Rep. Regina Weiss

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal defense for individuals charged with crimes who were victims of human trafficking. It allows defendants to argue that their criminal act was a direct result of being trafficked, applying to both felony and misdemeanor charges under Michigan law. To use this defense, the defendant must prove it by a "preponderance of evidence" (more likely than not). The bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to include this provision, directly affecting trafficking victims facing criminal charges for acts committed under coercion.

Maddy summaryHB 4996 requires Michigan's department to make publicly available a specific form summarizing tenant rights, as mandated by the Truth in Renting Act (1978 PA 454, MCL 554.643a). The bill directs the department to provide physical copies at its office and post the form online within 60 days of the form's creation by the state court administrative office. This affects landlords participating in the state's rent vending program and tenants who receive the form, ensuring they have clear access to their rights. The key provision is the mandated public availability of the tenant rights summary, not new restrictions on landlords or eviction protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's unemployment benefits formula to increase payments for workers with dependents. It changes the weekly benefit rate calculation starting January 1, 2025, setting a new $12.66 per dependent amount (up to 5 dependents) with a $446 maximum weekly benefit - higher than the current $362 cap. The change directly affects unemployed Michigan residents who claim benefits and have dependents, as their weekly payments will increase based on these updated formulas. The bill does not alter eligibility rules or dependency definitions, only the monetary amounts used in the calculation.

Maddy summaryHB 5008 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law (MCL 421.62) to decrease the maximum percentage of wages that can be garnished for repayment of improperly collected benefits, from 50% to 20%. It directly affects unemployed workers who overreceived benefits, requiring them to repay the excess but limiting wage deductions. The bill also adds new hardship waiver criteria, allowing full repayment relief if a claimant’s household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or if overpayment resulted from agency errors. It maintains a 3-year deadline for the unemployment agency to seek repayment, except in cases of identity fraud or intentional fraud.

Maddy summaryHB 5000 increases Michigan's unemployment benefit payments for workers with dependents. It amends the calculation method to use 5.1% of the highest-earning quarter's wages (up from 4.1%) plus higher per-dependent amounts. For claims filed after January 1, 2025, the weekly rate rises to $12.66 per dependent (max $446); after 2026, it increases to $19.33 per dependent (max $530). This directly affects unemployed Michigan residents claiming benefits who have dependents, raising their weekly payments through 2028 and beyond.

Maddy summaryHB 4992 updates Michigan's landlord-tenant law to clarify communication requirements for security deposits. It requires tenants to provide updated contact information (mailing address, email, or phone) within 4 days after moving out, and landlords must send an itemized damage notice with repair costs within 15 days of move-out. Landlords must use methods tenants previously agreed to (like email or text) to send these notices, and tenants must respond within 7 days to dispute charges - failure to respond forfeits the right to dispute. If landlords miss the 15-day deadline, they must immediately refund the full security deposit. This directly affects all Michigan landlords and tenants in rental agreements involving security deposits.

Maddy summaryHB 5006 amends Michigan's unemployment insurance law to clarify how the state recovers benefits paid to individuals who weren't entitled to them. It sets a 3-year limit for the unemployment agency to seek repayment (except for identity fraud cases), limits deductions from future benefits or wages to 50% per payment, and establishes three specific situations where repayment can be waived: if the overpayment resulted from incorrect wage information provided by an employer, if the recipient's household income was at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or if the overpayment was due to a clerical error by the agency. The bill also specifies that waivers apply from the date of the error or application, and requires refunds for any payments made after a waiver is granted. This directly affects individuals who received unemployment benefits they didn't qualify for, changing how the state enforces repayment and grants relief.

Maddy summaryHB 5005 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to clarify when workers who leave jobs without notice may still qualify for benefits. It adds a new exception (subsection (iv)) allowing domestic violence victims to claim benefits without disqualification, provided they meet requirements under Section 29a. The bill also reinforces that workers absent for 3+ consecutive days without contacting their employer are presumed to have left voluntarily - unless they qualify for one of the specified exceptions. This change directly affects workers who leave employment due to domestic violence or other qualifying circumstances, ensuring they can access benefits without penalizing their former employers financially.

Maddy summaryHB 4995 prohibits Michigan landlords from using a prospective tenant's credit score as the sole factor in lease decisions. The bill allows landlords to accept "reusable screening reports" (consumer reports prepared within 45 days by the tenant at their own expense) without charging an application fee, and requires landlords to disclose screening criteria in writing before accepting an application. Landlords who decline to accept such reports may charge a $25 or less fee only if they provide the required written disclosures to applicants. This law directly affects landlords and prospective tenants in Michigan's rental housing market by changing tenant screening practices and reducing fees for applicants who provide recent credit reports.

Maddy summaryHB 5007 amends Michigan's Employment Security Act to update how "employment" is defined for unemployment benefits eligibility. It changes the standard for classifying workers as employees (requiring benefits coverage) versus independent contractors, effective January 1, 2026. Under the new rule, most workers must be classified as employees unless they meet all three strict criteria: no employer control, services outside the employer's usual business, and the worker operating as an independent business. This directly affects employers and workers in Michigan who currently classify individuals as independent contractors, particularly in gig economy and service roles. The bill maintains current rules (using the IRS 20-factor test) until 2026, with specific exceptions for certain visa holders and federally certified employers.