Rep. Denise Mentzer

Maddy summaryHB 4767 requires Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to develop a statewide research and monitoring plan focused on microplastics in the Great Lakes. The plan must assess microplastic impacts on health, ecosystems, and drinking water, establish baseline data, identify sources, and propose solutions like source reduction and public education. It mandates collaboration with universities (e.g., MSU, U of M) and adherence to federal standards, with the initial plan due to the legislature by July 2026 and full implementation by July 2028. This directly affects state agencies, research institutions, and Michigan residents through efforts to protect the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Maddy summaryHB 4768 requires Michigan's environmental department to establish a program testing public drinking water for microplastics from 2027 to 2030. The program mandates quarterly testing using methods from agencies like the EPA, focusing on water sources such as Great Lakes tributaries, groundwater near landfills, and agricultural areas. By July 2031, the department must submit a report to the legislature detailing microplastic levels, testing methods, and recommendations for future action. This bill creates a baseline study to understand microplastic presence without setting immediate regulatory limits.

Maddy summaryHB 4766 prohibits the manufacture and sale of personal care products (like face washes and lotions) and cleaning products (including soaps and air fresheners) containing plastic microbeads in Michigan. Starting January 1, 2026, manufacturers cannot make such products, and retailers cannot sell them starting January 1, 2027, with an exception for microbeads below 1 part per million by weight. The law applies to businesses producing or selling these items in Michigan, and violations can result in daily fines up to $2,000. Enforcement falls to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, which will track compliance and report annually.

Maddy summaryHB 4677 requires Michigan courts to provide petitioners with written information about alternatives to full guardianship before filing a petition, including supported decision-making. This bill directly affects individuals potentially declared incapacitated and their families or caregivers navigating guardianship proceedings. The key mechanism mandates courts to explain options like limited guardianship, durable power of attorney, and supported decision-making - where individuals with disabilities receive support from trusted people to make their own choices. The change aims to prioritize less restrictive options before appointing a full guardian.

Maddy summaryHB 4081 allows counties and municipalities in Michigan to set higher limits than the current state cap on the number of separate land parcels created when dividing a single property. It amends state law (MCL 560.108) that previously limited most land divisions to 12 parcels. The bill directly affects local governments, developers, and property owners by giving communities more flexibility to manage land use and development density. This change removes the state-imposed cap, enabling local authorities to establish their own parcel limits based on community needs.

Maddy summaryHB 4676 amends Michigan's mental health guardianship law to require courts and guardians to prioritize the "least restrictive means" when appointing guardians for individuals with mental health conditions. This directly affects people needing court-appointed guardianship due to mental health challenges, such as those with severe depression, schizophrenia, or developmental disabilities. The key provision mandates that guardians and courts must first consider less restrictive options - like supported living arrangements or limited guardianship - before imposing full guardianship. This change aims to preserve individual autonomy and minimize unnecessary restrictions on personal decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 4758 requires Michigan Works agencies to create teams providing job transition services to two groups: individuals who lost federal jobs involuntarily between January 2025 and January 2027 (dislocated federal employees), and veterans. The bill mandates these teams to analyze job matches with public employers, assess transferable skills, and refer individuals to both public and private employers needing staff. It also requires assistance with filing for unemployment benefits under Michigan’s existing employment security system. The law applies specifically to Michigan Works agencies and public employers like state/local governments, schools, and community colleges. This bill creates a new coordination framework but does not establish new benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 4759 encourages public employers (like state agencies, cities, schools, and community colleges) to use an expedited hiring process for dislocated federal employees who are referred through the state's reemployment services program. The bill requires public employers receiving such referrals to prioritize these candidates, though it does not mandate hiring. Key provisions include defining "public employer" broadly and specifying that this process must follow existing constitutional hiring rules for state positions. It does not override other laws but depends on another bill (HB 4758) being enacted first. The measure directly affects dislocated federal workers seeking new jobs and public employers hiring for open positions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the federal government to maintain funding and reinstate staff for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) while negotiating the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." It directly affects Michigan residents who rely on the state's Home Heating Credit Program, which provided assistance to 248,765 Michiganders in 2022 - including low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities - by helping cover heating costs. The resolution highlights that proposed federal budget cuts to LIHEAP and the recent firing of LIHEAP program staff threaten the program's continuation, potentially causing payment delays or termination. As a non-binding request, it asks federal leaders to prioritize LIHEAP funding to prevent disruption of this critical aid.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 146) symbolically declares August 3-9, 2025, as National Health Center Week in Michigan. It recognizes Michigan's community health centers, which serve over 675,000 residents across 450+ sites and provide primary care, behavioral health, and other services. The resolution honors these centers' role in improving health outcomes, supporting local economies ($1.7 billion impact), and addressing healthcare access barriers statewide. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing law.