Rep. Kelly Breen

Maddy summaryHB 4419 adds legal protections to Michigan's health care decision-making framework. It shields health care providers and facilities from liability when following decisions made by a legally designated patient surrogate or advocate, as long as they act in good faith. The bill also protects surrogates and advocates from liability for good-faith health care decisions they make. Providers who intentionally violate these rules face minimum damages of $1,000, while those who falsify or tamper with a patient's health care directive designation face minimum damages of $2,500. This directly affects patients with advance directives, their designated surrogates, and medical providers.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares January 25-31, 2026, as Catholic Schools Week in Michigan. It symbolically recognizes Catholic schools' role in the state, highlighting their enrollment (50,421 students across 207 schools), compliance with public school regulations, and contributions to community values. The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funds, or change policies - it is a ceremonial acknowledgment supporting Catholic schools' educational and community impact.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 234) urges the Trump-Vance Administration to stop making threats against Denmark regarding Greenland. It directly addresses U.S. officials, emphasizing that Greenland is an autonomous territory within Denmark (recognized under international law) and that any political change must come from Greenlanders freely, without coercion. The resolution calls for diplomacy based on respect for sovereignty and international law, rather than threats or military pressure, to protect NATO alliance unity. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal effect but expresses congressional concern about actions undermining U.S. alliances and international norms.

Maddy summaryHB 5207 updates licensing requirements for barber and cosmetology instructors in Michigan. It increases the required instructor training hours from 500 to 600 for cosmetology instructors (effective July 1, 2024) and from 600 to 900 hours for barber instructors. The bill also clarifies that prior experience cannot waive requirements like high school diplomas or exams. These changes directly affect individuals seeking to become licensed instructors in these fields.

Maddy summaryHR 232 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) declaring January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Michigan. It directly encourages all Michiganders to participate in awareness, prevention, and anti-trafficking efforts. The resolution includes three key provisions: (1) formally designating the month, (2) urging public engagement, and (3) directing copies to state agencies like the Michigan State Police and Human Trafficking Commission. It does not create new funding, programs, or legal requirements, but aims to amplify existing anti-trafficking work. The resolution references Michigan’s 2023 data showing 779 trafficking signals reported to the National Hotline.

Maddy summaryHB 4277 amends Michigan's health licensing law to remove all questions about applicants' mental health from license applications, except for two specific questions already required: whether an applicant poses a risk to patient safety and whether they can perform essential job functions. This change affects health professionals seeking initial licensure or renewal, including doctors, dentists, and nurses. The bill prohibits the department from including any additional mental health inquiries on application forms. It directly simplifies the licensing process by limiting mental health disclosures to the two existing questions.

Maddy summaryHB 5432 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates additional state funding for multiple departments, agencies, and the legislative branch for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides specific monetary amounts to cover budget gaps or new needs identified during the fiscal year, with conditions on how the funds may be spent. This bill directly affects state government operations by ensuring funding continuity for essential services and programs across various agencies. As a procedural funding measure, it does not change policy but adjusts financial resources for existing government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 5431 allocates supplemental funding for Michigan public schools, primarily targeting districts affected by drinking water emergencies. It provides $10 million from the state school aid fund and $4.8 million from the general fund (2025-2026) for districts with at least 4,500 students (or 2,600+ post-2016) in cities with declared water emergencies, to hire staff like nurses and mental health workers and provide related services. The bill also allocates $12.5 million for educator talent programs through intermediate districts. All funds require reporting on service usage and must be expended by 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 5436 requires health insurers in Michigan to cover hearing aids and related services for qualifying enrollees. It mandates coverage up to $3,000 per hearing aid every 36 months (adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index starting in 2026), including evaluations, fittings, repairs, and related devices like earmolds. To qualify, an enrollee must be evaluated for hearing loss by an audiologist and medically confirmed as a hearing aid candidate by an otolaryngologist. Insurers may apply existing cost-sharing (like deductibles) but cannot exceed the $3,000 cap per device.

Maddy summaryHB 5439 creates the "Homeless Advocacy Fund" within Michigan's Department of Treasury, funded by money from the state's individual income tax system (specifically Section 435 of the 1967 Income Tax Act). The fund will provide annual support to the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness for programs, policy improvements, and direct services aimed at ending homelessness. All money in the fund must be used solely for this purpose, with unspent funds rolling over each year instead of expiring. The bill requires companion legislation (HB 5440) to take effect.