Maddy summaryHB 4131 updates Michigan's animal care laws by clarifying definitions and requirements for dog shelter and tethering. It directly affects dog owners, breeders, pet shops, and animal shelters by specifying that dog shelters must include properly insulated doghouses with dry bedding (like straw or cedar shavings) during freezing temperatures, excluding items like blankets, cardboard, or crawl spaces. The bill also requires tethers for dogs to be at least three times the dog's length (nose-to-tail) unless used for grooming, training, transport, or hunting. These changes aim to ensure dogs have adequate protection from weather and prevent harmful tethering practices. The bill is currently in committee after its February 2025 introduction.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 4132 amends Michigan's personal protection order law to explicitly include animal-related abuse as a prohibited act in domestic violence cases. The bill adds new language (subsection 1(k)) making it illegal for a respondent to injure, kill, threaten, or remove an animal in which the petitioner has ownership interest, or to retain an animal taken from the petitioner. This directly affects domestic violence victims who rely on pets for emotional support, expanding court orders to protect both people and their companion animals. The provision specifies it does not override lawful animal use (e.g., hunting under state law) and aligns with existing protections for victims.
Maddy summaryHB 4130 amends Section 2 of Michigan's Animal Welfare Fund Act (MCL 287.992) by updating the definition of "State animal anticruelty laws" to explicitly include specific sections of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.49-750.70, 750.70a, and MCL 750.50(8) and (12)). This technical update ensures the fund act correctly references existing animal cruelty laws without creating new policies or funding. The bill affects how the Animal Welfare Fund Act applies to enforcement of current animal protection laws. It is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.
Maddy summaryHB 4110 requires home sellers in Michigan to include the current yearly property tax amount - based on the property's most recent assessed value - in the seller disclosure statement. This change directly affects residential property sellers and buyers by providing more accurate, up-to-date tax information during transactions. The bill amends Section 7 of the 1993 Seller Disclosure Act (MCL 565.957) to mandate this update, replacing outdated disclosure requirements. The key mechanism is updating the standard disclosure form to reflect annual taxes tied to the property’s current valuation, ensuring buyers receive precise financial data.
Maddy summaryHB 4121 prohibits local governments (counties, cities, townships, villages) from adopting property tax caps that automatically reduce tax rates when revenue hits a fixed dollar limit. It voids any existing local tax cap with this automatic reduction feature and requires local units to disregard such caps. The bill specifically targets caps imposed by local charter, ordinance, or policy - not state-mandated limits - making them unenforceable. This change ensures local tax revenue limits cannot trigger automatic rate cuts based solely on annual dollar amounts.
Maddy summaryHB 4102 updates Michigan's physical therapy licensing rules to allow the state to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. The bill amends existing licensing sections and adds new provisions (17820a and 17820b) to enable this participation. This change would let physical therapists licensed in Michigan or other compact states practice in Michigan without needing separate state licenses. The bill directly affects physical therapists seeking to work across state lines and Michigan residents needing physical therapy services. It creates a streamlined process for interstate practice under the compact agreement.
Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a policy bill. It declares February 2025 as "American Heart Month" and February 5, 2025, as "National Wear Red Day" in Michigan. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about heart disease, particularly its impact on women, through educational efforts and community recognition. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or impose requirements on any group.
Maddy summaryHB 4036 removes an expiration date (sunset provision) from Michigan's distance education reciprocal exchange program, which allows colleges and universities to share courses across state lines. The bill repeals Section 7 of the 2015 Higher Education Authorization and Distance Education Reciprocal Exchange Act (MCL 390.1697), making the program permanent. This directly affects Michigan colleges and out-of-state institutions participating in the reciprocal course-sharing agreement, ensuring the program continues without needing annual renewal.
Maddy summaryThis resolution declares January 2025 as National Stalking Awareness Month in Michigan. It does not create new laws or change existing policies; instead, it symbolically recognizes stalking as a serious crime and acknowledges efforts by victim services and law enforcement. The resolution highlights Michigan's legal definition of stalking and relevant statistics (like 18,000 stalking reports in 2022) to underscore the importance of public awareness. It was introduced and adopted by the Michigan House of Representatives on January 28, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 4020 creates a temporary commission to update African-American history curriculum for Michigan K-12 schools. The commission, appointed by the governor and including university representatives, NAACP, and museum staff, must review current standards within 365 days and recommend age-appropriate instruction covering Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Era, and African-American contributions to U.S. development. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, Michigan school districts must provide this instruction, and state assessments will include related questions. The bill mandates curriculum updates to the state board within two years of the commission's recommendations. This directly affects all public K-12 schools in Michigan and their required social studies curriculum.