Rep. Carrie Rheingans

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Call Center Jobs Retention Act, which requires large employers in Michigan to notify the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity at least 30 days before moving a call center or a significant portion of its operations to a foreign country. The law specifically applies to companies employing 50 or more people at a call center and mandates reporting if they plan to close local operations while contracting for the same services abroad. Employers who fail to provide this advance notice face civil fines of up to $10,000, and the department must publish a public registry every six months listing the names of these employers, the number of jobs affected, and the new locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the definition of the "internal revenue code" within Michigan's ABLE savings program to ensure it references the correct version of federal tax law. By specifying that the code is the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as of January 1, 2024, or the version in effect for the current year, the legislation clarifies which federal rules apply to the program. This change directly affects individuals who use ABLE accounts to save for disability-related expenses, ensuring their accounts align with current federal tax definitions. The update helps maintain consistency between state and federal regulations governing these savings plans.

Maddy summaryThis law updates the rules for who can serve on Michigan's state and county election canvassing boards. To be eligible, members must be registered voters who have taken an official oath of office and have never been convicted of specific election-related crimes. The bill defines these crimes to include various offenses such as perjury, voter intimidation, and certain felonies. Additionally, county board members cannot hold another elected public office while serving on the board. These changes take effect on April 2, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in Michigan to issue rebates to policyholders if the insurer fails to meet federal medical loss ratio standards. The law mandates that companies report their financial calculations and rebate details to both the state department and the federal Department of Health and Human Services. However, the requirement does not apply to plans that are exempt under federal law, such as those covering retirees or grandfathered policies. Essentially, the measure ensures that insurers pass unused premium funds back to consumers when their spending on medical care falls below a specific threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan State Housing Development Authority by removing the requirement for a resident member to have voting rights on the board. The resident member, who must be an adult living in federally assisted housing, can now attend meetings and provide input but cannot vote on any matters. This change ensures that while the perspective of a housing recipient is represented on the authority, all official decisions are made by the appointed officials. The amendment applies to the authority's governance structure and does not alter the funding or operational powers of the agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's sales tax law to exempt the purchase of data center equipment from state sales tax, directly benefiting qualified data centers, colocated businesses, and construction contractors. The exemption applies to equipment used for building or operating these facilities, provided the buyer holds a valid certificate issued by the Michigan Strategic Fund. To maintain this tax break, the state must verify that data centers create a specific number of jobs, requiring the Strategic Fund to report progress to state leaders by 2022 and 2026. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for large-scale "enterprise data centers" to receive certificates based on projected job creation and investment, with tax exemptions lasting up to 2050 or 2065 depending on the facility type.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and nonpublic schools in Michigan to adopt and implement a standardized plan for response terminology starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The law mandates that school boards and directors use consistent language when communicating about safety incidents to ensure clarity across the education system. However, the bill does not take effect unless it is passed together with a companion bill, HB 4096.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have changed the deadlines for filing petitions to place constitutional amendments, new laws, or laws to be repealed on the ballot. It requires petitioners to submit their signatures 160 days before an election for amendments and 200 days before an election for new laws, while also setting a filing limit for repeal petitions. Additionally, the bill would have required petitioners to sort signatures by congressional district and provide a written estimate of how many signatures come from each district. Because the bill was vetoed by the Governor, these changes were not enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new crime to Michigan law that makes it a felony to threaten someone with releasing or creating sexually explicit images in order to force them to do something against their will. The law specifically targets individuals who use these threats to obtain sexual videos or other items of value, with penalties ranging from up to five years in prison for a first offense to up to twenty years for a third or subsequent offense. The punishment increases to a maximum of twenty-five years if the victim is a minor or vulnerable adult, or if the threat causes serious physical or mental harm or death. The legislation also clarifies what counts as sexually explicit material and defines vulnerable adults, while allowing courts to order behavioral health counseling for minors who commit this offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Drain Code to update how compensation and expenses are handled for members of a "board of determination," which is a group that reviews petitions to build new drainage systems. The legislation clarifies that these board members should receive the same daily pay and expense reimbursements as county commissioners, with the specific amounts set by the drain commissioner. Additionally, the bill outlines the process for appointing these board members, ensuring they are disinterested property owners from the county but not from the specific townships or cities affected by the proposed drain. By standardizing these financial arrangements, the bill aims to provide clear guidelines for the administrative costs associated with evaluating drainage projects.