Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's laws regarding how trustees of irrevocable trusts can move assets into a new trust using their existing distribution powers. It allows a trustee to transfer all or part of a trust's property to a second trust without reducing specific financial benefits or tax deductions that beneficiaries currently receive. The law includes specific rules to ensure that the new trust maintains the original beneficiaries' rights and that the transfer does not negatively impact their income, annuities, or withdrawal privileges. Additionally, the bill clarifies how certain types of discretionary powers are defined and establishes that the new trust will be treated as both a fresh irrevocable trust and a continuation of the original one for legal purposes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan laws regarding guardianship and conservatorship to strengthen the rights of individuals facing incapacity proceedings. It requires guardians ad litem, who represent vulnerable people during these hearings, to personally visit the individual and clearly explain their legal rights, such as the ability to contest the petition or limit a guardian's authority over medical decisions. The legislation also mandates that courts provide free legal counsel to indigent individuals who wish to contest a guardianship or request specific limits on a guardian's powers. Additionally, the bill directs guardians ad litem to explore alternatives to full guardianship, such as limited guardianship or patient advocacy designations, and ensures that compensation for these representatives is only granted if they have fulfilled their new reporting duties.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code to regulate the appointment and duties of professional guardians and conservators. It requires courts to find that no suitable family member or friend is available before appointing a professional and mandates that these professionals submit criminal background checks and post a financial bond. The legislation also establishes strict rules for compensation, requiring professionals to disclose any outside income received for their role, and outlines specific care standards such as maintaining a visitation schedule and ensuring adequate staffing. Additionally, the bill clarifies notification procedures for interested parties and defines the limits on what support staff can do, prohibiting them from making major financial or medical decisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's vehicle code to clarify and standardize the fees that towing companies and storage facilities can charge for abandoned or impounded vehicles. It establishes specific maximum rates for towing and daily storage based on vehicle weight, ranging from $175 to $360 for towing and $25 to $75 per day for storage, while also setting caps on additional services like winching and cleanup. The legislation requires these towing and storage agencies to publicly display their fee schedules on signs at their business locations and on their websites to ensure transparency. Additionally, the bill prohibits charging different rates to individual vehicle owners compared to commercial entities for similar services and allows local governments to set their own fee schedules within these limits.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan laws regarding the definition of abandoned vehicles and establishes clearer guidelines for towing rates and practices. It directly affects vehicle owners, towing companies, and law enforcement agencies by setting specific timeframes for when a vehicle is considered abandoned on public or private property. Key provisions include defining abandoned vehicles based on location and duration, requiring police to issue written notices before towing, and outlining a process for owners to contest towing fees or the classification of their vehicle as abandoned. The legislation also mandates that information about removed vehicles be entered into a state law enforcement network and made available on a public website. Additionally, it introduces new sections to clarify the responsibilities of towing agencies and repeals an outdated section of the vehicle code.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Energy Stability Fund within the state treasury to help cover energy costs for specific groups of people. The fund can receive money from any source, and the state treasurer will manage its investments while the Department of Health and Human Services oversees its use. Money in the fund will not be returned to the general budget at the end of the year and can only be spent to provide energy assistance to low-income seniors, individuals with qualified disabilities, and veterans.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Judges Retirement Act to increase employer contributions and employee matching options for judges participating in the Tier 2 retirement plan. Under the new rules, employers must contribute 4% of a judge's salary to their Tier 2 account, while judges can choose to contribute up to 5% of their salary starting in April 2025, with their employer matching that amount dollar-for-dollar. The legislation also allows judges who were previously unable to contribute due to a legal restraining order to make up to 6% of their salary with an equivalent employer contribution for a specific period. Additionally, judges taking office on or after January 1, 2002, are required to contribute 2% of their compensation to the retirement system, which will be used to fund health and sick care benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to use records of deferred domestic violence charges as evidence when deciding child custody and parenting time cases. It requires courts to make these previously sealed records available to judges and the parties involved in custody disputes to help determine the best interests of the child. The legislation does not change how domestic violence cases are handled but instead ensures that past deferred charges are visible in family court proceedings.
Maddy summaryHB 6009 amends Michigan's penal code to establish new guidelines for expert testimony in assault cases involving domestic violence or attacks on healthcare workers. The bill requires that any expert witness testifying in these specific prosecutions must have demonstrated expertise and experience working with victims of domestic violence. Additionally, the legislation defines key terms such as "dating relationship" and "health professional" to clarify the scope of protected individuals and situations. These changes aim to ensure that expert testimony in such cases is provided by individuals with relevant background knowledge.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Home Rule City Act to clarify how cities can establish administrative hearings bureaus to handle blight violations. It allows qualifying cities to create these bureaus to adjudicate specific issues like zoning, property maintenance, and sanitation violations, with fines capped at $10,000 and the cost of operation borne by the city. The legislation also updates the process for serving violation notices, permitting cities to use email with a read receipt confirmation and requiring a sworn statement for notices that demand a hearing. Additionally, it restricts the issuance of blight notices to landlords during routine inspections unless there is an immediate emergency or the landlord has been given a chance to correct the issue first.