Rep. Jaz Martus

Maddy summaryHR 36 is a non-binding resolution introduced by 18 House members urging the federal government to create a national strategy to address the bird flu outbreak. It highlights the outbreak's impacts - including over 150 million affected poultry, 1,000 dairy herds impacted, and 68 human cases - as justification for this request. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but formally calls on federal agencies to prioritize developing a coordinated response. It directly addresses the federal government, not specific communities or industries, though the outbreak affects agriculture and public health nationwide.

Maddy summaryHB 4166 prohibits the non-medical use of xylazine (a sedative sometimes mixed with drugs like fentanyl) in Michigan. It defines "illicit use" as any xylazine use not covered under "licit use," which includes legal veterinary applications, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or approved medical treatments. The bill amends Michigan's Public Health Code to make possessing or using xylazine for non-licensed purposes a felony, with penalties ranging from up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $1 million depending on the amount. This directly affects individuals using xylazine outside approved medical or veterinary contexts, aligning penalties with those for other controlled substances like opioids.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 34) urges the federal government to consider the economic impacts of tariffs on trade with Canada and Mexico. It directly affects Michigan businesses, particularly in agriculture (where Canada is the top export market), manufacturing, and auto production, which rely on stable North American supply chains. The resolution reaffirms support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and highlights Michigan’s $3 billion annual agricultural exports and $55 billion in annual trade with Ontario. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally advocates for fair trade negotiations to protect Michigan’s economy.

Maddy summaryHB 4131 updates Michigan's animal care laws by clarifying definitions and requirements for dog shelter and tethering. It directly affects dog owners, breeders, pet shops, and animal shelters by specifying that dog shelters must include properly insulated doghouses with dry bedding (like straw or cedar shavings) during freezing temperatures, excluding items like blankets, cardboard, or crawl spaces. The bill also requires tethers for dogs to be at least three times the dog's length (nose-to-tail) unless used for grooming, training, transport, or hunting. These changes aim to ensure dogs have adequate protection from weather and prevent harmful tethering practices. The bill is currently in committee after its February 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 4132 amends Michigan's personal protection order law to explicitly include animal-related abuse as a prohibited act in domestic violence cases. The bill adds new language (subsection 1(k)) making it illegal for a respondent to injure, kill, threaten, or remove an animal in which the petitioner has ownership interest, or to retain an animal taken from the petitioner. This directly affects domestic violence victims who rely on pets for emotional support, expanding court orders to protect both people and their companion animals. The provision specifies it does not override lawful animal use (e.g., hunting under state law) and aligns with existing protections for victims.

Maddy summaryHB 4130 amends Section 2 of Michigan's Animal Welfare Fund Act (MCL 287.992) by updating the definition of "State animal anticruelty laws" to explicitly include specific sections of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.49-750.70, 750.70a, and MCL 750.50(8) and (12)). This technical update ensures the fund act correctly references existing animal cruelty laws without creating new policies or funding. The bill affects how the Animal Welfare Fund Act applies to enforcement of current animal protection laws. It is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4121 prohibits local governments (counties, cities, townships, villages) from adopting property tax caps that automatically reduce tax rates when revenue hits a fixed dollar limit. It voids any existing local tax cap with this automatic reduction feature and requires local units to disregard such caps. The bill specifically targets caps imposed by local charter, ordinance, or policy - not state-mandated limits - making them unenforceable. This change ensures local tax revenue limits cannot trigger automatic rate cuts based solely on annual dollar amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 4109 clarifies that health club staff (including owners and employees) have no legal obligation to provide emergency medical assistance using on-site AEDs during health club incidents. It explicitly states this does not override Michigan's existing Good Samaritan law (1963 PA 17), which protects people who assist in emergencies. The bill requires companion bill HB 4108 to pass first before taking effect. This directly affects health club operations regarding medical emergency response protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 4096 expands worker's compensation protections for public safety workers by presuming that heart and respiratory diseases develop from job duties. It directly affects full-time, part-time, and paid-on-call members of fire, police, and public safety departments; county sheriffs and deputies; state police; conservation officers; and forest/motor carrier enforcement officers. The bill amends Section 405 to include these conditions as "personal injury" under the Worker's Disability Compensation Act, meaning they are presumed work-related unless proven otherwise. Before claiming benefits, applicants must first seek pension eligibility under Section 405(4), and benefits from the new presumption cannot overlap with employer-provided coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 4093 updates Michigan's Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act to correct an outdated reference in jury selection rules for eminent domain cases. It amends Section 12 (MCL 213.62) to properly reference current jury selection procedures under the Revised Judicature Act, replacing obsolete language. The bill directly affects property owners and government entities involved in condemnation proceedings where jury trials for "just compensation" are requested. This procedural update only takes effect if companion bill HB 4091 is enacted, ensuring alignment with related legislative changes.