Rep. Jennifer Wortz

Maddy summaryHB 5519 lowers Michigan's individual income tax rate to 3.9% for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, replacing the current 4.25% rate. This change applies to all Michigan residents who pay state income tax on their earnings. The bill amends Section 51 of the Income Tax Act to implement this rate reduction, which follows a temporary 4.25% rate period through 2025. This policy directly reduces the tax burden for individual taxpayers starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5521 prohibits Michigan's medical assistance program from covering organ transplants if the procedure occurs in China or another country designated by the state health department for forced organ harvesting, or if the organ was obtained through sale/donation from such a country. The bill defines "forced organ harvesting" as removing organs from living individuals using coercion, abduction, deception, fraud, or abuse of power. It directly affects Medicaid recipients seeking transplants involving organs from designated countries. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will designate countries known for forced organ harvesting under this law.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4445 proposes to allow individuals to use bait for hunting deer in Michigan during the open deer seasons. It amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by introducing a specific definition for "deer or elk baiting," which refers to depositing feed to aid in taking these animals. The bill also eliminates the requirement for the Natural Resources Commission to issue orders regulating general deer and elk feeding, and removes the associated definition from state law. This change would explicitly permit deer baiting for hunting while removing state-level regulation over general deer and elk feeding.

Maddy summaryHB 4855 would amend Michigan law to permit bow hunters to carry a pistol while hunting. This directly affects licensed bow hunters who currently cannot possess a firearm during hunting activities under existing law (MCL 324.43510). The bill changes the prohibition in the 1994 Michigan Penal Code to allow pistol possession specifically for bow hunters during hunting. The amendment would remove the current restriction, enabling bow hunters to carry a pistol for lawful use while hunting.

Maddy summaryHB 5486 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to require healthcare providers to report adverse events from vaccines starting January 1, 2027, including specific details like symptoms, outcomes, and medical test results. It directly affects healthcare providers (doctors, clinics, hospitals) who administer vaccines and parents/guardians who may opt out of immunization reporting via written notice. The bill expands the Michigan Care Improvement Registry to include adverse event data while maintaining parental opt-out rights for immunization reporting. Crucially, it prohibits schools and school officials from accessing the registry, reinforcing privacy protections for health records. These changes update existing requirements established in 2023 and 2006, with new adverse event reporting mechanisms taking effect in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 5491 requires that pat-down searches of visitors and strip searches of prisoners in Michigan state correctional facilities be conducted by staff of the same biological sex as the person being searched. This directly affects visitors to prisons and incarcerated individuals. The bill defines "biological sex" as sex characteristics present at birth (including chromosomes, hormones, and genitalia), excluding gender identity or self-identification. Visitors may opt out of the same-sex requirement by signing a waiver, but strip searches of prisoners must always follow the same-sex rule.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares January 18-24, 2026, as "Sanctity of Human Life Week" in Michigan. It encourages citizens to reflect on the value of human life, support women and families, and strengthen a "culture of life" through symbolic recognition. The bill does not create new laws, alter policies, or directly affect any specific group or program. It is a ceremonial declaration with no binding requirements or funding mechanisms.

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 4486 prohibits Michigan municipalities from banning natural gas use or the installation of natural gas infrastructure, directly affecting cities, towns, counties, and townships. The bill makes any local ordinance, resolution, or policy that restricts natural gas use or infrastructure void and unenforceable starting from its effective date. It specifically targets bans on residential, commercial, or industrial natural gas applications and related infrastructure like pipelines. This legislation ensures that local governments cannot block natural gas services or new installations within their jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 5429 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates additional state funding for the autism navigator program. It directly affects the program by providing dedicated financial resources to support its operations and services. The bill creates a new appropriation act to fund this specific initiative within the state budget for fiscal year 2026. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, and it remains pending in the Appropriations Committee after its introduction on December 23, 2025.