Rep. Christine Morse

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Court-Appointed Special Advocate program in Michigan to support children under the age of 18 involved in court proceedings. The legislation creates a structured system where trained volunteers, known as CASA volunteers, are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of these children. To ensure safety and quality, the bill mandates rigorous screening, including comprehensive background checks, and requires volunteers to complete specific training and undergo regular supervision. Additionally, the law outlines the responsibilities of program directors to manage operations and sets clear rules for when a volunteer can be dismissed from their role.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes new annual fees for individuals seeking or holding an interior design license in Michigan. Under the proposed changes, applicants would pay a $175 application processing fee, and licensed professionals would be required to pay a $125 yearly license fee. The legislation is contingent on the passage of a companion bill, meaning these fees will only take effect if both related measures are enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Michigan Secure Retirement Savings Program to help private-sector employees save for retirement through automatic payroll deductions. It creates a new oversight board and a separate trust fund to manage individual retirement accounts for enrolled workers, ensuring the money remains distinct from state funds. Employers that do not currently offer qualified retirement plans are required to participate by allowing employees to make automatic contributions from their paychecks. The legislation also sets up a separate administrative fund to cover the program's operational costs and defines the specific duties of the state officials who will run the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's governmental immunity laws to clarify when public employees and agencies are protected from lawsuits for injuries or property damage. It maintains broad immunity for officials acting within their authority unless their conduct involves gross negligence, while explicitly preserving existing protections for judges, legislators, and high-level executives. The legislation also defines specific exceptions, such as removing immunity for medical care provided in certain hospitals and ensuring liability remains for underground facility damage. Additionally, it establishes that public universities and school districts cannot claim immunity for criminal sexual conduct committed by their employees or agents.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for filing civil lawsuits against the state of Michigan specifically for cases involving criminal sexual conduct. It creates an exception to the standard requirement that plaintiffs must file a notice of their claim within one year of the incident. By linking this change to a companion bill, the legislation allows victims of criminal sexual conduct to bypass the usual strict filing deadlines that apply to other types of property damage or injury claims. The measure is designed to ensure that these specific cases can proceed in court without being dismissed due to missed procedural time limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Homeowners' Energy Policy Act, makes it illegal for homeowners' associations in Michigan to ban owners from installing, maintaining, or operating specific energy-saving upgrades like solar panels, heat pumps, and rain barrels. It also prevents local governments from forcing homeowners to get HOA approval for these improvements, though local rules can still impose other reasonable limits. To ensure compliance, the law requires every homeowners' association to adopt a written solar energy policy statement within one year of the bill taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits using a victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity as a legal defense in criminal cases. Specifically, it bars evidence of such information from being used to claim reasonable provocation, heat of passion, or reduced mental capacity. Additionally, the bill states that discovering or knowing about a person's gender identity or sexual orientation does not justify using force against them. These rules apply to all criminal proceedings in Michigan to prevent bias from influencing the outcome of a trial.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill, known as the Drug Manufacturer Data Reporting Act, requires pharmaceutical companies to submit specific cost and development data to the Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Manufacturers must report within 30 days if they increase the price of a high-cost drug by 15% in a year or 40% over three years, providing details on research expenses, patent status, and drug types. Additionally, companies must notify the department within three days when launching a new specialty-priced drug, including information on FDA designations and acquisition costs if applicable. The department will compile this data into an annual report for legislative committees and the public while keeping individual company information confidential. Failure to comply with these reporting requirements could result in civil fines of up to $100,000 per month.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to better support service members and veterans. The office will be led by a manager appointed based on experience in veteran mental health and will have the authority to collect data on mental health conditions, administer grants to local and nonprofit groups, and publish a free wellness resource guide with treatment listings and a self-assessment tool. Additionally, the legislation ensures that any personal data collected remains confidential and is exempt from public disclosure under state freedom of information laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Mental Health within the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to better support service members, veterans, and their families. It requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to partner with the agency on statewide outreach, create educational materials for families, and develop a program to help navigate mental health and substance use disorder resources. The legislation also allows for the use of mobile or electronic platforms to connect individuals with these services and protects specific personal records from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. This office will only become operational if several other related bills are also passed into law.