Rep. Sharon MacDonell

Maddy summaryHB 5022 amends Michigan's Revised Judicature Act to update terminology related to prostitution in nuisance laws. It replaces the terms "prostitute" and "prostitution" with the phrase "persons who provide or offer to provide commercial sexual activity" in Section 3801, which defines properties as nuisances when used for such activities. This change directly affects property owners, landlords, or managers of buildings, vehicles, or other spaces used for commercial sexual activity, as they could face nuisance charges under the updated law. The bill is contingent on the passage of companion bill HB 5016 and does not alter the underlying legal standards for nuisance designation.

Maddy summaryHB 5028 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to update legal references related to prostitution offenses. It replaces terms like "prostitute" with more neutral language in sentencing calculations under MCL 777.16w. This change affects judges and courts when determining penalties for individuals convicted of prostitution-related crimes. The bill modifies how these offenses are described in legal guidelines but does not alter the actual penalties for the crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 5023 amends Michigan's child care licensing law (1973 PA 116) to strengthen background checks for individuals seeking child care licenses, staff positions, or household membership in child care settings. It prohibits licensing for applicants with certain criminal convictions, including child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, drug offenses (with 7-year waiting periods), and violent misdemeanors (with 5-year waiting periods). The bill also adds disqualification for convictions related to human trafficking, prostitution-related activities, or firearm use in crimes. This directly affects individuals applying for child care roles or operating child care facilities. The bill requires criminal history checks under Section 5n and specifies disqualifying offenses and waiting periods, but does not address prostitution laws directly despite the title's reference.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan's State Housing Development Authority to make a standard form summarizing tenant rights (mandated under the Truth in Renting Act) available within 60 days of its creation. The form must be accessible in the Authority's office and on its website. It directly affects renters by ensuring they can easily find their rights information without needing to contact the court. The bill does not change tenant rights but streamlines access to an existing, court-created form.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically declares September 22-26, 2025, as Farm Safety and Health Week in Michigan. It recognizes the state's agricultural workforce (including approximately 44,000 farms) and aligns with the national observance focused on safety practices like equipment handling, rural roadway safety, and youth protection on farms. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or entities. The declaration serves to honor agricultural workers and promote safety awareness during peak farming season.

Maddy summaryHB 5014 modifies Michigan's public health code to require courts to order confidential STI and HIV testing for individuals arrested or convicted of prostitution, commercial sexual activity, or related offenses (such as MCL 750.448-455). The bill mandates that courts direct testing for sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis, and HIV, with results reported to defendants and health departments. Courts must also order voluntary counseling about prevention, treatment, and protective measures for these conditions. This applies to all cases involving specified sex-related offenses under Michigan law, with testing conducted by licensed health providers.

Maddy summaryHB 5016 updates Michigan's penal code by replacing outdated terms like "prostitute" and "prostitution" with modern, less stigmatizing language such as "person engaged in commercial sexual activity." It specifically amends Section 167 to remove "common prostitute" from the definition of a disorderly person, changing the language to focus on conduct rather than labeling individuals. This bill directly affects how the law refers to and potentially prosecutes individuals involved in commercial sexual activity under current statutes. The changes aim to align terminology with contemporary legal standards without altering the underlying criminal penalties for related offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 4971 amends Michigan's Use Tax Act to clarify that promotional merchandise (including items like baby diapers) transferred to out-of-state customers via redemption offers qualifies for resale exemptions. It specifically updates Section 4(c)(i) to include promotional merchandise shipped outside Michigan as exempt from use tax, directly affecting retailers and businesses selling such items to out-of-state customers. The key mechanism expands existing resale exemptions to cover promotional goods sent to customers in other states, aligning with how businesses handle cross-state promotions. This change does not create new exemptions but clarifies existing rules for promotional sales. (Note: The bill title mentions "baby diapers," but the actual amendment applies broadly to all promotional merchandise, not specifically diapers.)

Maddy summaryHB 4976 prohibits electric utilities in Michigan from seeking to recover revenue they were required to pay as service outage credits to customers. This directly affects electric utilities serving Michigan residents and businesses, as it prevents them from later reclaiming refunds paid for power outages. The key provision states that once an electric utility issues outage credits (refunds for service interruptions), it cannot attempt to get that money back through future rate adjustments. This ensures customers who received outage credits retain the full benefit without utilities offsetting those payments against future bills.

Maddy summaryHB 4972 adds baby diapers to Michigan's list of sales tax-exempt items under the General Sales Tax Act (MCL 205.54a). The bill specifically exempts the sale of tangible personal property (like diapers) from sales tax when sold to consumers. This change directly affects retailers selling diapers and consumers purchasing them, as they will no longer pay state sales tax on these items. The exemption aligns with existing tax rules for certain essential goods but specifically targets diapers as a new category. The bill amends Section 4a(1)(a) of the General Sales Tax Act to include this provision.