Rep. Peter Herzberg

Maddy summaryHB 4418 updates Michigan's probate law to clarify how patients can designate a healthcare surrogate when they cannot make decisions themselves. It adds a new process for formally naming a surrogate (replacing the previous method) and removes an outdated section from older law. This directly affects patients without existing advance directives and their families by providing a clearer, more modern way to appoint someone to make medical decisions for them.

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 bill amends Michigan's 2001 Manufacturing Milk Law to explicitly permit the sale of raw milk and raw milk products under the existing regulatory framework. It directly affects dairy producers and sellers who currently cannot legally sell these items under the law's current restrictions. The key change adds new Section 70a and revises Sections 111 and 136 to allow such sales while maintaining the law's overall structure. The bill updates the legal language to align with current market practices without creating new safety standards or requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4692 creates a new license for "secondary school facilities" that provide cosmetology training in separate classroom settings, directly affecting cosmetology schools and their associated training locations. These facilities must not offer public services or contain equipment like hair-drying chairs, must be staffed by licensed instructors with 3+ years' experience, and require detailed floor plans and department inspections. License holders must display their license and instructor credentials visibly, and the license becomes void if ownership changes or the location shifts, requiring a new application. The bill also mandates the department to create implementing rules within 18 months of enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 5400 extends the expiration date for existing exemptions under Michigan's Residential Housing Facilities Act from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2037. This bill directly affects residential housing facilities that currently hold exemptions under the act, allowing them to maintain their status until their specific certificate expires. The key change is amending Section 16 of the law to prevent new exemptions after 2037 while ensuring current exemptions remain valid until their individual expiration dates. The bill makes no changes to new exemption applications but provides additional time for facilities already operating under existing exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 5408 requires veterinarians to disclose specific information to animal owners before prescribing or dispensing medication. This includes the drug name, usage instructions, storage details (if available), common side effects, and relevant manufacturer warnings. Veterinarians must provide this either orally or in writing and document the disclosure method in the animal’s medical record. The requirement does not apply if the manufacturer hasn’t provided side effect information for the specific animal species. This bill directly affects veterinarians and animal owners in Michigan by standardizing medication disclosure practices.

Maddy summaryHB 5401 extends the deadline for granting new exemptions under Michigan's Attainable Housing Facilities Act from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2037. This directly affects developers and property owners seeking new exemptions for affordable housing projects under the Act. Existing exemptions granted before the new deadline will continue until their certificate expires, ensuring no disruption to ongoing projects. The bill amends Section 16 of the 2022 Attainable Housing Facilities Act (MCL 207.916) to update the sunset provision.

Maddy summaryHB 5389 modifies how Michigan manages state funds for specific projects (called "work projects"). It requires that such projects must have a clear purpose, specific plan, estimated cost, and completion date to qualify. The bill also changes the timeframe for unused funds to expire (48 months after the fiscal year ends) and gives the director authority to propose lapsing project accounts, but requires both legislative committees to disapprove such proposals within 30 days. Additionally, it mandates annual reports to committees detailing all active work project accounts, their balances, and any funds that lapsed.

Maddy summaryHB 5391 changes Michigan's unemployment benefits recovery rules by limiting the time the state can seek repayment of improperly paid benefits. It prohibits the unemployment agency from recovering benefits more than one year after the claimant receives the payment, affecting most unemployed Michiganders who received benefits by mistake. Exceptions include cases involving suspected identity fraud (where recovery may still be pursued) or intentional fraud (where no time limit applies). The bill also maintains existing hardship waiver options for repayment if recovery would be unfair due to financial hardship or administrative errors.

Maddy summaryHB 5362 is a supplemental budget bill that allocates additional state funds to the University of Michigan for its operations during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. It modifies existing state appropriations by designating specific supplemental funding for the University of Michigan, without creating new programs or altering the university's structure. This bill directly affects the University of Michigan's budget, providing it with additional resources from the state's general fund for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on the allocation of existing state funds rather than establishing new policies.