Rep. Joe Aragona

Maddy summaryHB 5451 requires food trucks (mobile food establishments) to undergo annual fire inspections and additional inspections after significant modifications to fire safety systems, such as kitchen equipment or fuel piping. It creates a public database tracking these inspections and mandates that operators notify fire inspectors within 30 days of license applications or modifications. The bill specifies that inspections must comply with the International Fire Code, with results valid for one year (limiting inspections to once annually unless safety concerns arise). This directly affects food truck operators, who must pay a $200 maximum fee for annual inspections but receive no charge for additional safety-related checks.

Maddy summaryHB 5385 amends Michigan's insurance code to modify rules for captive insurance companies - entities owned by businesses to insure their own risks. It restricts these companies from covering certain personal insurance types (like auto or homeowners) and requires them to insure only risks of their parent company, affiliated businesses, or specific groups (e.g., industrial insureds). Key provisions include mandating annual in-state board meetings, requiring $1 minimum per share of capital, and demanding detailed financial transparency for the commissioner’s review. The bill directly affects businesses seeking to establish captive insurers in Michigan, ensuring stricter operational and reporting standards.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings for becoming the all-time leading scorer among United States-born players in National Hockey League history. It recognizes his achievement of surpassing Mike Modano's record of 1,374 career points and acknowledges his numerous awards and contributions to the sport. The bill formally honors Kane's legacy and congratulates him on this milestone while noting his residence in Michigan and his philanthropic work.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify firearm transport rules for individuals in areas frequented by wild animals. It maintains the requirement that hunters generally need a license to carry firearms in wildlife areas but explicitly allows licensed concealed pistol carriers and those with specific legal exemptions to transport loaded pistols. The bill also clarifies that these transport provisions do not authorize individuals to hunt wild animals without proper hunting licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 5517 creates a $0.005 per returnable beverage container tax credit for distributors who charge a deposit on containers, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The credit adjusts annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index starting in 2027. Distributors must attach a specific report (per 1976 IL 1) with their tax return to claim the credit, and any excess credit is refunded. This directly affects beverage distributors handling returnable containers in Michigan.

Maddy summaryHB 5530 limits local zoning ordinances from requiring single-family home lots larger than 1,500 square feet in areas with public water and sewer service. It directly affects local governments that set zoning rules for residential neighborhoods, preventing them from imposing larger minimum lot sizes under these conditions. The bill adds a new provision (Sec. 205f) to Michigan's zoning law, ensuring that such ordinances cannot restrict lot size beyond 1,500 square feet when public utilities are available. This change applies specifically to detached single-family residences zoned for residential use. The policy aims to allow more compact housing development in utility-served areas.

Maddy summaryHB 5529 modifies Michigan's Land Division Act to set clearer standards for subdividing land. It requires that new residential parcels (with public water/sewer) must be at least 1,500 square feet, limits parcel depth to four times its width (with exceptions for topography), and mandates tax verification for divisions. The bill also adds disclosure requirements for property sales, including whether the right to further divide the land is transferred. These changes directly affect property owners seeking to subdivide land, developers, and local municipalities reviewing subdivision applications.

Maddy summaryHB 5532 revises protest petition requirements for cities or villages amending zoning ordinances. For most changes, a protest petition must be signed by owners of at least 20% of the affected land area (or 20% within 300 feet of the boundary), but if the amendment increases dwelling units, it requires signatures from owners of at least 60% of the affected land area. The bill specifies detailed petition formatting, including land ownership verification by the clerk and warnings about false signatures, with penalties for fraud. This directly affects local governments proposing zoning changes and landowners who may protest such changes.

Maddy summaryHB 5597 allows building owners or their agents to hire third-party inspection companies to perform required building inspections instead of relying solely on government agency inspections. Third-party inspectors must be registered under Michigan's skilled trades regulations, and their reports must include compliance status, necessary corrections, conflicts of interest, and the inspector's credentials. The enforcing agency may issue a certificate of occupancy based on a satisfactory third-party report, which must be submitted to both the owner and the agency. This change directly affects building owners, third-party inspection companies, and local building enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 5318 modifies Michigan's sales tax exemptions for fundraising by specific organizations. It raises the annual sales cap for tax-exempt fundraising events from $25,000 to $75,000 per event (adjusted for inflation) for schools, churches, hospitals, parent cooperatives, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3)/(4) status. It also increases the cap for veterans' groups (501(c)(19) organizations) from $25,000 to $75,000 per event, with both limits adjusted yearly using the Consumer Price Index. The bill affects qualifying nonprofits, schools, and veterans' organizations conducting fundraising sales under these exemptions.