receive on alcoholic liquor from 17% to 23%. It also establishes a new certification program for small distillers that use at least 40% Michigan-grown grain, allowing them to sell their products with a lower required profit margin for the state. The law requires the department of agriculture and rural development to certify these distillers, maintain records of their grain sources, and submit annual reports listing certified entities. Additionally, the bill includes penalties for providing false information during the certification process and mandates that distillers keep accurate accounts of their qualified grain transactions for inspection.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's health care laws to create a clear process for designating a surrogate to make medical decisions for adults or emancipated minors who cannot do so themselves. It establishes a specific priority list for potential surrogates, starting with out-of-state designations, followed by spouses, adult children, parents, and siblings, while excluding individuals subject to protective orders or pending abuse charges. The legislation requires that a surrogate's authority ends when the patient regains decision-making capacity and mandates that the surrogate sign an acceptance form confirming they will act in the patient's best interest without receiving payment. Additionally, the bill allows patients to disqualify specific individuals from serving as surrogates and ensures that surrogates are informed of the patient's known treatment preferences.

Maddy summaryHB 5735 modifies Michigan's high school graduation requirements by updating the specific credits students must earn to receive a diploma. The bill mandates that graduates complete four math credits, three social science credits, and one credit in health, physical education, or arts, while also requiring two credits in a language other than English or equivalent coursework. Additionally, it introduces a new requirement for students entering eighth grade in 2023 to complete a half-credit personal finance course that can count toward math, arts, or language requirements. These changes apply to all public school districts and public school academies in the state, ensuring a standardized curriculum for graduation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to avoid policies that conflict with federal rules for certified community behavioral health clinics. It mandates the creation of a process to determine where new clinic sites should be located to prevent overlapping service areas. Additionally, the state must continue cooperating with the federal government on these clinics unless the legislature votes to stop such participation. The bill does not take effect until another related piece of legislation is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Insurance Provider Assessment Act to clarify how revenue collected from insurance companies is managed and spent. It establishes rules for depositing funds into a state treasury account, directing the state treasurer to invest the money and credit interest earnings back to the fund. The legislation specifies that these funds can only be used for designated purposes, such as paying Medicaid managed care rates, offsetting revenue losses from previous health insurance assessments, covering administrative costs, and funding a health data utility with amounts that increase annually and adjust for inflation. Additionally, the bill ensures that any leftover money remains in the fund rather than being returned to the general state treasury. The changes will not take effect unless a companion bill, House Bill No. 5283, is also passed into law.