Rep. Mike Harris

Maddy summaryHB 4099 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to expand when public bodies can hold electronic meetings. It permanently allows agricultural commodity groups (like the Michigan Bean Commission or potato industry commissions), municipal retirement systems, and energy joint agencies to meet electronically under any circumstances - no longer limited to emergencies. The bill requires public bodies to post 18-hour advance notice online with clear participation details, ensure two-way communication during meetings, and publish agendas 2 hours before. It applies to all affected public bodies and ensures transparency for public participation, including accessibility for people with disabilities. This law took effect after being signed by the Governor in December 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4262 empowers Michigan's attorney general to investigate and enforce violations of the state's Event Online Ticket Sales Act. It directly affects online ticket sellers who misrepresent ticket prices, availability, or fees. Key provisions include imposing civil fines of up to $5,000 per violated ticket, allowing the attorney general to seek court injunctions against ongoing violations, and enabling recovery of fines and restitution. The bill adds enforcement tools to the existing ticket sales law without changing the underlying consumer protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4285 requires Michigan schools to offer firearm safety instruction for students in grades 6-12 by September 2025. The state must create a model program (based on existing hunter safety standards) covering safe handling, cleaning, firearm types, and hunting practices, taught by certified instructors - **without bringing firearms into school buildings**. Schools may offer this as an optional extracurricular class or integrate it into existing courses, and students or parents may opt out without penalty. Completing the program counts toward the hunter safety certification needed for a hunting license. The bill directly affects all Michigan public schools and students in grades 6-12.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Macomb Community College to obtain a special license for selling alcohol at its Sports and Expo Center Complex during regularly scheduled events. The college's governing board would receive this license from the Liquor Control Commission, bypassing standard quota limits. Alcohol sales would be restricted to scheduled conference activities only, prohibiting sales to unscheduled patrons or at unplanned events. This expands alcohol service options for college-hosted events at Macomb's venue under specific, controlled conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 4098 amends Michigan's Tax Tribunal Act to allow property tax dispute hearings to be held electronically via phone or video conference, with consent from all parties and tribunal approval. It directly affects property owners, businesses, and tax assessors involved in tax tribunal cases who previously could only attend in-person hearings. The key change expands existing provisions (Sections 26 and 34) to include virtual hearing options alongside in-person meetings, while maintaining requirements for public notice and open meetings compliance. This update modernizes the process for resolving property tax disputes without altering tax rates or assessment standards.

Maddy summaryHB 5411 amends Michigan's Strategic Fund Act to strengthen transparency around economic development funding. It requires the Michigan Strategic Fund to provide detailed annual reports to the legislature and public, including specific data on job creation (new/retained, non-temporary), average salaries, financial assistance amounts, and bankruptcy notices for large recipients ($500,000+). The reports must also cover performance metrics for tourism promotion, venture capital investments, and community revitalization projects. These reports will be posted on the fund's website, making program outcomes and financial details publicly accessible.

Maddy summaryHB 5412 removes a requirement that the Michigan Strategic Fund must submit an annual legislative report before disbursing funds for brownfield redevelopment projects. This change allows the fund to release money for grants and loans to developers and property owners working on contaminated site cleanups without waiting for the report. The bill specifically amends sections 8a and 16 of Michigan's Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to eliminate this reporting barrier. The change directly affects the Michigan Strategic Fund, developers using the brownfield program, and communities seeking to redevelop contaminated properties.

Maddy summaryHB 5413 creates Michigan's entry into a proposed interstate compact that prohibits states from offering targeted subsidies to specific businesses or industries to lure them into relocating or opening new facilities. The bill would ban state or local government subsidies - such as direct grants, tax breaks, or favorable regulations - intended to favor particular companies or industries, while excluding general infrastructure benefits or broad tax cuts. If enough states join (reaching a three-fifths majority in both U.S. Congress chambers), participating states must stop providing new targeted subsidies, though existing contracts would remain valid. The compact establishes enforcement mechanisms allowing taxpayers to sue to compel compliance and requires states to coordinate with Congress once the threshold is met.

Maddy summaryHB 5414 amends Michigan's tax administration law to clarify when economic development corporations must disclose information for reports required under the Michigan Economic Growth Authority Act (MCL 207.810). The bill specifically allows these corporations to share the required report information with the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), while maintaining confidentiality for other sensitive tax data. This change directly affects economic development corporations and state agencies handling their reports, streamlining public access to certain economic development data. The bill does not alter tax collection procedures or create new financial obligations, only updating disclosure rules for existing reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5417 amends Michigan's Strategic Fund Act to require the Michigan Strategic Fund to submit specific legislative reports before disbursing funds. This change directly affects the Strategic Fund, which manages economic development investments, by adding a new reporting requirement (Section 7c) for transparency. The key mechanism mandates that the fund provide detailed reports to the legislature prior to releasing funds for projects or loans. This update aims to enhance accountability for how public funds are allocated, without altering the fund's existing powers or program types.