Rep. Bob Bezotte

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Michigan National Guard Child Care Assistance Act to provide financial support for child care costs to eligible National Guard members. To qualify, a service member must be in active duty without disciplinary issues, and they must either be a single parent or have a spouse who is also an eligible National Guard member. Approved members receive a stipend of $5.00 per hour for up to 12 hours daily during weekend drills and annual training, capped at 39 days per year. The program is administered by the Adjutant General within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs using a dedicated state fund that does not expire at the end of the fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the section of Michigan's Clean and Renewable Energy Act that previously allowed for expedited permitting of large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage facilities. By removing these specific provisions, the legislation effectively eliminates the special zoning exemptions and streamlined approval processes that were designed to accelerate the development of such projects. The bill does not alter other parts of the energy law, meaning requirements for renewable energy programs, net metering, and utility responsibilities remain unchanged. Its primary impact is to revert the regulatory framework for large-scale renewable infrastructure to the standard permitting procedures that existed before the 2018 amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 5858 seeks to remove a specific provision that would have required local zoning laws to comply with the clean and renewable energy and energy waste reduction act. The bill does not alter the existing text of the zoning enabling act, which currently already includes the clean and renewable energy act among several other state laws that local governments must follow. By deleting this redundant requirement, the legislation aims to streamline the legal framework governing land use without changing the actual rules for zoning or energy projects. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Unemployment Agency to get approval from both houses of the state legislature before making specific changes to its operations. Under the new rules, the agency cannot move staff between divisions, cancel the waiting period for first unemployment payments, or remove computer systems designed to detect potential fraud. These systems currently flag claims based on factors like blacklisted email addresses, out-of-state addresses, or duplicate information such as shared bank accounts and IP addresses. Essentially, the legislation ensures that significant shifts in how the agency manages its workforce or verifies claimants must be explicitly authorized by lawmakers first.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create a buddy-to-buddy mentorship program for active-duty service members and veterans living in the state. The initiative pairs individuals with volunteer mentors who provide guidance on practical matters like education, employment, and healthcare, as well as connect them with advocates for mental health and substance use support. While non-veterans can serve as mentors, the program prioritizes recruiting veterans to lead these efforts. Additionally, the bill establishes that private information shared within the program remains confidential and is exempt from public disclosure under the state's freedom of information laws. This legislation will only take effect if several other related bills are also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to better support service members and veterans. The office will be led by a manager appointed based on experience in veteran mental health and will have the authority to collect data on mental health conditions, administer grants to local and nonprofit groups, and publish a free wellness resource guide with treatment listings and a self-assessment tool. Additionally, the legislation ensures that any personal data collected remains confidential and is exempt from public disclosure under state freedom of information laws.

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 requires the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide free access to a mental health and wellness resource guide for Michigan National Guard members and other military servicemembers living in the state. The department must make this guide available both in print at accessible locations and electronically on its website. The legislation does not take effect until four 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.