Rep. Jason Morgan

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's domestic violence prevention laws to explicitly allow shelters to accept common household pets, such as dogs and cats, alongside victims and their children. By updating the definition of a "family or household member" and revising shelter requirements, the legislation ensures that emergency housing programs can accommodate animals as part of their crisis support services. Prime sponsors, which include local governments and nonprofit organizations, may use state funds to establish or maintain these inclusive shelter programs that offer counseling, legal aid, and other essential resources. The changes aim to remove barriers for victims seeking immediate safety by recognizing the emotional and practical importance of keeping pets during domestic violence situations.

Maddy summaryHB 5583 amends the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to give the Secretary of State the authority to apply to the Ingham County circuit court for injunctive relief when a complaint alleges a violation of campaign finance rules. The bill establishes a formal process for citizens to file complaints against individuals or committees, requiring the Secretary of State to notify the accused party and allow for written responses and rebuttals before any legal action is taken. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the standards for waiving late filing fees due to specific hardships and sets strict timelines for the Secretary of State to issue rulings on requests for legal interpretations. This measure is designed to provide a structured mechanism for enforcing campaign finance laws while ensuring due process for those accused of violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Michigan Secure Retirement Savings Program to help private-sector employees save for retirement through automatic payroll deductions. It creates a new oversight board and a separate trust fund to manage individual retirement accounts for enrolled workers, ensuring the money remains distinct from state funds. Employers that do not currently offer qualified retirement plans are required to participate by allowing employees to make automatic contributions from their paychecks. The legislation also sets up a separate administrative fund to cover the program's operational costs and defines the specific duties of the state officials who will run the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Homeowners' Energy Policy Act, makes it illegal for homeowners' associations in Michigan to ban owners from installing, maintaining, or operating specific energy-saving upgrades like solar panels, heat pumps, and rain barrels. It also prevents local governments from forcing homeowners to get HOA approval for these improvements, though local rules can still impose other reasonable limits. To ensure compliance, the law requires every homeowners' association to adopt a written solar energy policy statement within one year of the bill taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special registration plate for Michigan vehicles owned by current or former members of the United States Merchant Marine. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of holding a past or present Merchant Mariner license or credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The legislation allows these plates to be issued without a service fee and includes provisions for disabled owners to receive the standard disability tab. Additionally, the bill establishes that using these plates on an unqualified vehicle or by an ineligible person is a misdemeanor offense.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits using a victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity as a legal defense in criminal cases. Specifically, it bars evidence of such information from being used to claim reasonable provocation, heat of passion, or reduced mental capacity. Additionally, the bill states that discovering or knowing about a person's gender identity or sexual orientation does not justify using force against them. These rules apply to all criminal proceedings in Michigan to prevent bias from influencing the outcome of a trial.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Michigan cities with specific population thresholds to create administrative hearings bureaus to handle violations related to blight, such as property maintenance issues, illegal dumping, and zoning problems. These local bureaus can issue violation notices, accept admissions of guilt, and impose civil fines up to $10,000, with the operating costs covered by the city itself. The law includes protections for landlords by requiring them to receive correction notices and a chance to fix issues before facing penalties during inspections, unless there is an immediate safety emergency. Additionally, the new bureaus are limited to civil matters and cannot impose jail time or handle criminal offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan Vehicle Code to modify how points are assigned to various traffic convictions and infractions. It directly affects drivers, insurance companies, and the Secretary of State by changing the specific point values associated with different violations. The key change involves adjusting the point totals for speeding offenses, where exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 miles per hour now carries 4 points instead of 6, and speeding between 10 and 15 miles per hour over the limit is reduced to 3 points. Additionally, the bill clarifies that points will not be assessed for certain non-moving violations such as overweight loads or defective equipment. These adjustments aim to refine the driver's license point system to better reflect the severity of specific traffic behaviors.

Maddy summaryHB 5867 amends Michigan's tax tribunal act to clarify how property tax appeals are handled and how refunds are calculated when assessments are found unlawful. The bill outlines specific rules for determining a property's taxable value and state equalized valuation, while also detailing the burden of proof for both the taxpayer and the assessing agency. It further establishes procedures for taxpayers to amend their appeals to include claims for refunds from subsequent years if they paid extra taxes due to errors, along with specific interest rates for those refunds. This legislation directly affects property owners and tax assessors by standardizing the process for resolving valuation disputes and seeking monetary corrections.

Maddy summaryHB 5868 amends the Michigan Tax Tribunal Act to update the definitions of key terms used in property tax disputes. The bill clarifies what constitutes an "agency," "mediation," "mediator," and "proceeding" within the context of the tribunal's jurisdiction. It also specifies that the term "entire tribunal" refers to the hearing division excluding the residential property and small claims divisions. Additionally, the legislation excludes the drain code from the definition of "property tax laws" for the purposes of the act. This measure does not take effect unless two other related bills are also enacted into law.