Rep. Joey Andrews

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan election law to establish a stricter deadline for filing lawsuits related to election procedures, such as candidate qualifications or ballot design. It creates a rebuttable presumption of laches, meaning that if a civil action is not started at least 45 days before an election, the court will assume the delay was unreasonable unless the plaintiff proves otherwise. This rule applies only to cases filed before the election date and does not affect lawsuits initiated after the election has occurred. The legislation also repeals an existing section of the state's election regulations to implement this new timeline.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act" to provide legal remedies for individuals harmed by nonconsensual deep fake images depicting sexual conduct. It allows victims to file civil lawsuits against anyone who creates or shares these realistic but fake videos, provided the creator knew or should have known the content would cause harm and was made using artificial technology rather than physical impersonation. The law defines specific protections for identifiable individuals and clarifies that consent is not a valid defense unless it is documented in a clear, signed agreement describing exactly what the fake image entails. Additionally, the legislation sets rules for where lawsuits can be filed and ensures that plaintiffs can use pseudonyms to protect their privacy during legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 5570 updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines to include specific rules for cases involving the creation or distribution of deepfake sexual images. The bill modifies an existing section of the state's criminal procedure code to ensure that judges and prosecutors have clear standards when determining penalties for these offenses. By adding these provisions to the official sentencing framework, the legislation aims to provide consistency in how courts handle new types of digital sexual exploitation. This change directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants involved in cases related to non-consensual deepfake imagery.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan election laws to clarify procedures for early voting, the use of electronic poll books, and the management of mail-in ballots for military and overseas voters. It also establishes specific rules for handling absent voter ballots that are missing required stubs or have mismatched ballot numbers. Additionally, the legislation sets new requirements for school district election committees to meet regularly and file reports detailing how elections are conducted within their jurisdictions. These changes aim to streamline administrative processes and ensure consistency across various types of elections and voter participation methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes when city officials in Michigan can start their terms after being elected. It requires that all city officers elected after December 31, 2024, must wait until noon on December 1 of the following year to begin their service, even if local city rules previously allowed them to start earlier. The law also states that anyone elected to fill a vacant position cannot take their oath of office until election results are officially certified by the relevant board. These rules apply to all cities in the state and override any existing local charters that set different start dates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act to shield individuals from strategic lawsuits aimed at discouraging them from participating in public discourse or exercising constitutional rights. It allows people who are sued over their speech, press, assembly, or petitioning activities to file a special motion that immediately pauses most court proceedings, including discovery, to determine if the lawsuit is valid. If the court finds the suit lacks merit, it will be dismissed quickly, and the plaintiff may face penalties for filing the frivolous case. However, the law excludes lawsuits brought by government entities regarding public safety threats and does not apply to claims involving employment discrimination, whistleblower protections, or other specific civil rights violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the terms of office and election procedures for elected officials in Michigan villages. It changes the standard term for village presidents, clerks, and treasurers to two years, starting on December 1 after the election, while allowing village trustees to serve either four-year terms or two-year terms depending on local ordinances. The legislation also updates the rules for filling vacancies, requiring special elections if a petition signed by 10% of voters is filed, and clarifies how to conduct elections if all village officers leave the community. Additionally, the bill adjusts the start date for council terms to December 1 and specifies who presides over council meetings when the president is absent.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Home Rule Village Act to standardize when village officials begin their terms. It requires that all village officers elected after December 31, 2024, take office at noon on December 1 of the following year, even if their local charters previously allowed for earlier start dates. Additionally, the law mandates that anyone elected to fill a vacancy must wait until election results are officially certified before taking the oath of office. These changes apply to all villages in the state and override any conflicting rules found in individual village charters.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the start dates for township officer terms in Michigan, specifying that terms beginning after December 31, 2024, will start on December 1 following the election rather than November 20. It also clarifies that all township officers elected before January 1, 2025, will have their terms begin at noon on November 20 of the next election cycle. The legislation further refines procedures for filling vacancies, allowing township boards to appoint replacements for resignations or unqualified elected officials, while establishing specific timelines and rules for when special elections must be held if appointments are not made. Additionally, it outlines how temporary appointments can be made by county election commissioners to ensure a quorum remains when multiple seats on a township board become vacant simultaneously.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure to include specific sentencing guidelines for early voting violations under state election law. It directly affects judges and prosecutors who must determine appropriate sentences for individuals convicted of these specific election offenses. The legislation amends an existing section to ensure that penalties for early voting infractions are clearly defined within the state's sentencing framework. By modifying the referenced statute, the bill standardizes how courts handle these particular cases without changing the underlying election laws themselves.