Rep. Sharon MacDonell

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to create a comprehensive statewide strategy for researching and monitoring microplastics in the Great Lakes and drinking water supplies. The plan will involve contracting with state universities to study the ecological and health impacts of these tiny plastic particles while strictly avoiding private corporate involvement in sampling and detection methods. By July 2026, the department must submit the initial plan to the legislature, which will include baseline data, risk assessments, and recommendations for reducing microplastic pollution, with full implementation targeted for 2028 if funding is available.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals from carrying firearms within 100 feet of locations where absentee ballots are being counted during processing. The restriction applies to anyone not in law enforcement or holding a valid concealed carry license, while allowing exceptions for security personnel and those with owner permission. Violating this rule is classified as a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of $100, or both.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's probate laws to improve how courts handle guardianships and conservatorships for individuals who cannot manage their own affairs. It introduces a new process allowing judges to appoint a temporary guardian for up to six months when immediate action is needed to protect a person's welfare, even if formal notice to all interested parties has not yet been given. The legislation also clarifies the procedures for removing or replacing conservators and allows interested parties to request specific court orders, such as requiring financial reports or adjusting bond amounts. These changes are designed to streamline oversight and ensure quicker responses to situations where a guardian or conservator is not effectively performing their duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's legal process for appointing guardians or conservators for individuals who may be incapacitated. It requires courts to inform petitioners about less restrictive alternatives before filing and mandates the appointment of a legal representative for the individual unless they already have one. The legislation also establishes stricter rules for medical evaluations, ensuring that detailed reports on an individual's condition and capacity are shared with relevant parties while keeping the full report confidential from the public record. Additionally, the bill guarantees the right to an independent medical evaluation and outlines specific content requirements for professional assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan laws regarding guardianship and conservatorship to strengthen the rights of individuals facing incapacity proceedings. It requires guardians ad litem, who represent vulnerable people during these hearings, to personally visit the individual and clearly explain their legal rights, such as the ability to contest the petition or limit a guardian's authority over medical decisions. The legislation also mandates that courts provide free legal counsel to indigent individuals who wish to contest a guardianship or request specific limits on a guardian's powers. Additionally, the bill directs guardians ad litem to explore alternatives to full guardianship, such as limited guardianship or patient advocacy designations, and ensures that compensation for these representatives is only granted if they have fulfilled their new reporting duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code to regulate the appointment and duties of professional guardians and conservators. It requires courts to find that no suitable family member or friend is available before appointing a professional and mandates that these professionals submit criminal background checks and post a financial bond. The legislation also establishes strict rules for compensation, requiring professionals to disclose any outside income received for their role, and outlines specific care standards such as maintaining a visitation schedule and ensuring adequate staffing. Additionally, the bill clarifies notification procedures for interested parties and defines the limits on what support staff can do, prohibiting them from making major financial or medical decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 5581 amends Michigan's lobbying laws to clarify definitions and update spending thresholds for individuals and organizations engaging in lobbying activities. The bill specifically redefines who qualifies as a lobbyist or lobbyist agent by adjusting the annual expenditure limits and clarifying rules about group spending on food and travel. It also expands the list of state officials considered "executive branch officials" for lobbying purposes to include various department directors and commission members. Additionally, the legislation updates terminology to ensure consistency across the statute while maintaining exemptions for journalists and most public employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against harassment within educational institutions, covering public and private schools, colleges, and vocational programs. It explicitly defines harassment to include unwelcome conduct that interferes with a person's education or creates a hostile environment, and it clarifies that such harassment includes sexual conduct quid pro quo situations. The legislation holds institutions responsible for harassment by their employees, contractors, or other agents, as well as harassment by outsiders, if the school receives notice and fails to act. To avoid liability, schools must demonstrate they have implemented comprehensive prevention policies, conducted annual training for students and staff, established clear complaint procedures, and provided timely supportive measures to affected individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the force-feeding of any bird species in Michigan by requiring that food be delivered only through methods the bird would choose voluntarily. It defines force-feeding as using tubes or devices to force a bird to eat more than it would naturally, and it applies this rule specifically to poultry. Anyone violating this ban faces a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues, which can be pursued by county prosecutors or the state attorney general. The legislation does not impose criminal penalties for this specific violation and amends the state's Animal Industry Act to include this new restriction.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's governmental immunity laws to explicitly exempt school employees and volunteers from liability when they are sued for harassment. It clarifies that this exemption applies regardless of whether the conduct is considered discretionary or ministerial, provided the individual was acting within their authority and did not commit gross negligence. The legislation also maintains existing protections for judges, legislators, and medical personnel while defining specific terms like "gross negligence" and "tactical operation." Ultimately, the measure aims to remove barriers that might prevent victims of school harassment from seeking legal recourse against public officials.