Rep. Brenda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill expands property tax relief for Michigan homeowners who are seniors and living in poverty by establishing a new exemption category. To qualify, residents must own and occupy their home as a principal residence while meeting specific federal poverty guidelines or alternative local income standards. The legislation requires applicants to submit annual documentation, such as tax returns or affidavits, and allows local boards to grant either full or partial tax reductions based on these criteria. Additionally, the bill permits certain individuals with fixed incomes from public assistance to maintain their exemption status for up to three years without needing to reapply annually.

Maddy summaryHB 6106 updates Michigan's insurance code to clarify reporting and inquiry procedures for captive insurance companies. The bill requires these companies to submit annual financial reports, actuarial opinions, and audited statements to the state director within specific timeframes, with strict penalties for non-compliance. It also establishes a tiered annual renewal fee structure based on premium volume and allows the director to request additional interim reports or respond to inquiries regarding the insurer's activities. Additionally, the legislation grants the director authority to exempt certain special-purpose captives from specific rules and clarifies that this chapter takes precedence over conflicting sections of the broader insurance code.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Youth Tobacco Act to strengthen penalties for minors who purchase, possess, or use tobacco, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products. It establishes a tiered system of consequences, starting with a fine and community service for first offenses and increasing to higher fines and more hours of service for repeat violations. The law also allows courts to require minors who break these rules to participate in health promotion programs at their own expense. Additionally, the legislation includes a temporary exemption for retail workers who have not yet received a license but have applied for one, and it clarifies that these rules do not apply to minors working or conducting authorized law enforcement compliance checks.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's liquor control code to establish a formal server training program and a "responsible vendor" designation for retail alcohol licensees. It requires new or high-risk establishments to ensure supervisory staff complete a curriculum covering intoxication signs, ID verification, and legal consequences, while allowing the state to delegate these training standards to private organizations. Licensees who meet specific criteria, such as having no recent violations of alcohol laws, can be officially designated as responsible vendors after their employees finish the approved training. The legislation also mandates that all servers on duty must have completed this training to remain compliant with state regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's insurance code to update the requirements for Special Purpose Financial Corporations (SPFCs) seeking a limited certificate of authority to transact insurance or reinsurance. It mandates that these entities hold annual management meetings in the state, maintain a local principal place of business, and file specific documentation regarding their insurance securitization transactions with the department of insurance. Additionally, the legislation requires the attorney general to review organizational documents before they become effective and ensures that directors retain personal liability for breaches of loyalty or intentional misconduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases disposal fees for nonhazardous solid waste and coal ash in Michigan landfills, with higher rates for general waste and lower rates for specific industrial byproducts. Landfill owners and operators must collect these new surcharges from waste generators and pay them quarterly to the state, while captive facilities face fixed annual fees based on their waste volume. The collected funds are distributed among several state accounts, including a new host communities grant fund that provides direct financial support to the cities and townships where these landfills are located. Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism to adjust these fees every five years based on inflation to maintain their real value over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's zoning laws to prevent local governments from repeatedly requiring developers to submit the same environmental or technical studies for a single project. It establishes that once a site plan is approved, officials can only ask for new or revised studies if the original submission was incomplete, failed to meet technical standards, or if the project scope has materially changed. The legislation directly affects local planning departments and land developers by creating clearer rules for when additional documentation is necessary after initial approval. By limiting the ability to demand repeat studies, the bill aims to streamline the approval process while still ensuring projects comply with zoning ordinances and state regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's zoning enabling act to prevent local governments from restricting signs that honor police officers, firefighters, medical first responders, military members, corrections officers, or veterans. It also establishes a state limit requiring that residential properties do not need more than 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit. By setting these boundaries, the legislation directly affects how municipalities can regulate signage and parking requirements for homes. The measure seeks to clarify rules on commemorative displays and minimum parking standards without dictating specific local outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's zoning laws to allow residential duplexes in areas currently zoned for single-family homes. The change applies only to cities and villages within or next to metropolitan statistical areas, excluding townships. Under the new rules, building a duplex would follow the same permitting process as constructing a single-family home. The legislation takes effect 180 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Lobbyist Act to clarify which items and services do not count as "gifts" that public employees must report. It explicitly excludes standard campaign contributions, routine business loans, meals, and contributions to registered legal defense funds from the definition of a reportable gift. Additionally, the legislation sets specific monetary limits for small, de minimis items, allowing public officials to accept single items under $20 or a total of $80 worth of items within a three-month period without triggering reporting requirements. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens for public officials while maintaining transparency around larger or more significant transfers of value.