Rep. Sharon MacDonell

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Home Rule Village Act to standardize when village officials begin their terms. It requires that all village officers elected after December 31, 2024, take office at noon on December 1 of the following year, even if their local charters previously allowed for earlier start dates. Additionally, the law mandates that anyone elected to fill a vacancy must wait until election results are officially certified before taking the oath of office. These changes apply to all villages in the state and override any conflicting rules found in individual village charters.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the start dates for township officer terms in Michigan, specifying that terms beginning after December 31, 2024, will start on December 1 following the election rather than November 20. It also clarifies that all township officers elected before January 1, 2025, will have their terms begin at noon on November 20 of the next election cycle. The legislation further refines procedures for filling vacancies, allowing township boards to appoint replacements for resignations or unqualified elected officials, while establishing specific timelines and rules for when special elections must be held if appointments are not made. Additionally, it outlines how temporary appointments can be made by county election commissioners to ensure a quorum remains when multiple seats on a township board become vacant simultaneously.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include providing legal representation for youth in juvenile court cases, in addition to its existing role for adults. By amending the state's indigent defense act, the legislation ensures that young people facing delinquency charges receive effective legal counsel starting from their initial court appearance. The commission will be responsible for setting minimum standards for how local courts deliver these services to both adults and youth, while also managing funding adjustments based on economic indicators. Ultimately, the bill aims to standardize the quality of legal defense available to financially unable defendants across the state's juvenile justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to clarify the legal definition of lead abatement and specify which activities are exempt from regulatory requirements. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and nonprofit organizations by distinguishing between permanent lead hazard elimination and incidental paint removal during general repairs. The legislation explicitly exempts owner-occupied homes and small multifamily buildings from certain rules, while creating a specific exception for unpaid volunteer projects led by qualified nonprofit groups. Additionally, the bill repeals an outdated section of the law to ensure the regulations remain current and consistent with federal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Library Freedom to Read Act, which creates new rules for how public libraries in Michigan select and remove books and other materials. It requires libraries to adopt written policies that outline their standards for choosing items and the specific steps they must follow when someone requests a book be reconsidered or removed. Under the new law, library directors have the final say on collection decisions, and requests for reconsideration are only reviewed if they come from residents of the library's local area and meet specific conditions, such as the requester having read the entire item. The act defines what counts as a library material and clarifies that it does not apply to websites, interlibrary loans, or programs not run by the library itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires townships in Michigan to adopt a written conflict of interest policy for their officials. Under the new rules, board members must publicly announce and record the factual reasons for any abstentions from voting due to conflicts, including situations where a member seeks to fill a vacancy. The legislation also mandates that members vote on all questions unless excused by unanimous consent and ensures that official records clearly reflect these voting procedures. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in township governance by formalizing how officials handle potential conflicts.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's health care laws to create a clear process for designating a surrogate to make medical decisions for adults or emancipated minors who cannot do so themselves. It establishes a specific priority list for potential surrogates, starting with out-of-state designations, followed by spouses, adult children, parents, and siblings, while excluding individuals subject to protective orders or pending abuse charges. The legislation requires that a surrogate's authority ends when the patient regains decision-making capacity and mandates that the surrogate sign an acceptance form confirming they will act in the patient's best interest without receiving payment. Additionally, the bill allows patients to disqualify specific individuals from serving as surrogates and ensures that surrogates are informed of the patient's known treatment preferences.

Maddy summaryHB 5735 modifies Michigan's high school graduation requirements by updating the specific credits students must earn to receive a diploma. The bill mandates that graduates complete four math credits, three social science credits, and one credit in health, physical education, or arts, while also requiring two credits in a language other than English or equivalent coursework. Additionally, it introduces a new requirement for students entering eighth grade in 2023 to complete a half-credit personal finance course that can count toward math, arts, or language requirements. These changes apply to all public school districts and public school academies in the state, ensuring a standardized curriculum for graduation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to avoid policies that conflict with federal rules for certified community behavioral health clinics. It mandates the creation of a process to determine where new clinic sites should be located to prevent overlapping service areas. Additionally, the state must continue cooperating with the federal government on these clinics unless the legislature votes to stop such participation. The bill does not take effect until another related piece of legislation is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Insurance Provider Assessment Act to clarify how revenue collected from insurance companies is managed and spent. It establishes rules for depositing funds into a state treasury account, directing the state treasurer to invest the money and credit interest earnings back to the fund. The legislation specifies that these funds can only be used for designated purposes, such as paying Medicaid managed care rates, offsetting revenue losses from previous health insurance assessments, covering administrative costs, and funding a health data utility with amounts that increase annually and adjust for inflation. Additionally, the bill ensures that any leftover money remains in the fund rather than being returned to the general state treasury. The changes will not take effect unless a companion bill, House Bill No. 5283, is also passed into law.