Rep. Alabas Farhat

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Michigan employers from paying different wages to employees performing equal work based on protected attributes such as race, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, or marital status. It establishes that wage differences are only permissible if they result from a seniority system, a merit-based system, a production measurement system, or other factors unrelated to these protected characteristics. Additionally, the legislation ensures that an employer cannot lower an employee's current wage rate simply to comply with the new equal pay requirements. By repealing a conflicting provision in a previous workforce act, this law strengthens protections against wage discrimination for workers across various industries.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases disposal fees for nonhazardous solid waste and coal ash in Michigan landfills, with higher rates for general waste and lower rates for specific industrial byproducts. Landfill owners and operators must collect these new surcharges from waste generators and pay them quarterly to the state, while captive facilities face fixed annual fees based on their waste volume. The collected funds are distributed among several state accounts, including a new host communities grant fund that provides direct financial support to the cities and townships where these landfills are located. Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism to adjust these fees every five years based on inflation to maintain their real value over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Lobbyist Act to clarify which items and services do not count as "gifts" that public employees must report. It explicitly excludes standard campaign contributions, routine business loans, meals, and contributions to registered legal defense funds from the definition of a reportable gift. Additionally, the legislation sets specific monetary limits for small, de minimis items, allowing public officials to accept single items under $20 or a total of $80 worth of items within a three-month period without triggering reporting requirements. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens for public officials while maintaining transparency around larger or more significant transfers of value.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to strengthen the regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks, for properties not connected to public sewer lines. It establishes new definitions for various waste systems and grants local health departments expanded authority to inspect, evaluate, and enforce compliance with these regulations. The legislation also clarifies that connecting to an available public sewer system is a priority for public health and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Technical Advisory Committee within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to guide regulations on onsite wastewater treatment systems. The committee will consist of 21 members representing local health departments, engineers, scientists, manufacturers, installers, and other stakeholders to advise on standards, testing, and ethical guidelines. It establishes specific requirements for registering and continuing education for evaluators and practitioners who design, construct, maintain, or manage these systems. The committee will also provide guidance on how local health departments should handle older systems that were permitted before the new statewide sewage code took effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an interstate licensure compact for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in Michigan, allowing them to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. The legislation creates a system where a therapist licensed in their home state can receive a "compact privilege" to work in remote states, provided the patient is located in that remote state during the encounter. Key provisions include the mutual recognition of licenses, the sharing of disciplinary and investigative information between states, and specific accommodations for military families relocating. The law also aims to improve public access to therapy services by facilitating the use of telehealth technology and ensuring consistent regulatory standards across participating jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines to specify recommended prison terms for assaulting or obstructing certain public safety workers, including transit operators, utility employees, and law enforcement officers. It establishes specific sentencing categories based on the severity of the injury caused, ranging from minor offenses with a two-year maximum to serious assaults resulting in death with a maximum of life imprisonment. The legislation also clarifies sentencing ranges for domestic violence and assault against pregnant individuals, ensuring consistent penalties for these specific crimes. By modifying the Code of Criminal Procedure, the bill provides judges with clearer standards for determining appropriate sentences in cases involving these protected groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to allow occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to practice under a national licensure compact. The key provision authorizes individuals who hold a compact privilege from other states to engage in practice within Michigan as if they were fully licensed under state law. By incorporating this compact, the legislation aims to facilitate easier mobility for these healthcare professionals across state lines while maintaining the same professional standards and obligations. The changes apply directly to occupational therapy practitioners and the facilities that employ them, ensuring that out-of-state compact members are recognized and regulated consistently with local licensees.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in Michigan to impose specific restrictions on firearms, pneumatic guns, and related ammunition within their jurisdictions. It explicitly permits municipalities to regulate how employees carry weapons at work, set age limits for children possessing air guns, ban threatening displays of such weapons, and prohibit open carry inside government buildings. The legislation also clarifies that these local rules cannot override existing state criminal laws and must allow law enforcement officers to openly carry firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers in Michigan from requiring employees, independent contractors, or interns to sign noncompete agreements, which are contracts that prevent workers from working for competitors after leaving their current job. The law allows noncompetes only in specific situations, such as when a business owner sells their company or when a worker is highly compensated and restricted from soliciting clients rather than competing directly. Agreements that violate these rules are declared unenforceable, and workers who face penalties for breaking them can sue for lost wages and legal fees. However, the bill does not ban agreements protecting trade secrets or those restricting client solicitation under strict conditions, such as a high salary and a one-year limit.