Rep. Matt Longjohn

Maddy summaryHB 5554 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against harassment in educational institutions. It directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and their students and staff by expanding the definition of harassment to explicitly include electronic communications (like texts or social media) and adding specific protections for students based on gender identity/expression and sexual orientation. Key mechanisms require educational institutions to prevent harassment that creates intimidating, hostile, or offensive environments, and clarify that discrimination includes harassment based on these protected characteristics. The bill updates existing provisions (Sec. 401-402) and adds new sections (402b-d) to ensure consistent enforcement of these protections.

Maddy summaryHB 5555 amends Michigan's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against disability-based harassment in educational settings. It directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and vocational programs (defined as "educational institutions" in the bill) by requiring them to prevent and address harassment of students or staff with disabilities. Key provisions include defining harassment as unwelcome conduct based on disability (including electronic communications), mandating comprehensive prevention policies, and requiring institutions to respond promptly when harassment occurs. The bill adds new sections (402a-c and 606a) that detail how schools must publicize policies, train staff, and remedy harassment, while clarifying that institutions must exercise "reasonable care" to prevent such incidents.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 22-28, 2026, as School-Based Health Care Awareness Week in Michigan. It recognizes Michigan's over 300 school-based health centers that provide primary, mental, and preventive care to students, highlighting their role in improving attendance, academic performance, and health outcomes. The resolution serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of these centers' work and does not create new policies, funding, or legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5527 amends Michigan's penal code to increase penalties for assaulting public officials while they are performing their duties, such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Penalties range from up to 2 years in prison for basic assault to up to 20 years for causing death, based on the severity of harm (e.g., bodily injury requiring medical care or serious impairment of body function). The bill also adds a provision clarifying that attending a protest is protected under the First Amendment and does not by itself violate disorderly conduct laws.

Maddy summaryHB 5528 amends Michigan's 1968 riot law (MCL 752.541 and 752.542) to clarify the definitions of riot and incitement to riot. It specifies that a riot occurs when five or more people acting together cause public terror through violent conduct, and incitement to riot involves urging others to commit unlawful violence, property destruction, or interfere with law enforcement officers. The bill explicitly states that peaceful protests - protected under the First Amendment and Michigan's constitution - are not violations of these provisions. This affects individuals participating in public gatherings or protests by defining clear legal boundaries between protected activity and unlawful conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 5524 creates a program to provide financial assistance to Michigan businesses that suffer revenue losses due to unexpected street closures or road construction projects extending beyond their scheduled end dates. The bill establishes a "road construction business loss reimbursement program" that offers grants covering up to $15,000 annually per business, based on a three-year average of lost revenue. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate a significant revenue decline directly tied to construction, and applications must be reviewed within 120 days using criteria like revenue decline rate, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity. The program requires the state transportation department to annually report grant usage details - including approved/rejected applications and project statuses - to relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares February 16-20, 2026, as Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) Awareness Week in Michigan. It aims to increase public and medical awareness of SCAD - a rare, life-threatening heart condition that disproportionately affects women, especially during pregnancy and postpartum, and is often misdiagnosed. The resolution encourages healthcare providers, researchers, and community leaders to promote education about SCAD and its warning signs. (Note: This is a symbolic awareness resolution, not a law with new requirements.)

Maddy summaryHB 5513 requires Michigan's insurance department to create a standardized application process for health insurers to verify healthcare providers' qualifications (credentialing). This directly affects health insurers operating in Michigan and the healthcare providers seeking to be listed on insurance provider networks. The bill establishes a uniform application form under Section 3406uu of the Insurance Code and clarifies that insurers aren't required to violate nationally recognized credentialing standards. The bill is tied to the enactment of related legislation (HB 5512) to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5512 sets clear timelines for health insurers to process applications from healthcare providers seeking to join their provider networks. Insurers must acknowledge receipt within 7 days, notify providers of incomplete applications within 30 days (giving them 30 days to fix issues), and complete the credentialing process within 60 days total. If approved, insurers must reimburse providers for covered services starting from when the completed application was received. This directly affects doctors, clinics, and other healthcare providers applying to be in insurer networks, ensuring faster access to network participation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2026 as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in Michigan. It symbolically recognizes CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand, high-wage careers (like healthcare, IT, and skilled trades) without creating new laws or funding. The resolution urges continued awareness of CTE programs, which support over 115,000 Michigan high school students annually and align with projected job openings requiring postsecondary training. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding requirements and serves only to raise public awareness.