Rep. Sharon MacDonell

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Opioid Antagonist Act to allow agencies and their trained employees to distribute naloxone directly to any individual, expanding access beyond the previous restrictions. It grants these agencies and workers immunity from civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution for distributing or administering the drug, provided their actions do not involve gross negligence or willful misconduct. The law also clarifies that agencies can purchase and possess naloxone specifically for the purpose of distributing it to the public. This legislation takes effect on April 2, 2025, contingent on the simultaneous enactment of a companion bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework in Michigan to handle the division of "heirs property," which is real estate owned by multiple relatives who inherited it without a formal agreement. It establishes specific rules for courts to follow when these properties are contested, requiring judges to first determine if the land qualifies as heirs property before deciding how to split it. Under the new provisions, courts must order professional appraisals to set a fair market value unless all owners agree on a price or the cost of an appraisal is deemed too high. The legislation also mandates that plaintiffs post a sign on the property during legal proceedings to notify potential heirs and requires that any appointed evaluators be impartial and not involved in the case.

Maddy summaryThis law changes how ballot questions for constitutional amendments, citizen laws, and referendums are numbered and tracked in Michigan. It requires the Secretary of State to assign a unique number to each question at least 60 days before an election, using a specific format that includes the election year and the order in which petitions were filed. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of State post updates on petition status online every month and notify petitioners immediately when their petitions are approved or rejected. Additionally, it clarifies when different types of ballot questions are considered "filed" for the purpose of determining their sequence on the ballot. These rules affect election officials, the Secretary of State, and citizens who submit petitions to place issues on the ballot.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's civil rights law to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's source of income. It applies to landlords, property managers, and real estate brokers who sell, rent, or lease residential properties. By adding "source of income" to the list of protected categories, the legislation ensures that individuals cannot be denied housing or treated differently because of how they pay their rent, such as using housing vouchers. The law takes effect on April 2, 2025, provided that two companion bills are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan election laws to require petitioners proposing constitutional amendments or ballot initiatives to include a clear, impartial summary of their proposal's purpose. The new rules limit this summary to 100 words and mandate that it use plain language understandable to the general public without creating bias. Additionally, the bill establishes a review process where the Board of State Canvassers must approve or reject the petition form and summary within 30 days, and it clarifies the specific legal standards for determining whether a proposed amendment alters or abrogates existing constitutional provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 4900 updates Michigan laws regarding how courts collect money owed through legal judgments by clarifying definitions and adjusting collection procedures. The bill specifically affects creditors seeking to garnish wages or seize property, as well as individuals whose earnings are subject to such collection efforts. Key changes include refining the definition of "garnishable earnings" to account for specific insurance deductions and establishing a new $1 fee that plaintiffs must pay to the third party holding the debt when serving a garnishment order. Additionally, the legislation clarifies when garnishment proceedings can begin against government entities and individuals who owe money for labor performed.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Public Transportation Authority Act to change how local governments can leave these regional transit organizations. It removes the ability of cities, villages, or townships to simply vote to opt out of membership, requiring them to either pay off all financial debts or go through a public vote by registered electors to withdraw. Additionally, the legislation prevents local units from leaving an authority once they have already agreed to pay a specific tax, ensuring that financial commitments are honored even if the community later decides to exit the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to allow the state to use statistical random sampling to verify the signatures on petitions submitted by groups seeking to form a new political party. Instead of requiring every single signature to be manually checked, election officials would randomly select a portion of the signatures to validate, which could speed up the process for new parties. The measure directly affects citizens attempting to establish new political organizations and the election authorities responsible for processing their paperwork. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the Michigan State Police to destroy any firearms that are collected and turned over to the department through municipal gun buyback programs. Starting April 2, 2025, the department must ensure every part of these weapons is destroyed and is prohibited from reselling them. The rule applies to any weapon designed to fire projectiles using an explosive charge, such as guns, and directly affects local governments that run buyback events and the state agency responsible for disposing of the collected items.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison within Michigan's Legislative Council to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the state legislature and federally recognized tribes. The office will be led by a liaison appointed by the council from a list provided by the United Tribes of Michigan, who will be supported by at least two policy advisors. Key duties include visiting each tribe annually, advising lawmakers on how proposed legislation impacts tribal communities, and providing mandatory training for legislators on tribal history and consultation processes. Additionally, the office must submit an annual public report detailing tribal concerns raised during the legislative process to the governor and legislative leaders.