Rep. Brad Paquette

Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal references in Michigan's Corrections Code to align with current criminal statutes, specifically modernizing citations for various firearm-related offenses. It directly affects prisoners convicted of crimes listed in the bill, such as those involving illegal possession or use of firearms, by clarifying the legal sections they are subject to under parole eligibility rules. The bill does not change parole eligibility requirements themselves but ensures the referenced criminal codes are correctly cited in the corrections law. It includes a provision that requires another related bill to pass first before this update takes effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5596 amends Michigan's Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3205) to require local zoning ordinances to comply with the Data Center Regulation Act. This change directly affects data center developers and local governments by integrating data center regulatory standards into zoning decisions. The key provision adds the Data Center Regulation Act as a mandatory framework under Section 205(1)(e), ensuring zoning rules align with state data center regulations. This policy change clarifies that local zoning cannot override state data center oversight, streamlining approvals while maintaining regulatory consistency.

Maddy summaryHB 5594 creates a temporary moratorium on new data center development in Michigan, prohibiting local governments and the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy from approving site plans, permits, or licenses for new data centers from its effective date until April 1, 2027. It also bans any person from beginning operation of a new data center during this period. Violations of the operation ban carry daily civil fines of up to $1,000, enforceable by county prosecutors or the Attorney General. The bill directly affects data center developers, operators, and related businesses seeking to establish new facilities in Michigan during the moratorium. Note: This bill requires companion legislation (HB 5596) to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5595 imposes a moratorium on Michigan's Public Service Commission approving new energy contracts for data centers. It prohibits the commission from approving any contract, tariff, discount, or rate between electric utilities and "qualified data centers" (defined as facilities housing equipment for centralized data storage and processing) from its effective date until April 1, 2027. This directly affects electric utilities and developers planning new large-scale data center projects in Michigan. The bill adds Section 10ii to the state's utility law, halting regulatory approvals for these energy agreements during the specified moratorium period.

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 5540 amends Michigan's Electric Transmission Line Certification Act to allow qualified independent transmission companies to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity for major transmission lines. The bill defines such companies as entities that meet federal requirements to join a regional transmission organization, own transmission facilities divested from a utility active as of December 31, 2000, and operate independently from utilities serving retail customers. This change would enable these companies to build or expand high-voltage transmission lines (345 kV or higher, 5 miles or longer) without being classified as traditional electric utilities. The bill requires concurrent passage of HB 5538 and HB 5539 to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5538 repeals the 2021 "Transmission infrastructure planning act" (MCL 460.591-460.593), which previously established requirements for planning transmission infrastructure in Michigan. The bill removes these specific provisions from state law, but its effective date depends on the enactment of two related bills (HB 5539 and another unspecified bill). This is a procedural repeal with no new policy provisions, meaning it directly affects the legal framework governing utility infrastructure planning by eliminating the prior law.