Rep. Brenda Carter

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6318 amends the state election law to explicitly prohibit denying or abridging any citizen's right to vote based on their sex. The bill adds a new section, 492c, to the Michigan Election Code to establish this specific protection. This provision directly affects all voters in the state by ensuring that gender cannot be used as a basis for restricting voting access.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates euchre as the official game of the state of Michigan. It creates a new act to formally establish this title in state law. The legislation does not impose any regulations or restrictions on how the game is played, but rather serves as a symbolic designation for the state.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6252 requires developers or operators of large-scale data centers to submit a thermal impact assessment to the state public service commission at least 120 days before beginning construction, expansion, or significant modifications. The bill defines a large-scale data center as one with an information technology load of 25 megawatts or more, or a total electrical demand of 50 megawatts or more, and mandates that these assessments be prepared by qualified professionals using standard scientific practices. Developers must pay a review fee and provide copies of the assessment to local governments, planning commissions, and zoning boards within 30 days of submission to ensure public notice of potential localized heat impacts. The commission will issue a certificate of completeness once it determines the submission is administratively complete, which expires after 24 months unless extended or updated. Violations of these requirements are subject to civil fines of up to $10,000 per day, and the bill explicitly states that it does not create new land use or permitting authority beyond this certification process.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6251 requires developers and operators of large-scale data centers to submit a detailed energy infrastructure and thermal management evaluation to the state public service commission before beginning construction, expansion, or major modifications. A facility is considered large-scale if it has an aggregate critical information technology load of at least 25 megawatts or a total electrical demand of at least 50 megawatts, including phased developments that collectively meet these thresholds. The evaluation must be prepared by a qualified professional and include specific data on anticipated power usage, cooling systems, water consumption, and potential impacts on local infrastructure, with copies required to be filed with affected local governments and electric providers. Developers must pay a review fee and face civil fines of up to $10,000 per day for violations, while the commission is granted authority to issue certificates of completeness that expire after 24 months unless updated or extended.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill requires electric providers to offer a voluntary green pricing program that allows customers to choose how much of their electricity comes from renewable sources. It mandates that regulated utilities create a specific "clean technologies accelerator tariff" for commercial and industrial participants, ensuring these businesses directly pay for the renewable energy they procure rather than spreading those costs across all ratepayers. The legislation also protects customers who source at least half of their power through the program from paying certain compliance surcharges and requires providers to notify other participants about additional fees. The bill only takes effect if seven related companion bills are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill amends the state's vehicle code to clarify that traffic violations designated as civil infractions cannot be treated as lesser included offenses of criminal charges. It establishes specific fine ranges for various driving and vehicle equipment violations, including a new provision that requires courts to waive fines and costs if a driver cited for an illegible registration plate provides proof of having obtained and installed a compliant plate before their court date. The legislation also mandates a $40 justice system assessment for most civil infractions and allows judges to order additional educational or rehabilitation programs alongside monetary penalties.

Maddy summaryMichigan's HB 6265 requires owners and operators of data centers to submit annual reports to the state public service commission detailing their total water and electricity consumption, along with the sources of that water and the percentage of electricity derived from renewable energy. These reporting obligations begin on March 1, 2028, and if the commission finds a submitted report inaccurate or incomplete, it must notify the operator to file corrected information within 30 days. The bill authorizes civil fines of up to $10,000 for each day a violation continues, with collected penalties deposited into the state general fund. This legislation only takes effect if several other specific bills from the current legislative session are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6264, titled the "data center energy standards act," requires owners and operators of data centers in the state to source 100% of their annual energy use from clean or renewable sources by January 1, 2040. The bill allows facilities to meet this requirement through on-site generation, power purchase agreements, or other energy instruments approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Violations of these standards are subject to civil fines of up to $10,000 per day, which must be deposited into the state's general fund. This legislation only takes effect if seven companion bills from the 103rd Legislature are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify definitions and procedures for commercial fishing in the state's Great Lakes waters. It directly affects licensed commercial fishermen, fish dealers, and the Department of Natural Resources by establishing precise meanings for terms like "abandoned gear," "quota," and various types of fishing nets. The legislation also adds new definitions to improve record-keeping requirements for fish production, storage, and sale, ensuring that all commercial activities are clearly regulated. By amending multiple existing sections and adding a new one, the bill aims to provide a more structured framework for managing allowable catch limits and enforcing fishing privileges.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6229 significantly increases the amount of personal property that individuals can protect from creditors when filing for bankruptcy under state law. The bill raises exemption limits for key assets, including increasing the homestead exemption to $125,000 (or $200,000 for those over age 65 or disabled), raising the motor vehicle exemption to $15,000, and expanding protections for household goods, tools of trade, and retirement accounts. It also introduces a new mechanism where the state treasurer adjusts these dollar amounts every three years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index and the Home Price Index to account for inflation. These changes apply to bankruptcy cases filed after the bill's effective date, allowing debtors to retain more of their essential assets during the legal process.