Rep. Matt Koleszar

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new section to Michigan's landlord-tenant laws to provide specific legal remedies for individuals who face housing discrimination based on their source of income. It allows people who believe they have been discriminated against to file a civil lawsuit in circuit court to seek injunctive relief or financial damages. The potential damages are capped at either the actual injury and loss suffered or three times the monthly rent, whichever is lower, and also cover court costs and attorney fees. This legislation only takes effect if it is passed together with two related Senate bills, SB 0205 and SB 0206.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan law updates regulations for strict discipline academies, which are publicly funded charter schools, by requiring more transparency in their contracts and public presence. It mandates that these schools include specific details about their educational goals, financial audits, and contract terms in their agreements with authorizing bodies like school districts. Additionally, the bill requires that the names of the authorizing entity and any management organization appear on the school's signage, promotional materials, website footers, and enrollment applications. The legislation also clarifies that if a school district rejects an application to run such an academy, interested parties can petition for a public vote by school electors to decide on the contract. Finally, the law ensures that employees of these academies covered by school district contracts are included in the same collective bargaining agreements as other district staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all schools in Michigan to establish a behavioral threat assessment and management team by October 1, 2026. These teams must include a school administrator, a mental health professional, and a law enforcement official to identify concerning behavior, distinguish between credible and non-credible threats, and create supportive plans for students. The state police will provide annual training materials and resources to help schools implement these safety measures effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 94 in Wayne County as the "Corporal Mohamed Said Memorial Highway." The designated section runs between Oakwood Boulevard and Outer Drive W. By adding this new section to the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, the legislation officially names the road in honor of Corporal Mohamed Said.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison within Michigan's Legislative Council to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the state legislature and federally recognized tribes. The office will be led by a liaison appointed by the council from a list provided by the United Tribes of Michigan, who will be supported by at least two policy advisors. Key duties include visiting each tribe annually, advising lawmakers on how proposed legislation impacts tribal communities, and providing mandatory training for legislators on tribal history and consultation processes. Additionally, the office must submit an annual public report detailing tribal concerns raised during the legislative process to the governor and legislative leaders.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new entities within the Michigan state government: the Bureau of Community Action and Economic Opportunity and the Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity. The Bureau is tasked with coordinating state efforts to reduce poverty, providing technical assistance to designated community action agencies, and administering specific programs like weatherization assistance. The Commission serves as an advisory body that includes elected officials, private sector members, and low-income individuals to help develop policies and programs aimed at fostering self-sufficiency. Together, these organizations will work to identify poverty-related issues, evaluate existing state programs, and recommend changes to improve economic and social opportunities for low-income residents.

Maddy summaryThis law updates rules for public school academies in Michigan by requiring authorizing bodies to publish specific details about school signage, advertising, and promotional materials. It mandates that contracts for these schools include clear educational goals, annual financial audits, and public access to operational records such as board minutes and budgets. Additionally, the bill establishes stricter guidelines for selecting school directors, requiring them to be U.S. citizens and prohibiting certain family or financial relationships between board members and management company employees. These changes aim to increase transparency and accountability for privately operated public schools while maintaining their status within the state's public education system.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund in Michigan to manage money from specific sources, including sales tax revenues and donations. The fund will distribute money to cities, villages, and townships to support public safety initiatives, with a portion of the funds going to a grant program for community violence intervention and another part to a crime victim's rights fund. A key provision ties future funding to crime reduction goals, where local governments that fail to meet specific violent crime decrease targets will see their distributions reduced. The state treasurer is responsible for managing the fund and ensuring that unspent money at the end of each fiscal year remains available for future distribution rather than being returned to the general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines to include specific penalties for crimes involving the abuse of companion animals. It assigns 25 points to a criminal score when an animal is subjected to sadistic, torturous, or brutally excessive conduct intended to cause fear or anxiety, while similar acts against humans carry a higher 50-point penalty. The legislation defines "sadism" as actions that inflict extreme or prolonged pain or humiliation for the offender's gratification. These changes apply only if the bill is passed alongside two related companion bills, HB 5588 and HB 5592.

Maddy summaryHB 5590 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to include specific provisions for crimes committed against animals. This change directly affects judges and prosecutors by providing updated rules for determining sentences in cases involving animal cruelty. The bill revises existing legal statutes to ensure that penalties for harming animals are clearly defined within the state's criminal code. By linking this measure to a companion bill, the legislation aims to standardize how such offenses are handled in the judicial system.