Rep. Jennifer Wortz

Maddy summaryHB 5878 eliminates the personal property tax in Michigan for all items that do not qualify for an existing specific exemption, effective for taxes levied after December 31, 2026. Owners of such property must annually file a statement with their local tax collector to claim this new exemption, while property that already has a designated exemption cannot be claimed under this new rule. The bill also requires local tax units to send summary data to the state Department of Treasury by April 1 each year to track the revenue impact of these new exemptions. This legislation directly affects business owners and individuals holding personal property by removing a tax burden on eligible assets, provided they complete the necessary filing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Michigan's state real estate transfer tax, which previously applied to the sale of property. It includes a provision to ensure that any resulting loss in state revenue is compensated by transferring funds from the state general fund to the school aid fund. The law will only take effect if a separate companion bill, HB 5880, is also passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Michigan's 1993 State Education Tax Act, which previously imposed a tax on property owners to fund public schools. The legislation is contingent upon the simultaneous passage of a companion bill (HB 5880) that mandates the state to use general funds to fully replace any revenue lost from eliminating the tax. If enacted, the change would remove the specific tax requirement while ensuring that school funding levels remain unchanged through state appropriation. The law is scheduled to take effect 90 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Michigan townships to hire accredited election contractors when their clerk or deputy clerk is unavailable to perform election duties. Under the new provision, the township board can enter into a contract with an accredited individual who lives nearby to handle registration, nomination, and election tasks until the clerk returns or a replacement is appointed. The contracted individual would have the same authority as a deputy clerk and must report their activities to the township board at each meeting during the contract period. This change provides a backup plan for election operations in small communities that might otherwise face staffing shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution that asks Congress to propose a new constitutional amendment allowing both state and federal governments to set reasonable limits on election spending. The proposed amendment would explicitly permit lawmakers to distinguish between individual voters and artificial entities like corporations, unions, and artificial intelligence when regulating campaign finance. By clarifying that such spending restrictions are constitutional, the measure aims to prevent unlimited money from influencing election outcomes while protecting the free speech rights of average citizens. Although introduced in the House of Representatives, the resolution does not become law on its own but instead seeks to initiate the process for amending the U.S. Constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 4935 would allow dentists and dental hygienists licensed in Michigan to practice in other states that join the same compact without obtaining separate licenses. It creates a "Compact Privilege" that streamlines interstate practice by eliminating duplicate licensing requirements, addressing workforce shortages, and improving access to dental care. The bill requires practitioners to follow each state's scope of practice rules and mandates sharing of disciplinary information between participating states. This compact applies to Michigan-licensed professionals seeking to work in other member states, without changing Michigan's own licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary gas tax holiday in Michigan, setting the motor fuel tax rate to zero cents per gallon starting immediately. The zero rate will remain in effect until either November 1, 2026, or the nationwide average gas price drops below $3.50, whichever happens first. While the holiday is active, the standard tax rates for gasoline and diesel are suspended, and the bill includes specific reporting requirements for suppliers and end users holding fuel inventory.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the deputy secretary of state to take over as the chief election officer if the current secretary of state runs for another elected office. Under this change, the incumbent secretary would be barred from supervising or administering the election in which they are a candidate, though they would keep other duties like managing election audits. The deputy secretary would assume full supervisory control over local election officials during that specific election cycle.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the Michigan First-Time Home Buyer Savings Program through December 31, 2026, by amending the existing law that established the program. It allows individuals to open special savings accounts designated for paying qualified costs related to purchasing a single-family home in Michigan. The program permits contributions from people other than the account holder and allows joint ownership if the account holders file a joint tax return. The bill includes a provision stating that it will not take effect unless a related bill, HB 5973, is also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act to update definitions and requirements for renewable energy programs. It directly affects electric and natural gas providers, state agencies, and energy consumers by modifying how clean energy standards are calculated and how costs are recovered from customers. Key changes include redefining clean energy systems to include natural gas plants with carbon capture technology, establishing a wind energy resource zone board, and adjusting rules for customer generation and net metering. The legislation also updates provisions related to energy waste reduction programs and authorizes new residential energy improvement initiatives.