Rep. Rachelle Smit

Maddy summaryThis bill allows candidates for the offices of governor and U.S. Senator in Michigan to avoid collecting nominating petitions by paying a nonrefundable filing fee of $15,000 to the Secretary of State. Under the new provisions, candidates who choose this option must adhere to the same withdrawal rules as those who submit petitions, meaning they cannot withdraw their candidacy unless they move out of state or become physically unfit. The legislation also updates deadlines for filing petitions, requiring them to be submitted by the fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary starting in 2014. Any fees collected under this plan are deposited into the state's general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes renaming a specific stretch of M-40 in Allegan County to honor Chief David Haverdink. The legislation would officially designate the highway segment between 132nd Avenue and 138th Avenue as the "Chief David Haverdink Memorial Highway." By adding a new section to the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, the bill changes the legal name of this road to serve as a tribute to the individual. The change primarily affects signage and official records for that portion of the roadway.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires election officials in Michigan to keep electronic poll book flash drives for 22 months after an election before they can be destroyed. The law applies to all flash drives used during primary or general elections and does not change how other election records are handled. This provision ensures that digital voting records are preserved for a specific period following the election.

Maddy summaryHB 5163 amends Michigan's child neglect definition to clarify that parents or guardians who refuse a health professional's recommended treatment plan - while actively seeking a second opinion or following another provider's plan - do not commit child neglect. This directly affects parents, guardians, and healthcare providers making medical decisions for children. The bill adds this exception to the neglect definition, stating such refusal constitutes "prima facie evidence" that neglect did not occur, unless there's clear evidence immediate harm would result. It does not change other neglect standards or require new reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes an amendment to the Michigan state constitution to change the rule regarding how long a member of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission must wait before running for partisan office. Currently, commissioners are barred from holding partisan elective office for five years, but the amendment would shorten this waiting period to end on December 31 of the year following the next federal census. The change directly affects individuals serving on the commission who wish to run for partisan positions sooner than the current five-year restriction allows. By modifying the eligibility timeline in the state constitution, the bill aims to adjust the balance between maintaining commission independence and allowing commissioners to return to partisan politics.

Maddy summaryHB 5934 amends Michigan's construction code to set strict deadlines for building permit decisions, requiring agencies to approve, deny, or partially grant applications within 10 business days, or 15 days for unusually complex projects. If an agency misses these deadlines, the bill treats the delay as an automatic denial, allowing the applicant to immediately appeal to a board of appeals. Additionally, the legislation mandates that if the state department fails to make a permit decision within the required timeframe, it must reimburse the applicant for the permit fees they paid.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a strict 10-business-day deadline for Michigan building departments to review and decide on construction permit applications, extending that limit to 15 days only for unusually complicated projects. If a department fails to make a decision within these timeframes, the law treats the silence as a denial, allowing the applicant to immediately appeal to a board. Additionally, the bill prevents departments from requesting new or additional changes to an application after the initial review period has expired, ensuring applicants are not subjected to endless delays. These rules apply to all types of building permits, including those for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to Michigan's construction code to clarify the procedures for modifying building permits after they have been issued. It allows building permit holders to request changes while ensuring that the department can only require additional modifications directly related to those specific requests. The legislation includes a ten-day deadline for the department to notify permit holders of any required changes and prevents the need to restart the entire application process. Because the bill is tied to another piece of legislation, it will only take effect if that companion bill is also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's construction code to set strict deadlines for state and local agencies reviewing building permit applications. Agencies must now decide on permit requests within 10 business days, or 15 days for unusually complex projects, with failure to meet these deadlines automatically treating the application as denied. Additionally, the bill requires agencies to explain the reasons for any denial and mandates that incomplete applications be addressed within seven days or treated as complete.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Administrative Procedures Act to change how state agencies create and review new rules. It requires agencies to submit detailed requests for rule-making electronically to the Office of Regulatory Reinvention, which must approve these requests before agencies can proceed. The bill also updates the process for the Legislative Service Bureau to formally certify proposed rules, including stricter timelines and requirements for correcting errors in rule formatting or impact analyses.