Rep. Jennifer Conlin

Maddy summaryHB 5195 is a supplemental appropriations bill that allocates additional state funds for food banks in Michigan for the 2026 fiscal year. It directly affects food banks by providing them with state funding to support their operations. The bill creates a formal funding mechanism through the state budget process, ensuring these funds are available for food bank services.

Maddy summaryHB 5187 amends Michigan's Worker's Disability Compensation Act to clarify when employers or insurance carriers can recoup overpaid benefits to injured workers. It limits recoupment to benefits paid within the past year and requires carriers to prove specific conditions (like employee concealment of earnings or clerical errors) before demanding repayment. The bill also caps recoupment at 50% of weekly benefits for clerical errors and prohibits recoupment if employers unreasonably change their position on a worker's disability. Magistrates may waive recoupment if it causes undue harm to the injured worker.

Maddy summaryHB 5181 requires mediation for specific worker's compensation claims before they proceed to formal hearings. It applies directly to workers filing claims for medical benefits only, claims where the worker has returned to work, or claims without an attorney, as well as cases the agency identifies as suitable for mediation. The bill mandates that the agency schedules mediation meetings, provides claimants with clear benefit estimates, and explains their rights before the session. Unresolved claims under $10,000 must go to a small claims division, while larger claims go to a magistrate. Failure to participate in required mediation prevents a party from moving forward with their claim.

Maddy summaryHB 5182 amends Michigan's worker compensation law to clarify injured workers' access to medical care. It requires employers to provide payment for treatment from a worker's chosen doctor within 10 days of notice, or face a $100 daily penalty (capped at $25,000). The bill also establishes a preauthorization process for medical treatments, requiring employers to respond to requests within 10 business days or risk delays in care. These changes directly affect injured workers seeking medical treatment and employers/carriers responsible for covering costs under the law.

Maddy summaryHB 5177 expands Michigan's workers' compensation coverage to include specific volunteer roles by amending the definition of "employee" in the Worker's Disability Compensation Act. It directly affects on-call members of volunteer underwater diving teams, safety patrol officers (including school volunteers), volunteer civil defense workers, and on-call members of life support agencies who are injured while performing duties - whether paid or unpaid. The bill ensures these volunteers receive full workers' compensation benefits, including wage replacement calculated using the state average weekly wage at the time of injury. This change extends existing protections to these volunteer groups without altering their status as non-employees under other laws.

Maddy summaryHB 5174 amends Michigan's probation law to prohibit courts from delaying sentences for defendants convicted of domestic violence offenses who have prior similar offenses, such as assault or domestic violence. The bill specifically blocks delayed sentencing under certain circumstances for repeat offenders in these cases, directly affecting individuals facing domestic violence or assault charges with prior convictions. Key provisions include requiring courts to impose supervision fees ($30/month without electronic monitoring, $60/month with it) for delayed sentences and defining "assaultive crime" and "interpersonal violence" to clarify coverage. The law also allows fee waivers for indigent defendants and specifies that these fees cannot overlap with existing supervision costs. This changes how courts handle probation eligibility for domestic violence cases without altering sentencing penalties.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the Trump administration and USDA to use existing emergency funds to continue SNAP food assistance benefits for 42 million Americans who would lose them on November 1 if the federal government remains shut down. It directly affects low-income households, including 1.4 million Michiganders, who rely on SNAP to afford food and other essentials. The bill cites prior government practice and GAO confirmation that contingency funds can legally cover SNAP benefits during shutdowns, as was done for the WIC program. The resolution formally requests this action to prevent a disruption in critical food support.

Maddy summaryHB 5171, the "Household Water Lien Prohibition Act," prohibits water authorities from placing or acquiring liens on residential properties for water, sewage, or stormwater management services. It directly affects residential property owners by preventing service providers from using liens to collect unpaid bills, and water authorities by banning this practice. The bill dissolves all existing liens for these services created under the repealed 1939 law (MCL 123.161-123.167), which previously allowed such liens. This replaces the old law with a new prohibition, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 5148 prohibits local governments and towing companies from exchanging payments or fees to secure contracts for towing services. It bans local units from requiring tow companies to pay fees for responding to incidents (like accidents or disabled vehicles) and prevents tow companies from offering payments to governments to gain business. This directly affects local governments entering contracts with towing services and the towing companies themselves. The bill focuses on preventing conflicts of interest in towing contracts, not on altering traffic fine amounts (which are addressed in other sections of the vehicle code).

Maddy summaryHB 5149 prohibits motor vehicle repair facilities in Michigan from charging storage fees while a vehicle is under repair or during billing disputes. It requires facilities to provide customers with a written, itemized estimate before work begins, including all fees and charges, and bans exceeding that estimate without the customer’s written or oral consent. The bill specifically targets hidden storage fees (Section 7e(f)) and strengthens existing estimate requirements (Section 32), applying directly to repair shops and their customers. This policy change aims to prevent surprise charges and increase transparency in vehicle repair billing.