Rep. Brenda Carter

Maddy summaryThis law requires hospitals in Michigan to give parents or guardians a specific guide on how to enroll their newborns in health insurance if the baby is not already covered by a plan. The state's insurance and health departments will create this informational document to help families navigate the enrollment process. This rule applies only to live children born in hospitals and does not change the underlying insurance laws or create new penalties for hospitals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new legal framework for history museum authorities in Michigan, specifically allowing counties to create these public corporate bodies to support historical museums located in cities with populations over 500,000. The legislation outlines the procedures for forming an authority, including the requirement for a majority vote by county commissioners and public notice, while defining the board's composition and powers to enter into contracts and manage operations. A key provision grants these authorities the ability to levy a property tax of up to 0.4 mill for a maximum of 20 years, but only if approved by a majority of voters in the county. The funds raised through this tax must be used exclusively to support nonprofit entities that provide services to the designated history museums, and the bill also mandates that board meetings be open to the public and records be accessible.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for the Michigan State Building Authority to allow it to create a "pool of obligations" for interim financing needs. The key change permits the authority to issue debt that can be used to fund multiple state facilities simultaneously, provided specific conditions regarding cost allocation and funding sources are met. These financial instruments are not general state debts but are instead paid solely from rental income generated by the specific buildings they fund. The legislation also clarifies how the authority can manage reserves and interest rates when refinancing existing debt to lower costs or extend payment terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies operating in Michigan to cover mental health screenings for new mothers during the postpartum period. The law directly affects health insurers and the women who receive their coverage, ensuring these specific screenings are included in their policies. It achieves this by amending the state's insurance code to mandate compliance with existing public health guidelines regarding postpartum care. The measure becomes effective on April 2, 2025, provided a related companion bill is also enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan election procedures to allow the Board of State Canvassers to use statistical random sampling when checking signatures on ballot initiatives and other petitions. It establishes rules for verifying voter registration and signature authenticity, creating a rebuttable presumption that a signature is invalid if the voter was not registered or did not live in the correct district at the time of signing. The legislation also requires the board to refer signatures that appear obviously fraudulent to the Attorney General for further investigation. Additionally, it sets specific deadlines for declaring petitions sufficient and mandates that the board complete its review at least two months before the relevant election.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-level Perinatal Quality Collaborative to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Michigan. The program will create ten regional groups, each led by a designated agency, to bring together healthcare providers, community organizations, and families to review data and develop local action plans. These regional teams will focus on advancing equity, supporting families affected by substance use, and ensuring respectful care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. The state department will provide resources to these collaboratives, subject to available funding, to help implement proven strategies for better birth outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund in Michigan to manage money from specific sources, including sales tax revenues and donations. The fund will distribute money to cities, villages, and townships to support public safety initiatives, with a portion of the funds going to a grant program for community violence intervention and another part to a crime victim's rights fund. A key provision ties future funding to crime reduction goals, where local governments that fail to meet specific violent crime decrease targets will see their distributions reduced. The state treasurer is responsible for managing the fund and ensuring that unspent money at the end of each fiscal year remains available for future distribution rather than being returned to the general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new scholarship program in Michigan to help individuals who face financial hardship become doulas, providing continuous support to mothers before, during, and after childbirth. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate financial need, prove Michigan residency, and commit to serving as a doula in a health professional shortage area or with a medically underserved population. The program awards up to $3,000 per person to cover training costs such as books and workshop fees, with funds drawn from a dedicated state treasury account. Recipients must use the money to complete approved doula training and provide proof of their work or training progress within six months, or they must repay the award.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act" to provide legal remedies for individuals harmed by nonconsensual deep fake images depicting sexual conduct. It allows victims to file civil lawsuits against anyone who creates or shares these realistic but fake videos, provided the creator knew or should have known the content would cause harm and was made using artificial technology rather than physical impersonation. The law defines specific protections for identifiable individuals and clarifies that consent is not a valid defense unless it is documented in a clear, signed agreement describing exactly what the fake image entails. Additionally, the legislation sets rules for where lawsuits can be filed and ensures that plaintiffs can use pseudonyms to protect their privacy during legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines to include specific penalties for crimes involving the abuse of companion animals. It assigns 25 points to a criminal score when an animal is subjected to sadistic, torturous, or brutally excessive conduct intended to cause fear or anxiety, while similar acts against humans carry a higher 50-point penalty. The legislation defines "sadism" as actions that inflict extreme or prolonged pain or humiliation for the offender's gratification. These changes apply only if the bill is passed alongside two related companion bills, HB 5588 and HB 5592.