Rep. Doug Wozniak

Maddy summaryThis bill declares March 2026 as Agriculture Month in Michigan to recognize the state's significant food and agriculture industry. The resolution highlights the sector's economic contributions, including over 805,000 jobs and billions in annual revenue from various crops like cherries, apples, and soybeans. It serves as a commemorative measure with no operational changes, encouraging citizens to celebrate the importance of agriculture to Michigan's economy.

Maddy summaryHB 4931 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to allow certain public bodies to hold remote meetings via video or phone under expanded circumstances. It specifically permits licensing boards (like those for healthcare, trades, or occupational professions) to meet remotely for any reason requiring accommodation of absent members - no longer limited to emergencies - after December 31, 2021. The bill requires 2-way communication during remote meetings, clear public notice (including how to participate electronically), and prohibits remote voting on rule processing matters by licensing board members. This change directly affects licensing boards managing professional credentials, while maintaining transparency requirements for public access.

Maddy summaryHB 4908 allows cosmetology apprentices to perform shampoo services (preparing for shampoo, shampooing, or blow-drying) in licensed establishments without a full cosmetology license. To qualify, apprentices must complete 350 hours of training in a cosmetology curriculum and be enrolled in an apprenticeship program run by a licensed establishment owner. The bill requires establishments to verify apprentices' eligibility with a school letter on file, maintain records for 3 years, and have a licensed cosmetologist present during services. It does not permit apprentices to perform other cosmetology services beyond shampooing.

Maddy summaryHB 4949 modifies Michigan law to protect sport shooting ranges from liability related to noise. It exempts ranges that follow "generally accepted operation practices" from civil lawsuits or nuisance claims about noise pollution, even if the range later adds safety upgrades, expands, or updates. The bill also prevents local noise ordinances from applying to these ranges, ensuring they can operate under their original compliance standards. This directly affects range owners and operators by shielding them from noise-related legal challenges and allowing existing ranges to continue operating under pre-existing rules, even if new local ordinances conflict.

Maddy summaryHB 5125 would add enhanced penalties for theft of commercial cargo in Michigan. If passed, individuals convicted of stealing cargo (defined as goods in transit via trucks, warehouses, or shipping facilities, excluding direct-to-consumer packages like retail deliveries) could face up to 10 additional years in prison. Prosecutors must specify this enhanced penalty in court documents, and the extra sentence would run consecutively with any other sentences for the same crime. The bill specifically targets theft of large-scale commercial shipments moving through transportation systems.

Maddy summaryHB 5126 creates new sentencing guidelines specifically for theft of cargo offenses in Michigan. It amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 777.16r) to establish distinct sentencing parameters for cases involving the theft of cargo, which currently lack specific guidelines. The bill directly affects courts, prosecutors, and defendants in cargo theft cases by providing clearer sentencing standards for these offenses. This is a procedural change to sentencing guidelines, not a new criminal charge or penalty. The bill was introduced on October 23, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the appeal process for landowners and local governments in Michigan who disagree with how benefits are allocated for drain projects. It extends the time limit for filing appeals from 10 days to 60 days after a review and requires individuals to post a financial bond when requesting a court-appointed review board. The legislation also clarifies which officials can file appeals on behalf of counties, cities, townships, and villages. These changes affect drainage district owners and municipal leaders by giving them more time to challenge benefit apportionments and outlining specific steps for requesting a judicial review.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Michigan residents to create valid wills using electronic signatures and digital records, expanding how people can document their last wishes. It permits wills to be written as readable text records signed electronically, provided they are witnessed by at least two people who can verify the signing process. The legislation also establishes a process for creating certified paper copies of electronic wills, ensuring these digital documents can be properly authenticated and stored. These changes directly affect individuals making wills and the legal professionals who handle estate planning, offering more flexible options for modern technology use while maintaining witness requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates private residence vertical lifts in Michigan by updating state elevator laws to include specific safety standards for these devices. It requires that any private residence vertical lift be certified as safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory using specific American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards. The legislation also clarifies that these lifts do not need a traditional hoistway, pit, or machine room if they are installed according to manufacturer specifications and meet performance-based safety requirements. This change directly affects homeowners and contractors who install or maintain vertical lifts in private residences.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Michigan farms to discharge certain types of wastewater, such as cooling or wash water from processing farm products, without needing a permit under specific conditions. The key requirements include limiting annual discharge to 100,000 gallons, prohibiting hazardous waste and surface water discharge, and ensuring the water is stored properly and applied to vegetated land at least 100 feet from property boundaries and 75 feet from water wells. Farms must also rotate discharge locations based on soil conditions and maintain records of each discharge, while the bill explicitly excludes discharges containing sanitary sewage unless applied through a permitted subsurface system.