Rep. Dylan Wegela

Maddy summaryHB 5595 imposes a moratorium on Michigan's Public Service Commission approving new energy contracts for data centers. It prohibits the commission from approving any contract, tariff, discount, or rate between electric utilities and "qualified data centers" (defined as facilities housing equipment for centralized data storage and processing) from its effective date until April 1, 2027. This directly affects electric utilities and developers planning new large-scale data center projects in Michigan. The bill adds Section 10ii to the state's utility law, halting regulatory approvals for these energy agreements during the specified moratorium period.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 253) is a ceremonial statement by the Michigan House of Representatives to honor the religious observances of Ramadan (for Muslims) and Lent (for Christians). It does not create new laws or affect any group legally; it simply recognizes these traditions and their shared values of compassion and service. The resolution specifically highlights the 2026 overlap of Ramadan and Lent as a unique opportunity for interfaith unity in Michigan. It formally commends Michigan's Muslim and Christian communities for their contributions to the state's civic and cultural life.

Maddy summaryHB 5586 creates a new "Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Services" within Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services. The office will administer grants to community-based nonprofits, track violence trends, set statewide goals to reduce shootings and homicides, and coordinate all state violence prevention efforts. It directly affects local governments, community organizations receiving grants, and state agencies managing the program. The bill establishes concrete requirements for data collection, technical assistance, and annual reporting to measure progress toward reducing community violence.

Maddy summaryHB 5580 prohibits Michigan insurers from considering a dog's breed when making decisions about home insurance. It bans using breed to deny coverage, cancel policies, increase premiums, or add exclusions for residential properties like houses, apartments, or condos. Insurers may still use other underwriting factors unrelated to breed. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to residential property liability insurance policies.

Maddy summaryHB 5579, the "Responsible Artificial Intelligence Security for Employees Act," prohibits most employers from using automated decisions tools (like AI for hiring) or electronic monitoring tools (like tracking software) for employment decisions affecting employees or job applicants. Employers may only use these tools for specific, limited purposes, such as screening large applicant volumes for job skills or monitoring essential work functions, safety, or compliance. The bill requires employers to obtain written consent from workers, provide clear notice of monitoring, ensure data accuracy, and use tools in the least invasive way possible. It directly affects all Michigan employers and their employees/applicants, creating new rules for technology use in the workplace.

Maddy summaryHB 5587 creates a state grant program to fund community-based violence prevention initiatives in areas with high homicide rates. It establishes a "community violence intervention and prevention fund" to award grants to eligible local governments (e.g., cities or counties with 35+ homicides in 2 of 3 years) or community nonprofits with proven experience addressing violence. Grants must support evidence-based strategies focused on trauma care, economic opportunities, and reducing violence without increasing incarceration, with at least 75% of funds directed to community organizations - not law enforcement. The program requires grantees to report on outcomes and coordinate with other violence prevention efforts, and mandates annual reports on best practices from the administering office.

Maddy summaryHB 5527 amends Michigan's penal code to increase penalties for assaulting public officials while they are performing their duties, such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Penalties range from up to 2 years in prison for basic assault to up to 20 years for causing death, based on the severity of harm (e.g., bodily injury requiring medical care or serious impairment of body function). The bill also adds a provision clarifying that attending a protest is protected under the First Amendment and does not by itself violate disorderly conduct laws.

Maddy summaryHB 5526 requires Michigan electric utilities to create worker transition programs during ownership changes, including skills training, job placement, and guarantees of comparable wages/benefits for at least 30 months after a sale. It mandates that acquiring entities must first offer jobs to existing non-supervisory workers before hiring externally and establish dispute resolution for workplace issues. The bill also sets new service quality standards for utilities, covering outages, maintenance, and billing, requiring annual reports on compliance and performance. These changes directly affect electric utilities, their workers, and customers by protecting jobs during ownership transitions and ensuring reliable service.

Maddy summaryHB 5528 amends Michigan's 1968 riot law (MCL 752.541 and 752.542) to clarify the definitions of riot and incitement to riot. It specifies that a riot occurs when five or more people acting together cause public terror through violent conduct, and incitement to riot involves urging others to commit unlawful violence, property destruction, or interfere with law enforcement officers. The bill explicitly states that peaceful protests - protected under the First Amendment and Michigan's constitution - are not violations of these provisions. This affects individuals participating in public gatherings or protests by defining clear legal boundaries between protected activity and unlawful conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 5503 prohibits Michigan electric utilities from charging residential customers fees for paying bills using credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, electronic transfers, or money orders. The bill directly affects residential utility customers by banning these specific transaction fees. Key provisions require utilities to eliminate these fees for all payment methods listed in the bill, ensuring no additional cost for standard payment options. This policy change applies to all electric utilities operating in Michigan under the amended section 10p of the Public Utilities Act.