Rep. Kathy Schmaltz

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a transition bridge program within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to support the mental health and well-being of service members and veterans. The program will be overseen by the office of mental health and suicide prevention and may be operated through partnerships with nonprofit organizations or government agencies. It requires the program to run at least four times a year and provide resources on recognizing mental health challenges, accessing treatment, and adapting to civilian life. Eligible participants, who must reside in Michigan, can enroll up to one year after leaving military service, with the department making a special effort to offer the program two months before and after their separation date. The legislation also mandates that any data collected excludes personally identifying information and restricts the public disclosure of records specific to individual service members.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of M-3 in Macomb County as the "Senior Chief Petty Officer Jason P. May Memorial Highway" to honor an individual. The change is made to the Michigan Highways Act and directly affects how that stretch of road is officially named and identified on maps and signage. By amending the relevant state statute, the legislation ensures the new name is permanently recorded in law. This action is a commemorative measure that does not alter traffic rules, funding, or road construction.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates June 2024 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month within the state of Michigan. The measure aims to raise public understanding of PTSD, an anxiety disorder that impacts millions of Americans, and encourages citizens to support those affected by the condition. By declaring this specific month, the bill seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding the disorder and highlight the availability of effective treatments like therapy and medication. It serves as a symbolic gesture to promote awareness rather than implementing new laws or funding programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new state income tax credit for Michigan residents with children for tax years beginning in 2025 through 2028. It allows taxpayers to claim a $500 credit for each dependent who is under 19 years old at the end of the tax year, provided they already claimed an exemption for that child. The credit is non-refundable, meaning it can only reduce the amount of tax owed and cannot result in a refund if the credit exceeds the tax liability. This measure directly affects families with young children who file state income tax returns during the specified period.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new tax credit for Michigan residents purchasing a single-family home as their primary residence starting in the 2025 tax year. Eligible taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 10% of their down payment, capped at a maximum of $3,000, provided they attach a copy of the settlement statement to their annual tax return. The legislation defines a qualifying home to include manufactured homes, trailers, mobile homes, condominiums, and cooperatives that are owned and occupied by the buyer.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an annual sales tax holiday in Michigan for back-to-school shopping, offering tax-free purchases of specific items between the third Saturday in August and the third Sunday in August. Eligible items include clothing under $100 per piece, school supplies under $20 per item, and computers or computer supplies under $1,000 and $500 respectively, provided they are for personal use and not accessories like jewelry or bags. The legislation also clarifies how discounts, coupons, and layaway plans are handled to determine tax eligibility, ensuring that the final sale price dictates whether an item qualifies for the exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary tax break for Michigan residents purchasing back-to-school items during a specific window in late August. It exempts the use tax on clothing under $100, school supplies under $20, and computers or computer supplies under $1,000 and $500 respectively, provided the items are bought between the third Saturday of August and the third Sunday. The law explicitly excludes accessories like jewelry and watches, as well as sports gear and protective equipment, from these savings. Additionally, the bill clarifies how discounts and layaway plans work during the holiday, ensuring that reduced prices still qualify for the exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to eliminate Michigan's state real estate transfer tax by repealing the existing law that governs it. The legislation directly affects individuals and entities involved in property transactions, as it would remove the tax currently applied to the transfer of real estate. To offset the financial impact of this repeal, the bill includes a provision requiring the state to use general funds to fully compensate for any resulting loss in revenue to the state school aid fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan law to clarify that downtown development authorities remain exempt from real estate transfer taxes after the state repealed its general real estate transfer tax act. It directly affects local government entities responsible for managing downtown revitalization projects by ensuring their property transfers are not subject to these fees. The legislation does not create new taxes or spending but simply updates existing rules to reflect the current tax landscape. Because it is tied to another bill, this measure will only become active if that companion legislation is also passed.