Rep. Julie Brixie

Maddy summaryHB 5354 amends Michigan's Public Health Code to allow pharmacists and community-based organizations to dispense or administer opioid antagonists (like naloxone) under standing orders issued by the chief medical executive during public health emergencies or when prescription requirements conflict with public health needs. It specifies conditions for issuing these orders - such as protecting public health during emergencies or ensuring access without individual prescriptions - and requires detailed documentation in each standing order. The bill also provides liability protection for pharmacists, community organizations, and health department staff acting under these orders, unless the action involves willful misconduct or gross negligence. Standing orders expire after 1 year (for non-emergency uses) or 6 months (for emergencies), with extensions requiring public justification on the state health department website.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 224) urges the Trump-Vance administration to reverse its denial of federal disaster relief funding for northern Michigan residents affected by a March 2025 ice storm. It specifically requests the full amount of funding requested under the Stafford Act for individual assistance, public utilities, and hazard mitigation after the storm caused widespread infrastructure damage and hardship. The resolution is non-binding and serves only to formally express congressional support for affected communities, directing copies to the President, FEMA, and Michigan's congressional delegation. It does not alter funding decisions or create new legal obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 4470 amends Michigan's penal code to designate specific portions of the Mackinac Bridge (those not open to or intended for public use) as a "key facility" under existing law. This means unauthorized entry onto these bridge sections - when enclosed by barriers like water and properly posted with signage - would become a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison or a $2,500 fine. The bill adds the Mackinac Bridge to a list of protected critical infrastructure, including power plants, water facilities, and chemical plants, all requiring physical barriers and visible signage to enforce entry restrictions. It does not change current penalties or posting requirements but extends them specifically to the Mackinac Bridge's restricted areas.

Maddy summaryHB 4108 amends Michigan's tort law to grant legal immunity to individuals who provide emergency bleeding control during medical crises. It directly protects ordinary citizens (not just professionals) who act in good faith to stop severe bleeding, such as at accident scenes or public events. The key provision shields these helpers from lawsuits for unintentional harm caused while applying bleeding control techniques, like using tourniquets or pressure dressings. This change applies specifically to bleeding control efforts during emergencies, not general emergency assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 5285 prohibits minors under 18 from using or possessing BB guns (defined as pneumatic guns firing BBs/pellets via spring, gas, or air) outside their home property without an adult over 18 present. It directly affects unaccompanied minors who might use such devices in public or non-residential areas. The bill creates penalties for violations, including up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine, and clarifies that "pneumatic gun" includes common BB/pellet guns. The legislation is pending review by the Government Operations Committee after its introduction on November 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5250, titled the "Weight Loss Products and Minors Act," prohibits retailers from selling dietary supplements marketed for weight loss or muscle building and over-the-counter diet pills to anyone under 18. It requires physical store sales to verify age using valid ID (like a driver's license), and online sales to confirm age through approved databases before shipping, with delivery requiring ID proof at time of receipt. The bill directly affects retailers selling these products and minors under 18, creating new requirements for age verification in both physical and virtual transactions. It does not change product safety standards but adds civil penalties for violations, including fines up to $1,000 per violation. The bill is pending in Michigan's Health Policy Committee as of its introduction on November 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5261 establishes a mental health support program within Michigan's Veterans Affairs Agency. It requires the agency to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct statewide outreach on mental health resources for service members, veterans, and their families (Section 322(1)(a)), develop materials to help families recognize mental health changes (Section 322(1)(b)), and collect data under the Protecting Veterans Mental Health Act (Section 322(1)(c)). The bill also creates a dedicated family support program for navigating mental health services (Section 322(2)) and allows digital platforms to connect veterans to resources (Section 322(3)), while protecting individual health records from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (Section 322(4)). The bill is contingent on the passage of companion bill HB 5270.

Maddy summaryHB 5267 requires Michigan's veterans' facility ombudsman to notify specific parties within 10 business days when deciding to investigate complaints or reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in state veterans' homes. It directly affects resident veterans, their families, legal representatives, and the facilities themselves, as well as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The bill mandates written notification to complainants, affected veterans, and relevant departments upon initiating or declining an investigation, ensuring transparency in the process. This amendment to existing law (2016 PA 198) focuses on improving communication and accountability in handling facility abuse reports.

Maddy summaryHB 5263 requires Michigan veterans' facilities and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to forward written reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Michigan Veterans’ Facility Ombudsman. This directly affects veterans' facilities, their employees, and the ombudsman, who gains authority to independently investigate such reports without needing facility approval. The bill mandates that facilities immediately send reports to the ombudsman, who can then interview staff, contractors, or witnesses to probe issues affecting resident veterans’ safety. These changes aim to ensure prompt, impartial reviews of facility conditions that pose health or safety risks to veterans.

Maddy summaryHB 5259 establishes a peer mentorship program within Michigan's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to connect active-duty military members (including National Guard and reserves) and veterans with volunteer mentors. The program helps participants access resources for education, employment, family issues, financial matters, and health care - including mental health and substance use disorder support through veteran navigators. Mentors must be recruited from veterans where possible, and program records are protected from public disclosure under Michigan's freedom of information law. The bill requires companion legislation (HB 5270) to take effect.