Rep. Denise Mentzer

Maddy summaryHB 5489 would allow 17-year-olds to apply for medical first responder and emergency medical technician (EMT) licenses in Michigan, provided their application includes parental or guardian consent. It maintains an 18-year-old minimum for higher-level roles like paramedics, emergency medical services instructors, or EMT specialists. The bill amends Michigan's Public Health Code to establish these age requirements for EMS licensure, directly affecting young individuals seeking entry into emergency medical careers. This change requires the concurrent passage of HB 5488 to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 5488 lowers the minimum age requirement for licensure as a medical first responder or emergency medical technician (EMT) in Michigan from 18 to 17 years old. It amends Section 20950 of the Public Health Code (MCL 333.20950), specifically changing the age requirement in subsection (2)(a) from "18 years of age or older" to allow 17-year-olds to apply. The bill does not alter other licensing requirements, such as education programs, passing exams administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, or military service pathways. This change directly affects 17-year-olds seeking these emergency medical services roles who previously could not obtain licensure until age 18.

Maddy summaryHB 4418 updates Michigan's probate law to clarify how patients can designate a healthcare surrogate when they cannot make decisions themselves. It adds a new process for formally naming a surrogate (replacing the previous method) and removes an outdated section from older law. This directly affects patients without existing advance directives and their families by providing a clearer, more modern way to appoint someone to make medical decisions for them.

Maddy summaryHB 4419 adds legal protections to Michigan's health care decision-making framework. It shields health care providers and facilities from liability when following decisions made by a legally designated patient surrogate or advocate, as long as they act in good faith. The bill also protects surrogates and advocates from liability for good-faith health care decisions they make. Providers who intentionally violate these rules face minimum damages of $1,000, while those who falsify or tamper with a patient's health care directive designation face minimum damages of $2,500. This directly affects patients with advance directives, their designated surrogates, and medical providers.

Maddy summaryHB 5483 amends Michigan's penal code to specifically protect United States Postal Service letter carriers by adding them to the list of protected individuals under assault laws. The bill increases penalties for assaulting, obstructing, or endangering these workers based on injury severity: up to 2 years for basic assault, 4 years for serious injury requiring medical care, 15 years for serious bodily impairment, and 20 years if the assault causes death. It clarifies that existing penalties for assaulting law enforcement or emergency personnel also apply to letter carriers when they are performing their duties. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment and does not affect other potential charges for the same incident.

Maddy summaryHB 5154 requires public middle schools (grades 6-8) and high schools (grades 9-12) to accept cash as a payment option for admission fees to interscholastic athletic events. It directly affects school districts and public school academies that charge such fees. The bill amends Michigan’s School Code to mandate that school boards ensure cash is accepted, alongside other payment methods. This change applies only to schools charging admission fees for athletic activities, with no other policy changes specified.

Maddy summaryHB 5454 prohibits the use of perchloroethylene (PCE) in dry cleaning solvents in Michigan, directly affecting dry cleaning businesses, manufacturers, and sellers. The bill bans manufacturing PCE solvents after December 1, 2031; selling them after June 1, 2032; and using them after December 1, 2032. It creates a state fund to provide grants and resources for dry cleaners transitioning to safer alternatives, including cost-share programs and a buy-back program for existing PCE products. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will administer the fund and cost-share program. Violations could result in civil fines up to $10,000.

Maddy summaryHB 5059 allows liquor vendors, their sales staff, or third-party engravers to personalize bottles of spirits sold by licensed distributors in Michigan. It permits engraving before sale (at the distributor's location) or after purchase (with the bottle returned to the distributor's premises for engraving and pickup). The bill clarifies that retailers holding engraved bottles for consumer pickup does not violate existing liquor laws. This directly affects spirits distributors, vendors, engraving businesses, and consumers seeking customized bottles.

Maddy summaryHB 4262 empowers Michigan's attorney general to investigate and enforce violations of the state's Event Online Ticket Sales Act. It directly affects online ticket sellers who misrepresent ticket prices, availability, or fees. Key provisions include imposing civil fines of up to $5,000 per violated ticket, allowing the attorney general to seek court injunctions against ongoing violations, and enabling recovery of fines and restitution. The bill adds enforcement tools to the existing ticket sales law without changing the underlying consumer protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4543 changes how Michigan's home heating credit is adjusted annually. It replaces the use of the national U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) with the Detroit Consumer Price Index to calculate annual credit adjustments. This means the credit amount for eligible households will now reflect local cost-of-living changes in Detroit instead of national averages. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate income Michigan residents who claim the home heating credit on their state tax returns.