Rep. Noah Arbit

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Michigan employers from paying different wages to employees performing equal work based on protected attributes such as race, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, or marital status. It establishes that wage differences are only permissible if they result from a seniority system, a merit-based system, a production measurement system, or other factors unrelated to these protected characteristics. Additionally, the legislation ensures that an employer cannot lower an employee's current wage rate simply to comply with the new equal pay requirements. By repealing a conflicting provision in a previous workforce act, this law strengthens protections against wage discrimination for workers across various industries.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the requirement for paying prevailing wages and fringe benefits to workers on specific broadband and energy facility projects in Michigan. It directly affects broadband developers, private and public contracting agents, and construction workers involved in building or maintaining high-speed internet infrastructure and large-scale solar, wind, or energy storage systems. The legislation defines these projects by their technical specifications, such as requiring broadband speeds over 200 kilobits per second and energy facilities with a capacity of at least 2 megawatts, while excluding projects funded by certain federal acts. By amending existing state law, the bill ensures that laborers on these designated projects receive wages comparable to those in the local construction industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Lobbyist Act to clarify which items and services do not count as "gifts" that public employees must report. It explicitly excludes standard campaign contributions, routine business loans, meals, and contributions to registered legal defense funds from the definition of a reportable gift. Additionally, the legislation sets specific monetary limits for small, de minimis items, allowing public officials to accept single items under $20 or a total of $80 worth of items within a three-month period without triggering reporting requirements. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens for public officials while maintaining transparency around larger or more significant transfers of value.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's financial disclosure requirements for state representatives, senators, and other high-ranking public officials. It clarifies definitions for terms like "gift," "lobbyist," and "earned income" while expanding the specific details officers must report on their financial forms. Key changes include requiring the disclosure of a spouse's employment and lobbyist registration, adjusting asset and debt reporting thresholds to account for inflation, and specifying which types of investments and business positions must be listed. The legislation directly affects the transparency of financial interests for elected officials and their immediate families by standardizing how this information is collected and reported.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to strengthen the regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks, for properties not connected to public sewer lines. It establishes new definitions for various waste systems and grants local health departments expanded authority to inspect, evaluate, and enforce compliance with these regulations. The legislation also clarifies that connecting to an available public sewer system is a priority for public health and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Michigan to cover a 12-month supply of prescription birth control at once, provided the medication is on the plan's list of covered drugs. The law mandates that insurers also cover related medical services, such as doctor visits and exams, needed to prescribe and dispense these contraceptives. While the coverage must be available regardless of when the patient first started the plan, standard cost-sharing rules like copayments and deductibles still apply, and the requirement does not extend to the final month of a plan year. The policy takes effect on December 31, 2025, affecting all health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state or covering Michigan residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Technical Advisory Committee within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to guide regulations on onsite wastewater treatment systems. The committee will consist of 21 members representing local health departments, engineers, scientists, manufacturers, installers, and other stakeholders to advise on standards, testing, and ethical guidelines. It establishes specific requirements for registering and continuing education for evaluators and practitioners who design, construct, maintain, or manage these systems. The committee will also provide guidance on how local health departments should handle older systems that were permitted before the new statewide sewage code took effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in Michigan to impose specific restrictions on firearms, pneumatic guns, and related ammunition within their jurisdictions. It explicitly permits municipalities to regulate how employees carry weapons at work, set age limits for children possessing air guns, ban threatening displays of such weapons, and prohibit open carry inside government buildings. The legislation also clarifies that these local rules cannot override existing state criminal laws and must allow law enforcement officers to openly carry firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's sentencing laws to allow certain prisoners convicted of multiple felonies to petition the court for a review of their sentences. It establishes a formal process for these individuals to request resentencing, which would require a judge to evaluate whether their current punishment remains appropriate under current legal standards. The legislation specifically targets those sentenced under the state's habitual offender provisions and creates new sections in the criminal procedure code to govern this review mechanism. By adding these new procedures, the bill aims to provide a legal pathway for eligible inmates to seek a reduction in their prison terms without changing the underlying laws that led to their original convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to adjust annual reimbursements given to child care providers under Michigan's child development and care program to account for inflation. The adjustments will be calculated using the Detroit Consumer Price Index, ensuring that payments keep pace with rising costs in the local area. This change directly affects the financial support received by licensed child care providers operating within the state.