Rep. Denise Mentzer

Maddy summaryHB 6227 amends the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to update definitions related to eligible properties, blighted sites, and tax capture revenues. A key provision modifies the calculation of tax increment revenues by explicitly excluding property taxes levied for zoological authorities, art institute authorities, and history museum authorities from the funds available for brownfield redevelopment projects. This change ensures that specific taxes designated for these cultural and educational institutions are not diverted to finance environmental cleanup or site improvements under the act. The bill takes effect only if it is enacted alongside two related companion bills, HB 6226 and HB 6228.

Maddy summaryHB 4072 requires hospitals and freestanding surgical outpatient facilities to offer patients any unused eye drops or eye ointments after ophthalmic surgical procedures or medical care. This applies when the facility-provided medication was administered to the patient and is required for their ongoing treatment upon discharge. The bill details labeling requirements if a pharmacist dispenses the drug, and assigns the responsibility for patient counseling on its use to the prescribing doctor. This allows patients to take home remaining eye medications for continued care.

Maddy summaryHB 4517 amends Michigan's Child Abduction Broadcast Act to update its title and expand how radio and TV stations can share missing child information. It specifically allows stations to broadcast alerts via social media (beyond traditional radio/TV) when sharing details from the Michigan Department of State Police under the Amber Alert system. The bill also maintains legal immunity for stations that accurately broadcast this information. This directly affects broadcasters, law enforcement, and the public by broadening the channels for urgent child safety alerts.

Maddy summaryHB 4518 modifies Michigan's Amber Alert Act to require law enforcement agencies to submit missing child alert reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children within 24 hours of activating an alert. This change directly affects Michigan police departments and state agencies that use the Amber Alert system. The bill updates existing law by replacing prior reporting timelines with a specific 24-hour deadline for submissions. This policy adjustment aims to expedite information sharing during missing child cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4350 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow individuals to feed wild birds and other wildlife under specific conditions. This bill permits such feeding if it occurs within 300 feet of a residence and the total amount of feed does not exceed two gallons. It clarifies that this allowance does not apply to activities like baiting for hunting, normal agricultural practices, or feeding conducted in a way that excludes deer and elk. This aims to create limited exceptions for recreational or preventative feeding of wildlife by residents.

Maddy summaryHB 5232 changes Michigan's military leave law to require local governments (cities, towns, counties) to provide paid leave for certain law enforcement and fire department employees who serve in active military duty. It mandates that local units of government must cover the pay difference between an employee's civilian salary and military pay during their leave, ensuring they don't lose income. The bill specifically adds mandatory paid leave for these public safety workers, while still allowing local governments flexibility to create similar programs for other employees. This amendment updates existing law (MCL 32.273a) to reflect new requirements for first responders.

Maddy summaryHB 5233, the "Military Leave for First Responders Act," requires fire departments and law enforcement agencies in Michigan to provide at least 26 days of paid leave annually for employees serving in military reserve components. It directly affects fire department and law enforcement agency members who are enlisted in reserve units, covering both active duty deployment and training. The law mandates employers pay these members their regular wage during leave and maintain all contractually required benefits. It also specifies advance notice requirements for leave requests (14 days for 10-20 days off, as soon as possible for longer periods) and includes a provision for paid leave to attend pre-induction military exams.

Maddy summaryHB 5249 creates a new "adaptive care license" for ambulance operations currently licensed only for basic life support (BLS). It allows these operations to gradually upgrade to provide limited advanced life support (ALS) or advanced life support (ALS) services, provided they demonstrate staffing and equipment readiness for higher care levels by January 1, 2025. The license requires annual documentation of progress toward this upgrade, including training and equipment plans, and must be renewed annually alongside the operation's regular license. This applies specifically to ambulance services owned or contracted by local governments that previously provided only BLS for emergency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Charter Township Act to clarify procedures for township board meetings and establish a conflict of interest rule for officials. It requires boards to hold regular monthly meetings, mandates specific notice periods and public access for special meetings, and ensures all business is conducted openly in compliance with the Open Meetings Act. The legislation also updates provisions regarding quorums, meeting minutes, public access to records, and the authority to enforce orderly conduct at meetings. Additionally, it introduces a mechanism allowing board members to abstain from voting if they identify a personal conflict of interest or if they seek appointment to fill a vacancy. These changes directly affect township supervisors, clerks, and other elected officials in Michigan charter townships.

Maddy summaryHB 6170 updates the definitions within Michigan's Wolf-Dog Cross Act to ensure consistency with other state laws regarding animal shelters and law enforcement. The bill clarifies terms such as "animal control officer," "animal control shelter," and "law enforcement officer" by referencing existing statutes from the Dog Law and the Animal Industry Act. It also provides specific criteria for who qualifies as an expert on wolf-dog cross identification and defines what constitutes a wolf, a dog, and a wolf-dog cross. This legislation does not create new regulations but rather aligns the terminology used in the Wolf-Dog Cross Act with current legal definitions.