Rep. Brad Paquette

Maddy summaryHB 5953 limits the late fees or penalties that privately owned toll bridge operators can charge for unpaid tolls to no more than five times the original toll amount. This restriction applies only to privately owned bridges and does not affect international crossings or publicly owned bridges. The bill amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to establish this cap, ensuring that fees for overdue tolls remain proportional to the initial cost.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of highway M-26 in Adams Township as the "Private Wesley Vietti Karna Memorial Highway." The designated stretch runs from Academy Street south to Hubbard Avenue. By adding a new section to the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, the legislation formally assigns this name to the road to honor Private Wesley Vietti Karna.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's public health laws to allow the state health department to issue nonrenewable temporary licenses to individuals who have met all licensure requirements for emergency medical roles except for specific exams. These temporary licenses are valid for one year and permit the holder to practice only under direct supervision. The measure directly affects aspiring medical first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics who need time to complete their required examinations. It also includes a provision stating that the law does not take effect unless a companion bill, HB 4614, is also enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan Department of Corrections facilities to conduct strip searches and pat-down searches of visitors and prisoners based on biological sex. Under the new rules, only staff members of the same biological sex as the individual being searched may perform these procedures. The legislation defines biological sex strictly by physical characteristics such as chromosomes and genitalia, rather than gender identity. Visitors who are uncomfortable with a search by staff of a different biological sex can choose to waive this requirement by signing a form.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of the Student Victims' Rights Ombudsman within the Michigan Department of Education to assist students and parents with concerns regarding sexual misconduct by school employees. The ombudsman will have the authority to investigate potential policy violations, issue statewide guidance on best practices, and help individuals understand their rights under state and federal laws. Additionally, the legislation clarifies and expands the circumstances under which a teacher's certification can be suspended following a criminal conviction involving child abuse or sexual misconduct. The office is designed to provide an independent resource for reporting grievances and ensuring school districts comply with relevant laws while maintaining cooperation from all educational entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill ratifies a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would change how members of the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states. The amendment sets a maximum limit of 50,000 people per representative, ensuring that each district does not exceed this population size. By approving this change, Michigan would be formally accepting the new rules for congressional district sizes, which would likely result in a larger total number of representatives in the House. The resolution directs copies of the bill to the President and other federal officials to complete the ratification process.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the section of Michigan's Clean and Renewable Energy Act that previously allowed for expedited permitting of large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage facilities. By removing these specific provisions, the legislation effectively eliminates the special zoning exemptions and streamlined approval processes that were designed to accelerate the development of such projects. The bill does not alter other parts of the energy law, meaning requirements for renewable energy programs, net metering, and utility responsibilities remain unchanged. Its primary impact is to revert the regulatory framework for large-scale renewable infrastructure to the standard permitting procedures that existed before the 2018 amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 5858 seeks to remove a specific provision that would have required local zoning laws to comply with the clean and renewable energy and energy waste reduction act. The bill does not alter the existing text of the zoning enabling act, which currently already includes the clean and renewable energy act among several other state laws that local governments must follow. By deleting this redundant requirement, the legislation aims to streamline the legal framework governing land use without changing the actual rules for zoning or energy projects. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Unemployment Agency to get approval from both houses of the state legislature before making specific changes to its operations. Under the new rules, the agency cannot move staff between divisions, cancel the waiting period for first unemployment payments, or remove computer systems designed to detect potential fraud. These systems currently flag claims based on factors like blacklisted email addresses, out-of-state addresses, or duplicate information such as shared bank accounts and IP addresses. Essentially, the legislation ensures that significant shifts in how the agency manages its workforce or verifies claimants must be explicitly authorized by lawmakers first.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill prohibits state agencies and officials from using public money, staff, or facilities to carry out the terms of international treaties that have not been officially ratified by the U.S. Senate and President. It defines an unratified treaty as any international agreement lacking the required two-thirds Senate approval and presidential ratification. The law allows individuals or groups to sue in state court if they believe state resources are being used for such treaties, seeking court orders to stop the action, monetary damages of up to $10,000 per violation, and legal fees. Additionally, any state department or local government that issues rules requiring compliance with an unratified treaty must prove that those rules were created independently of the treaty's influence.