Rep. Will Bruck

Maddy summaryHB 5589 prohibits Michigan public schools from requiring students to use social media platforms for school-related activities, such as class assignments or club events. It directly affects students and school personnel by mandating that school boards adopt policies banning this practice. The bill defines "social media platform" broadly but explicitly excludes educational tools like learning management systems, teleconferencing services, and school-sanctioned digital learning platforms. This creates a clear policy requiring schools to avoid using commercial social media for educational purposes while allowing necessary academic technology.

Maddy summaryHB 5210 allows commercial fishing license holders to list multiple vessels on a single license instead of requiring separate licenses for each boat. Licensees can add or remove vessels anytime by providing written notice to the department. The bill also clarifies rules for transferring licenses when boats are sold, damaged, or lost, including fee adjustments for larger vessels or non-resident transfers. All vessels listed under one license must operate within 50 miles of the originally designated port.

Maddy summaryHB 5219 would allow direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw milk and raw milk products in Michigan by amending the Food Law. It defines "direct farm-to-consumer product" to explicitly include raw milk meeting requirements under the 2001 Manufacturing Milk Law, enabling farmers to sell these products directly to consumers on their property. The bill adds new sections (4102a and 4102b) to establish this sales pathway while maintaining existing pasteurization requirements for other sales. This change directly affects farmers producing raw milk and consumers purchasing it directly from farms, without altering commercial milk sales rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5217 would allow direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw (unpasteurized) milk and milk products by dairy producers who comply with specific safety standards under Michigan's Food Law (2000). It amends existing milk regulations to explicitly permit this sale method, provided producers meet requirements in Section 4102a of the Food Law and adhere to the definition of "direct farm-to-consumer producer" from the Food Law. This change affects small dairy farms selling directly to consumers, not restaurants or grocery stores, and maintains existing pasteurization requirements for all other milk sales. The bill requires compliance with state safety protocols but does not alter pasteurization rules for commercial distribution.

Maddy summaryHB 5535 would allow plumbing inspectors to provide plumbing services without violating state law. Currently, plumbing inspectors (registered under Article 10) are prohibited from engaging in the plumbing business, such as installing pipes or selling materials, due to potential conflicts with their inspection duties. The bill amends Section 1123 of Michigan's Skilled Trades Regulation Act to remove this prohibition, permitting inspectors to work for or own plumbing businesses. This change directly affects local plumbing inspectors who wish to operate in both roles simultaneously.

Maddy summaryHB 4279 would create a new apprenticeship program for Michigan National Guard members, allowing them to earn industry-recognized certifications while serving. The bill establishes a formal structure for training in high-demand fields like engineering and information technology, directly affecting Guard members seeking to build civilian career skills. Key provisions include requiring the Michigan National Guard to develop partnerships with employers and educational institutions to design the apprenticeships. The legislation is currently pending in committee review and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 5522 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to update delegation rules for physician assistants (PAs). It clarifies that supervising physicians may delegate specific medical tasks to PAs under certain conditions, including direct physical supervision during procedures. The bill specifies that PAs can perform surgical tasks only when a licensed physician is present, and outlines requirements for health facilities to authorize such delegation. These changes directly affect PAs, physicians, and healthcare facilities by defining clearer boundaries for PA scope of practice under supervision.

Maddy summaryHB 4845 proposes to adjust competitive bidding requirements for road construction projects in Michigan. It raises the threshold for mandatory competitive bidding from $100,000 to $350,000 for individual local road projects (or $1,350,000 annually per agency, excluding cities over 500,000 population) and adds an annual inflation adjustment using the Consumer Price Index. The bill exempts traffic signal system upgrades and local road resurfacing from bidding rules. It directly affects state and local road agencies (counties, cities, villages) managing projects above these thresholds, requiring them to justify non-competitive contracts to oversight bodies. The changes aim to modernize cost thresholds while maintaining public bidding for significant infrastructure work.

Maddy summaryHB 5198 requires any non-governmental entity (like a private company or nonprofit) providing funds, goods, services, or other support for Michigan election administration to certify annually that it isn’t receiving foreign donations. This certification, filed with the Secretary of State 10 business days before an agreement, must be renewed yearly and updated within 5 days if new information changes the certification. The Secretary of State will maintain and post all certifications online, and governmental entities must submit quarterly reports listing these providers. Violating this requirement - by knowingly providing false information - carries misdemeanor penalties of up to 90 days in jail, $1,000 fines for individuals, or $10,000 for organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 5197 bans contributions and expenditures to Michigan political campaigns from foreign governments, political parties, and businesses organized under foreign law. It defines "foreign national" broadly to include foreign entities, foreign-owned U.S. businesses (unless operating solely on domestic funds with U.S. decision-makers), and foreign governments. The bill amends Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act (1976 PA 388) by adding a prohibition in Section 34a and updating definitions in Sections 7 and 15. This directly affects political campaigns receiving funds and foreign entities seeking to influence Michigan elections.