Rep. Christine Morse

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's sales tax law to change how a specific portion of sales tax revenue is distributed to the public safety and violence prevention fund. Starting in October 2023, the state will deposit 1.5% of the collections from the standard 4% sales tax into this new fund on a monthly basis. The legislation also outlines existing rules for distributing other sales tax revenues to schools, transportation projects, aviation, and health initiatives. By specifying these allocation percentages and timelines, the bill ensures that designated funds are collected and transferred to their intended programs without altering the overall tax rate.

Maddy summaryThis law requires Michigan public school academies to make detailed information about their operations and finances publicly available, similar to the requirements for traditional school districts. Specifically, the bill mandates that these academies disclose data such as board member lists, meeting minutes, budgets, teacher salaries, and copies of major contracts and facility leases. Additionally, it sets specific criteria for authorizing bodies to consider when awarding contracts to new urban high school academies, including requirements for financial stability and plans to improve graduation rates. The legislation also outlines strict rules for contracts, including annual independent financial audits and prohibitions on certain family relationships among board members and company officials.

Maddy summaryThis law requires public school academy operators to display specific information on their signage, advertising, and promotional materials. The bill mandates that these materials clearly identify the authorizing body, the board of directors, and the contract term, ensuring transparency for the public. It also updates the rules for how contracts are awarded and renewed, emphasizing improved academic achievement for all student groups as the primary factor for renewal. Additionally, the legislation establishes a process allowing school voters to approve or reject academy contracts if a school district board refuses to issue one. Finally, it sets new requirements for the board of directors, including a mandate that all members must be U.S. citizens.

Maddy summaryHB 5078 expands the ability of healthcare providers to prescribe and dispense opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, to a broader group of people beyond just patients at risk of overdose. The law now allows these medications to be given to family members, friends, or other individuals who might assist someone during an overdose emergency, as well as to specific agencies and their employees who act under a doctor's direction. To support this change, the bill grants legal immunity to prescribers and pharmacists from civil lawsuits if a properly stored and dispensed dose causes injury or death. Additionally, it clarifies that when issuing prescriptions to these non-patient recipients, the name of the agency or individual should be listed as the patient on the prescription. This legislation takes effect on April 2, 2025, and is contingent upon the passage of a companion bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan Energy Assistance Program to ensure low-income households receive financial help with energy bills. It mandates that the state department simplify the application process into a single form and requires assistance to prioritize vulnerable populations. The law also directs providers to offer services that help participants budget for energy costs and connect them with weatherization programs to reduce energy waste. Additionally, the bill updates reporting requirements, shifting the deadline for annual program distribution reports to March 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new section to Michigan's landlord-tenant laws to provide specific legal remedies for individuals who face housing discrimination based on their source of income. It allows people who believe they have been discriminated against to file a civil lawsuit in circuit court to seek injunctive relief or financial damages. The potential damages are capped at either the actual injury and loss suffered or three times the monthly rent, whichever is lower, and also cover court costs and attorney fees. This legislation only takes effect if it is passed together with two related Senate bills, SB 0205 and SB 0206.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Michigan's Medicaid program to cover community violence prevention services for individuals who have been violently injured or are at high risk of reinjury. To qualify for these services, a patient must be referred by a licensed health professional, and the providers must be certified by the state department as violence prevention professionals. The legislation establishes specific training requirements, including 35 hours of coursework on trauma-informed care and conflict mediation, and requires the department to seek necessary federal approvals before implementation begins on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Opioid Antagonist Act to allow agencies and their trained employees to distribute naloxone directly to any individual, expanding access beyond the previous restrictions. It grants these agencies and workers immunity from civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution for distributing or administering the drug, provided their actions do not involve gross negligence or willful misconduct. The law also clarifies that agencies can purchase and possess naloxone specifically for the purpose of distributing it to the public. This legislation takes effect on April 2, 2025, contingent on the simultaneous enactment of a companion bill.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan law updates regulations for strict discipline academies, which are publicly funded charter schools, by requiring more transparency in their contracts and public presence. It mandates that these schools include specific details about their educational goals, financial audits, and contract terms in their agreements with authorizing bodies like school districts. Additionally, the bill requires that the names of the authorizing entity and any management organization appear on the school's signage, promotional materials, website footers, and enrollment applications. The legislation also clarifies that if a school district rejects an application to run such an academy, interested parties can petition for a public vote by school electors to decide on the contract. Finally, the law ensures that employees of these academies covered by school district contracts are included in the same collective bargaining agreements as other district staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's criminal procedure laws by establishing specific time limits for filing indictments against individuals accused of various crimes. It directly affects prosecutors, victims, and defendants by clarifying when legal charges must be brought to court. The key provisions set a 25-year limit for certain sexual offenses, a 10-year limit for crimes like kidnapping and identity theft, and a 15-year limit for offenses involving real property fraud. Additionally, the law allows for indictments to be filed at any time if DNA evidence links an unidentified suspect to a crime, but requires charges to be filed within a set period once the suspect is identified.