Rep. Denise Mentzer

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Revised Judicature Act to clarify how existing personal protection orders apply to animal abuse cases. It directly affects individuals seeking legal protection from domestic violence or stalking by explicitly adding provisions that allow courts to restrain a respondent from injuring, killing, or neglecting an animal owned by the petitioner. The key mechanism involves expanding the list of prohibited behaviors to include specific acts against pets intended to cause mental distress or exert control over the victim. Additionally, the bill ensures that courts cannot refuse to issue an order solely because there is no police or medical report, while prohibiting mutual orders unless both parties independently petition for them. These changes aim to strengthen legal recourse for victims by formally recognizing animal cruelty as a relevant factor in domestic safety restraining orders.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits judges from sentencing individuals under the age of 19 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It achieves this by amending existing criminal procedure laws to remove the authority for courts to impose such extreme sentences on juveniles. The legislation directly affects the sentencing options available for minors convicted of serious crimes, ensuring they cannot receive a life sentence with no chance of release. By eliminating this specific penalty, the bill restricts the maximum punishment for young offenders while leaving other sentencing structures for adults and older juveniles unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act to require local labor unions representing casino employees to register with the state board and submit detailed personal information about their designated officials and staff. The new provisions mandate that unions provide extensive data, including full names, addresses, compensation details, criminal history, and photographs for these individuals, with the option to use existing U.S. Department of Labor reports to satisfy some requirements. Additionally, the legislation establishes a disqualification process that allows the board to bar union officers from negotiating wages or collecting dues if they have convictions for specific crimes such as gambling, theft, fraud, or prostitution, provided there is clear and convincing evidence of a pattern of behavior. Information submitted under this section is exempt from public disclosure under the state's freedom of information act, and the board retains the authority to waive disqualifications or rescind bans based on a finding that justice requires it.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's public health code to exclude individuals under the age of 19 from facing life imprisonment without parole for specific drug-related crimes. It targets the sale, manufacture, or possession of adulterated or misbranded drugs that result in death, particularly when the offender intended to kill or cause serious harm to two or more people. While adults committing these acts could previously face life sentences without the possibility of parole, this legislation ensures that minors convicted of the same offenses receive a fixed-term sentence ranging from 20 to 60 years instead. The law also maintains existing penalties for less severe violations and includes a tie-breaker provision requiring the simultaneous enactment of four related bills for this change to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Judicial Protection Act, establishes new safety and privacy measures for judges in Michigan and their immediate family members. It allows judges to request that government agencies and private entities stop sharing specific personal details, such as home addresses, phone numbers, and financial information, with the public. To enforce this, the law creates a formal process where judges can submit written requests to remove or prevent the posting of this sensitive data. The protections apply to state, federal, and tribal court judges within the state, as well as their spouses, children, parents, and other relatives living at the same address.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's insurance laws to clarify which actions by insurance companies do not count as unfair trade practices like discrimination or rebating. It specifically exempts life insurance bonuses, premium adjustments based on group loss experience, and free or discounted value-added services that help with risk management, health, or financial wellness. The law requires that any such services be fair, reasonable in cost, and directly related to the insurance coverage while ensuring customers receive necessary contact information. Additionally, the bill grants the state director authority to create rules that protect consumer data privacy and prevent unfair discrimination in the implementation of these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by clarifying definitions for political terms and expanding reporting requirements for specific nonprofit groups. It formally defines "501(c)(4) organizations" and "527 organizations" as entities that are controlled, directed, or staffed by candidates, elected officials, their appointees, or their family members. Additionally, the legislation provides new definitions for concepts like "election cycle," "honorarium," and "fund raising event" to ensure consistent application of campaign finance rules. These changes directly affect political candidates, public officials, and the nonprofit organizations that interact with them by establishing clearer boundaries for what must be disclosed to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain political nonprofits, specifically 527 and 501(c)(4) organizations, to electronically register with the Michigan Secretary of State within 10 days of forming. The registration must include the organization's name, the names of its key leaders, and the elected officials or candidates they support. The Secretary of State will make this information publicly available on their website, while political party committees are exempt from these requirements. Organizations that fail to register face civil fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on their financial balance, and individual officials associated with non-compliant groups may also be fined up to $1,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend Michigan's medical malpractice laws by increasing the cap on noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, from $280,000 to $1,000,000 per plaintiff and per defendant. The change applies to cases involving injuries like paralysis, permanent cognitive impairment, reproductive loss, death, serious disfigurement, or significant bodily function impairment, while maintaining a lower $500,000 cap for other severe injuries. Additionally, the bill updates the mechanism for adjusting these monetary limits annually to match changes in the state's consumer price index.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to create a program that tests public drinking water for microplastics between July 2025 and July 2028. The department must sample water sources quarterly using established methods and focus on areas such as Great Lakes shorelines, agricultural groundwater, and sites near landfills. After the testing period, the department is required to submit a final report by January 2029 that details findings and offers recommendations for future action.