Rep. Mike Harris

Maddy summaryHB 5931 modifies the affidavit submission process for cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores in Michigan that are exempt from indoor smoking bans. The bill updates the requirements for these businesses to file annual certifications with the state department, ensuring they continue to meet specific criteria such as income thresholds, physical separation from nonsmoking areas, and age restrictions. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that the department may request verification information but must obtain any necessary photographs itself rather than requiring businesses to provide them. This change aims to streamline administrative procedures while maintaining the existing exemptions for qualifying establishments.

Maddy summaryHB 5506 prohibits certain local officials from acting as paid lobbyists outside their official duties. It specifically affects county officials and city, village, or township officials in communities with 20,000+ residents (per the latest federal census). The bill makes violating this rule a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. This amendment adds Section 6b to Michigan's existing lobbying law (MCL 4.411-4.431).

Maddy summaryHB 5457 creates a state fund to support hyperbaric oxygen therapy through grants and a temporary pilot program. The Department of Health and Human Services will administer the fund, using it for grants and operating the pilot program. After the pilot concludes, any remaining funds will transfer to the general state fund. The bill requires another bill (HB 5456) to be enacted first.

Maddy summaryHB 5456 establishes a pilot program providing free hyperbaric oxygen therapy to Michigan veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill creates a state grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, funding providers to deliver treatment at no cost to eligible veterans. Providers must use FDA-cleared chambers meeting specific safety standards and be accredited by organizations like the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine. The program requires the department to implement rules within 12 months and ends after the pilot period concludes.

Maddy summaryHB 5081 requires Michigan school districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies to employ at least one teacher trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach by the 2026-2027 school year to support students with dyslexia. This teacher must have completed training meeting International Dyslexia Association standards, which emphasizes multisensory reading instruction through phonemic awareness, phonics, and structured skill-building. Schools must also ensure these teachers receive at least 10 hours of annual professional development focused on dyslexia support. The bill directly affects all public school entities in Michigan and aims to improve specialized reading instruction for students with dyslexia.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to change the rules for preliminary examinations in Michigan criminal cases, which are early court hearings to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with a felony trial. Currently, the bill would allow prosecutors and defense attorneys to introduce certain reports, such as drug test results and forensic lab findings, without needing the original author to testify in court. The legislation also establishes a specific timeline where these relaxed evidence rules would take effect on January 1, 2027, replacing the current requirement that live testimony be available for most evidence. By removing the application of standard evidence rules for future cases, the bill aims to streamline the process of deciding whether a defendant should be held for trial.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's insurance code to remove the 10% single-risk limit that currently applies to title insurance companies. Instead, it establishes a new rule allowing title insurers to take on risks up to 50% of their capital and surplus, provided they meet specific financial and operational criteria. To qualify for the higher limit, an insurer must have a strong financial rating, at least five years of licensing history, and capital twice the state's minimum requirement. The legislation also permits the state insurance commissioner to grant exceptions to the 10% rule on a case-by-case basis if the retained liability stays below 50%. Ultimately, the change directly affects title insurance providers by relaxing restrictions on how much risk they can assume for a single property transaction.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes an amendment to the Michigan state constitution to change the rule regarding how long a member of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission must wait before running for partisan office. Currently, commissioners are barred from holding partisan elective office for five years, but the amendment would shorten this waiting period to end on December 31 of the year following the next federal census. The change directly affects individuals serving on the commission who wish to run for partisan positions sooner than the current five-year restriction allows. By modifying the eligibility timeline in the state constitution, the bill aims to adjust the balance between maintaining commission independence and allowing commissioners to return to partisan politics.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's school code to strengthen reading instruction by requiring the state education department to approve specific screening assessments and develop a formal literacy coach model. The legislation mandates that literacy coaches support teachers in using evidence-based strategies for decoding and word recognition while explicitly prohibiting them from performing administrative duties or holding regular classroom teaching assignments. Additionally, the bill directs the department to provide technical assistance on Individual Reading Improvement Plans, establish dyslexia expertise by September 2025, and update dyslexia resource guides every five years. These changes directly affect school districts, public school academies, and educators by setting new standards for reading assessment, intervention, and professional support roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan school districts and public academies to adopt elementary reading curricula from a list approved by the state education department. To support this goal, the legislation mandates that the department approve specific reading assessments designed to monitor student progress while minimizing disruptions to instructional time. Additionally, the bill outlines detailed duties for district literacy coaches, ensuring they focus on evidence-based reading instruction and data analysis rather than administrative tasks. These changes aim to help more third-grade students achieve proficient scores on state English language arts assessments through structured curriculum adoption and targeted teacher support.