Rep. Donni Steele

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares January 26-February 1, 2025, as "School Choice Week" in Michigan. It symbolically recognizes the variety of educational options available to students, including public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling, as noted in the resolution's preamble. The resolution has no binding effect on policy or funding - it is a ceremonial observance to highlight existing school choice opportunities. It was introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly and adopted on January 23, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares January 27, 2025, as Holocaust Remembrance Day in Michigan. It symbolically honors Holocaust victims, survivors, and liberators through a state-level recognition, emphasizing reflection on the historical atrocities committed during the Holocaust. The resolution encourages Michiganders to remember this history as a reminder to combat hatred through education and remembrance, without creating new legal requirements or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 94 in Wayne County as the "Corporal Mohamed Said Memorial Highway." The designated section runs between Oakwood Boulevard and Outer Drive W. By adding this new section to the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, the legislation officially names the road in honor of Corporal Mohamed Said.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to ask organizations seeking grants to submit detailed spending plans and undergo annual audits. It also mandates that the state create a free, searchable online database where the public can view information about how state funds are spent, including the recipient's name, amount received, and the purpose of the funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits the state from awarding grants, loans, or other economic assistance to entities that have not operated for at least two years, lack a physical presence or recent service activity in Michigan, or are owned or operated by state government employees or their immediate family members.

Maddy summaryHB 5953 limits the late fees or penalties that privately owned toll bridge operators can charge for unpaid tolls to no more than five times the original toll amount. This restriction applies only to privately owned bridges and does not affect international crossings or publicly owned bridges. The bill amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to establish this cap, ensuring that fees for overdue tolls remain proportional to the initial cost.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies to post a link to a specific transparency dashboard on their public websites by July 1, 2025. Additionally, it mandates that these institutions provide an annual summary of school performance data to every student's parent or legal guardian starting in July 2026. The law also directs the Center for Educational Performance and Information to update its main data website to include information from the transparency dashboard and add a feature that allows users to compare data across public schools in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public and nonpublic schools in Michigan to implement a mobile panic alert system starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The system must connect schools directly with law enforcement and first responders to facilitate real-time communication during emergencies like lockdowns or active shooter situations. The state will use competitive bidding to purchase the technology, but schools that already have a compliant system can apply for an exemption. Schools that fail to comply with the new requirements may lose eligibility for certain state school safety grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan school districts and public school academies to create and enforce policies regulating wireless devices for students based on their grade level. For grades K through 5, the policy must ban students from possessing these devices on school property. Students in grades 6 through 8 are prohibited from using devices during instructional time, breaks, lunch, and recess, while high school students in grades 9 through 12 may only use them outside of instructional periods. The law defines "wireless communications devices" broadly to include any electronic gadget capable of texting, voice calls, internet access, or entertainment, and it removes an existing section from the state's revised school code.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Social Media Regulation Act, requires social media companies to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent before allowing minors to create accounts. It applies specifically to platforms with at least five million global users, excluding services like email, streaming, news sites, and educational tools. If a company cannot confirm a user's age or secure parental permission for a minor, it must deny the account application. The legislation also outlines civil penalties for violations and gives state officials the authority to create rules enforcing these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's environmental laws to require new or increased discharge permits to include proof of permission from any neighboring counties that might be affected by the discharge. Starting in 2025, applicants must submit a resolution from the impacted county's board of commissioners, and the state department must review applications within 30 to 90 days, treating them as complete if no decision is made by the deadline. The legislation also clarifies rules for oceangoing vessels by mandating specific permits for ballast water management to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species, while ensuring state standards remain at least as protective as federal requirements. Additionally, the bill sets strict timelines for the department to determine if applications are administratively complete and outlines the process for denying permits if county permission is missing.