Rep. Alabas Farhat

Maddy summaryHB 4132 amends Michigan's personal protection order law to explicitly include animal-related abuse as a prohibited act in domestic violence cases. The bill adds new language (subsection 1(k)) making it illegal for a respondent to injure, kill, threaten, or remove an animal in which the petitioner has ownership interest, or to retain an animal taken from the petitioner. This directly affects domestic violence victims who rely on pets for emotional support, expanding court orders to protect both people and their companion animals. The provision specifies it does not override lawful animal use (e.g., hunting under state law) and aligns with existing protections for victims.

Maddy summaryHB 4143 changes how Michigan allocates corporate income tax revenue. Starting in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, it directs $500 million annually to county road commissions and $500 million to cities/villages for local road projects. After 2026, all corporate tax revenue from this source will fund the Michigan Transportation Fund, which distributes money for state transportation projects. This directly affects local governments receiving road funding and state budget allocations for transportation infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 4130 amends Section 2 of Michigan's Animal Welfare Fund Act (MCL 287.992) by updating the definition of "State animal anticruelty laws" to explicitly include specific sections of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.49-750.70, 750.70a, and MCL 750.50(8) and (12)). This technical update ensures the fund act correctly references existing animal cruelty laws without creating new policies or funding. The bill affects how the Animal Welfare Fund Act applies to enforcement of current animal protection laws. It is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a policy bill. It declares February 2025 as "American Heart Month" and February 5, 2025, as "National Wear Red Day" in Michigan. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about heart disease, particularly its impact on women, through educational efforts and community recognition. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or impose requirements on any group.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares January 2025 as National Stalking Awareness Month in Michigan. It does not create new laws or change existing policies; instead, it symbolically recognizes stalking as a serious crime and acknowledges efforts by victim services and law enforcement. The resolution highlights Michigan's legal definition of stalking and relevant statistics (like 18,000 stalking reports in 2022) to underscore the importance of public awareness. It was introduced and adopted by the Michigan House of Representatives on January 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4016 designates May of each year as "Huntington's Disease Awareness Month" in Michigan. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public and medical awareness about Huntington's disease, which affects thousands of Michiganders and has no cure. It does not create new funding, regulations, or policy changes - it simply aligns Michigan with national recognition efforts for this progressive neurological condition. The bill was introduced in January 2025 and referred to committee for further review.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's medical assistance program to cover the cost of blood pressure monitors for pregnant individuals and those in the postpartum period. Under the new provision, eligible people can receive a monitor designed for pregnancy use and fitted to their specific needs. The change directly affects recipients of state medical aid who are expecting or have recently given birth. By adding this specific item to the list of covered medical services, the legislation ensures these individuals have access to tools for monitoring their blood pressure without additional out-of-pocket expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Strategic Fund Act to allow the state to deny or recover economic development funds if a recipient business is added to a specific registry of non-compliant entities. Starting in October 2024, the law requires written agreements for loans, grants, and other assistance to include clauses that trigger a default and require the return of money if the business is listed on that registry during the agreement term. The measure applies to any business receiving financial support under the act and takes effect 90 days after passage, contingent on the simultaneous enactment of a related companion bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Call Center Jobs Retention Act, which requires large employers in Michigan to notify the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity at least 30 days before moving a call center or a significant portion of its operations to a foreign country. The law specifically applies to companies employing 50 or more people at a call center and mandates reporting if they plan to close local operations while contracting for the same services abroad. Employers who fail to provide this advance notice face civil fines of up to $10,000, and the department must publish a public registry every six months listing the names of these employers, the number of jobs affected, and the new locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's sales tax law to change how a specific portion of sales tax revenue is distributed to the public safety and violence prevention fund. Starting in October 2023, the state will deposit 1.5% of the collections from the standard 4% sales tax into this new fund on a monthly basis. The legislation also outlines existing rules for distributing other sales tax revenues to schools, transportation projects, aviation, and health initiatives. By specifying these allocation percentages and timelines, the bill ensures that designated funds are collected and transferred to their intended programs without altering the overall tax rate.