Rep. Denise Mentzer

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Landlord and Tenant Act to update the official definitions of key terms used in residential rental agreements. It clarifies who qualifies as a landlord, including property owners and authorized agents who manage the premises or collect rent. The legislation also expands the definition of a rental unit to explicitly include mobile home spaces and establishes a broader list of acceptable sources of income for tenants, such as housing vouchers and Social Security benefits. Additionally, it refines the definition of a security deposit to clarify what funds are included and excluded from the category. These changes aim to provide clearer legal standards for interactions between landlords and tenants across various housing types.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to advise the state on research, diagnosis, and treatment for rare diseases. The council will be composed of a diverse group of members, including medical professionals, patient advocates, industry representatives, and individuals with rare diseases, who will serve four-year terms. Once established, the council is authorized to hold public hearings, consult with experts, and apply for grants to develop recommendations for improving care and support for those affected by conditions that impact fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update the definitions of "rental agreement" and "residential premises" within Michigan's Truth in Renting Act. It clarifies that a rental agreement is a written contract covering terms like identity, location, duration, and payment details, while explicitly excluding simple lists of these facts. The definition of residential premises is expanded to include various living spaces such as apartments and boardinghouses but specifically excludes hotels, motels, and owner-occupied homes rented only occasionally. These changes aim to provide clearer legal boundaries for what constitutes a covered rental situation under the state's tenant protection laws.

Maddy summaryHB 5851 amends Michigan's Child Protection Law to update the official definitions of key terms used throughout the statute. The bill clarifies who is considered responsible for a child's welfare, including parents, guardians, and staff at licensed child care and foster care facilities. It also provides precise definitions for serious offenses such as confirmed sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and exposure to methamphetamine production. By standardizing these terms, the legislation aims to ensure consistent application of child protection rules across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires juveniles under state supervision who are convicted of specific sex-related offenses to provide DNA samples before being released from wardship. It applies to minors found responsible for crimes such as prostitution, soliciting minors for sexual acts, and indecent exposure, mandating that these samples be collected by juvenile agencies without the need for a court order or the juvenile's consent. The collected DNA profiles are restricted to law enforcement identification, judicial proceedings, and de-identified academic or research use, while a $60 assessment fee is imposed to cover the costs of processing and storing these samples.

Maddy summaryHB 5864 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to ensure that crimes involving prostitution are consistently classified as felonies rather than misdemeanors. This change directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants by requiring them to apply stricter sentencing standards for prostitution-related offenses. The bill removes previous language that allowed for the classification of these crimes as less serious felonies or misdemeanors, thereby standardizing how such cases are handled within the state's legal system.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands legal protections for individuals who voluntarily provide emergency bleeding control, such as using pressure, dressings, or tourniquets, to people in medical distress. It states that these individuals cannot be sued for damages resulting from their actions unless they act with gross negligence or willful misconduct. The law applies to anyone without a pre-existing duty to help who responds in good faith to an emergency situation. This change aims to encourage bystanders to assist with life-saving bleeding control measures without fear of civil liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Library Freedom to Read Act, which creates new rules for how public libraries in Michigan select and remove books and other materials. It requires libraries to adopt written policies that outline their standards for choosing items and the specific steps they must follow when someone requests a book be reconsidered or removed. Under the new law, library directors have the final say on collection decisions, and requests for reconsideration are only reviewed if they come from residents of the library's local area and meet specific conditions, such as the requester having read the entire item. The act defines what counts as a library material and clarifies that it does not apply to websites, interlibrary loans, or programs not run by the library itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the ability of individuals in Michigan to have their criminal convictions set aside, specifically adding a provision for people who were convicted of crimes while being victims of human trafficking. Under the new rules, a person who was a victim of human trafficking can apply to clear any conviction they received as a direct result of that trafficking, provided they still meet the general limits on the number of offenses that can be expunged. The legislation also clarifies how certain deferred and dismissed charges are counted toward these limits and defines specific types of crimes, such as assaultive offenses and domestic violence, that are subject to stricter restrictions. By amending existing state law, the bill allows eligible individuals to petition the court for relief without changing the fundamental eligibility criteria for other applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's DNA identification profiling laws to require the permanent collection of DNA samples from individuals arrested for specific sex-related offenses, including prostitution and commercial sexual activity. It mandates that law enforcement collect these samples after an arrest but before sentencing, with the resulting DNA profiles retained in the state database unless the charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted. Additionally, the legislation imposes a $60 assessment fee on those convicted of these crimes, with the collected funds distributed between local law enforcement agencies and the state justice system to cover sample collection costs. The bill also clarifies that individuals do not need to provide a new sample or pay the fee if the state already possesses their DNA profile from a prior arrest for the same types of offenses.