Rep. Sharon MacDonell

Maddy summaryThis bill declares October 2024 as Disability Employment Awareness Month within the state of Michigan. It aims to raise awareness about employment issues affecting people with disabilities and to celebrate their contributions to the workforce. The resolution specifically commends various local organizations, such as Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Disability Network Michigan, for their efforts in improving job access. It encourages all citizens to learn more about these issues and to support individuals with disabilities and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary commission to develop age-appropriate instruction on African-American history for Michigan K-12 schools. The commission will be appointed by the governor and include representatives from major universities, the NAACP, and historical museums. Within one year of its first meeting, the commission must submit recommendations to the state board of education on how to integrate this history into the core curriculum. Following the submission of these recommendations, the state board is required to update academic standards within two school years, and school districts must begin providing this instruction starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, the bill mandates that state social studies assessments include questions related to the new learning objectives beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Youth Tobacco Act to strictly prohibit the advertising, display, marketing, and sale of nicotine and tobacco products with characterizing flavors, such as fruity or menthol tastes. It defines characterizing flavors broadly to include any distinguishable taste or aroma other than tobacco, as well as cooling or numbing sensations, and establishes a legal presumption that a product has such a flavor if the manufacturer or seller implies it through text, images, or consumer-facing actions. Businesses that violate these restrictions face escalating civil fines and potential license suspensions or revocations for repeat offenses within a 36-month period. The legislation also creates a new state fund to finance the administration and enforcement of these rules, including compliance checks and staff training.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by clarifying definitions for political terms and expanding reporting requirements for specific nonprofit groups. It formally defines "501(c)(4) organizations" and "527 organizations" as entities that are controlled, directed, or staffed by candidates, elected officials, their appointees, or their family members. Additionally, the legislation provides new definitions for concepts like "election cycle," "honorarium," and "fund raising event" to ensure consistent application of campaign finance rules. These changes directly affect political candidates, public officials, and the nonprofit organizations that interact with them by establishing clearer boundaries for what must be disclosed to the public.

Maddy summaryHB 6232 amends Michigan's tax administration laws to allow the Department of Treasury to share specific information found on state income tax returns with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services. This change enables the insurance department to access data relevant to insurance matters, such as details about life insurance policies or annuities held by taxpayers. The bill does not create new taxes or change tax rates but rather clarifies the conditions under which tax records can be disclosed to other state agencies for regulatory purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's state income tax forms to include a checkoff box that allows taxpayers to voluntarily authorize the sharing of their insurance status with state agencies. Starting in the 2025 tax year, if a taxpayer selects this option, the Department of Treasury will share their information with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the health insurance exchange to help determine eligibility for affordable health coverage. The forms will also require the date of birth for any uninsured individuals listed on the return and provide a space for taxpayers to indicate interest in specific insurance programs. Additionally, the bill mandates that tax instructions explain the consequences of disclosing this information and how the data will be used to facilitate enrollment in health plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain political nonprofits, specifically 527 and 501(c)(4) organizations, to electronically register with the Michigan Secretary of State within 10 days of forming. The registration must include the organization's name, the names of its key leaders, and the elected officials or candidates they support. The Secretary of State will make this information publicly available on their website, while political party committees are exempt from these requirements. Organizations that fail to register face civil fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on their financial balance, and individual officials associated with non-compliant groups may also be fined up to $1,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend Michigan's medical malpractice laws by increasing the cap on noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, from $280,000 to $1,000,000 per plaintiff and per defendant. The change applies to cases involving injuries like paralysis, permanent cognitive impairment, reproductive loss, death, serious disfigurement, or significant bodily function impairment, while maintaining a lower $500,000 cap for other severe injuries. Additionally, the bill updates the mechanism for adjusting these monetary limits annually to match changes in the state's consumer price index.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan correctional facilities to give every prisoner forms that let them choose who can receive their medical records and who should be notified in a medical emergency. Prisoners must sign these forms to designate specific people as authorized recipients for their health information and as emergency contacts for critical situations. If a prisoner faces a serious medical emergency requiring hospital care, the department must immediately contact the designated emergency contact and may share the prisoner's location if necessary. The law also allows authorized recipients to request specific medical details about the prisoner, while the department must provide clear instructions and brochures explaining how these designations work.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to create a program that tests public drinking water for microplastics between July 2025 and July 2028. The department must sample water sources quarterly using established methods and focus on areas such as Great Lakes shorelines, agricultural groundwater, and sites near landfills. After the testing period, the department is required to submit a final report by January 2029 that details findings and offers recommendations for future action.