Rep. Carrie Rheingans

Maddy summaryHB 4725 removes an exclusion that previously prevented student athletes at public universities in Michigan from being considered "public employees" under the state's collective bargaining law. The bill directly affects student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics at public universities, granting them eligibility for collective bargaining rights under the same framework as other public employees. It amends Section 1 of the 1947 Public Employee Relations Act by deleting the specific provision (currently subsection (g)) that barred student athletes from public employee status for bargaining purposes. This change allows student athletes to negotiate terms like wages, working conditions, and benefits through recognized labor organizations, aligning them with other public employee groups covered by the law. The bill does not create new rights but removes a legal barrier to existing collective bargaining protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4685 requires Michigan health insurers to cover specific mental health services delivered through the psychiatric collaborative care model, directly affecting insurers offering mental health benefits and patients seeking these services. The bill mandates reimbursement for services using five designated billing codes (90844, 99492, 99493, 99494, G2214), which represent evidence-based integrated care for mental health and substance use disorders. Insurers may still deny coverage based on medical necessity only if they follow federal parity laws and utilization review rules. The law defines the "psychiatric collaborative care model" as an evidence-based service delivery method described in federal regulations (81 FR 80230). The bill does not alter existing coverage requirements beyond these specific codes.

Maddy summaryHB 4689 creates a Cultural History Advisory Board within Michigan's Department of Education. The board, appointed by the superintendent of public instruction, must include 2 members from each of 8 cultural communities (Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic, Black, Middle Eastern/North African/Chaldean, Indigenous, Caribbean-American, Jewish-American, European-American), plus educators, school administrators, labor representatives, and higher education members. The board must recommend a K-12 curriculum tool kit and professional development on cultural history within two years, collaborating with cultural organizations and schools. This bill establishes the framework for developing educational resources but does not mandate specific curriculum changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4683 requires Michigan health insurers to cover medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatments (including inpatient, intermediate, and outpatient care) without restrictive prior authorization practices. It mandates that insurers use clinical review criteria aligned with generally accepted medical standards, rather than arbitrary rules, when evaluating these services. The bill also prohibits insurers from making mental health coverage terms less favorable than those for other medical treatments. This directly affects health insurers operating in Michigan and patients seeking mental health or substance use disorder care through their insurance plans.

Maddy summaryHB 4687 requires all Michigan public school districts and public school academies to incorporate one unit of age-appropriate Black history and one unit of Indigenous People history into their history curriculum starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The bill mandates coverage of historical contributions, discriminatory policies, and civil rights advancements by these communities, while requiring instructional materials to align with state standards and include input from cultural centers and experts. Schools must ensure this instruction is inclusive for all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners, and avoid any bias or discrimination. The law allows flexibility for schools to integrate these units into existing lesson plans rather than creating new courses.

Maddy summaryHB 4688 requires Michigan public schools to provide cultural competency training for all educators and school staff starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The state must develop resources covering diversity, cultural identity, historic contributions of multiple cultural groups, and implicit bias (with expert input) by June 2027. Educators must complete this training as part of professional development, while non-educator staff must receive similar training but are exempt from history-focused content. This bill directly affects all public school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies in Michigan.

Maddy summaryHB 4675 requires Michigan's education department to develop and share a list of optional cursive handwriting instruction programs for public schools by June 2027. Starting in the 2026-2027 or 2027-2028 school year, school districts and public school academies are encouraged - but not required - to incorporate one of these model programs into their curriculum. The bill aims to support schools in meeting existing credit requirements under Michigan’s merit standards by offering cursive instruction as a voluntary option. It directly affects Michigan public schools by providing resources for optional handwriting education, without mandating changes to current standards.

Maddy summaryHB 4686 would allow adults with a diagnosed PTSD to legally create, possess, or use psilocybin or psilocin under strict conditions. It directly affects individuals aged 18+ who have a medical record confirming a PTSD diagnosis. The bill permits possession of up to 2 ounces for personal use only, exempting these activities from existing prohibitions under Michigan’s Public Health Code (sections 7401, 7403, and 7404). This is limited to medical use for PTSD and does not permit commercial activity or broader access.

Maddy summaryHB 4263 prohibits sellers from using automated programs to bypass purchase limits during online ticket sales for concerts, sports events, and other public entertainment events requiring admission fees. It bans circumventing security systems that enforce ticket limits, electronic queues, or fraud checks, targeting practices like bot-driven bulk purchases. The law directly affects ticket sellers (who must implement these security measures) and buyers attempting to use automated tools to bypass restrictions. This creates new requirements for online ticket sales to ensure fair access to event tickets.

Maddy summaryHB 4426 amends Michigan's Motor Carrier Safety Act (MCL 480.12d) to set a minimum age of 21 for drivers transporting hazardous materials requiring placards under federal rules. It maintains the existing 18-year-old minimum for most commercial driving but specifically raises the age requirement for hazardous materials transport. The bill does not change medical waiver or grandfathered driver provisions. This change directly affects commercial drivers operating in Michigan who transport hazardous materials requiring placards.