Rep. Jason Woolford

Maddy summaryHB 4833 modifies the number of judges for several Oakland County district courts in Michigan. It reduces the number of judges in the 48th district (Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills area) from 3 to 2, and in the 50th district (Pontiac) from 4 to 3, effective when a vacancy occurs or an incumbent does not seek re-election. The bill applies directly to residents of these specific communities by changing court staffing levels under defined conditions. These changes are administrative adjustments to court structure, not new policies affecting broader public services.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers in Michigan from using surveillance pricing, which involves raising the price of a consumer item based on an individual's personal data such as their IP address, search history, or device type. It requires businesses to clearly display the total price of items at the point of sale, with specific exceptions for things like food sold by weight, motor vehicles, and small items under 30 cents. The legislation also allows consumers to sue retailers for violations, potentially recovering actual damages or a minimum of $250 for each day the law is broken. Finally, the bill includes a tie-breaker provision that prevents it from taking effect unless a companion bill, HB 6098, is also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Consumer Protection Act to explicitly prohibit merchants from using "surveillance pricing," a practice where prices are dynamically adjusted based on data gathered from monitoring individual customers. The legislation directly affects businesses selling goods and services by adding a new provision that makes it unlawful to charge higher prices to consumers who are being tracked or monitored. By incorporating this specific prohibition into the state's existing list of unfair trade practices, the bill aims to prevent deceptive pricing tactics that exploit consumer data.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the State Employment Contract Regulation Act to limit severance pay for employees and officers in Michigan's executive and legislative branches. It generally prohibits contracts that offer more than 12 weeks of wages in severance, ban non-disclosure agreements that prevent reporting illegal activities, and require contracts to be fully disclosed to the public. Exceptions allowing higher severance or restricted contracts are permitted only if legal counsel determines they are necessary to protect public funds from litigation risks, provided such agreements include legal releases of claims. Additionally, the law mandates that any contract offering six weeks or more of severance be posted online within 28 days, while contracts for elected officials must be shared with legislative leaders within three days.

Maddy summaryHB 6007 updates Michigan's Food Law to clarify how enforcement responsibilities are shared between the state Department of Health and local health departments. The bill allows the state to delegate most inspection and licensing duties to local health departments for food service establishments, provided those departments meet specific program criteria. However, the state retains direct authority over complex wholesale food processing, establishments within large grocery stores, and certain high-risk mobile food units. Additionally, the legislation prevents local governments from creating conflicting licensing rules and outlines the process for revoking a local health department's certification if it fails to meet state standards.

Maddy summaryHB 5046 modifies Michigan's foreclosure law to clarify the process for recording deeds after a property sale and streamline how homeowners can redeem their property. It requires that deeds from foreclosure sales be recorded with the county register of deeds within 20 days, and if not recorded on time, the redemption period begins when the deed is filed. The bill specifies the exact redemption amount homeowners must pay (including the bid price, interest, and fees) and mandates that purchasers provide an affidavit detailing this amount and the redemption deadline. This affects homeowners seeking to reclaim their property, buyers at foreclosure sales, and county offices responsible for property records.

Maddy summaryHB 5045 amends Michigan's Housing Development Authority Act to clarify procedures for redeeming foreclosed properties. It requires sellers to record deeds within 20 days of a sale, specifying redemption timelines and interest accrual starting from the recording date (not the sale date). Property owners or their heirs can redeem land within six months by paying the bid amount plus interest, with the register of deeds handling redemption documentation and fees. The bill directly affects property owners seeking redemption, purchasers of foreclosed properties, and county registers of deeds managing these transactions. These changes aim to streamline redemption processes and reduce confusion in housing foreclosure cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the state of energy emergency in Michigan by an additional 77 days, effective July 1, 2026. The measure allows the sale of E15 fuel in several counties where current regulations previously restricted it to lower vapor pressure gasoline. By suspending these fuel requirements, the extension aims to increase fuel supply options and help manage rising gas prices for consumers and businesses. The resolution requires approval from both the House and Senate before being sent to the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 5145 changes documentation requirements for Michigan's public assistance programs, including food assistance. It replaces self-attestation with verifiable documents for applicants to prove identity (e.g., driver's license, birth certificate), income (e.g., pay stub, tax return), and Michigan residency (e.g., utility bill, lease). The bill requires applicants to upload these documents via the MI Bridges online portal before eligibility is determined. It also mandates that the department use alternative verification methods if documents are missing, rather than automatically denying benefits. This bill directly affects individuals applying for or renewing public assistance benefits in Michigan.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's graduated driver licensing rules for teens aged 14 years and 9 months to 17, allowing them to begin Level 1 licensing if they are home-schooled or have completed specific driver education segments. It requires new drivers to pass vision tests, obtain parental approval, and accumulate behind-the-wheel experience, including nighttime hours, before advancing to Level 2 and eventually Level 3 licenses. The legislation also outlines restrictions on driving hours and passenger limits for provisional licenses, extending the probationary period if a teen accumulates violations or accidents.