Rep. Kara Hope

Maddy summaryHB 4738 amends Michigan's sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for harming specific working animals used by law enforcement. The bill directly affects individuals who kill or cause serious physical harm to police dogs, police horses, or search and rescue dogs. It would modify existing sentencing guidelines (MCL 777.16b) to establish stricter penalties for these offenses, treating them as more severe crimes. This change would apply to all such incidents occurring in Michigan, with sentencing adjustments to reflect the heightened risk to public safety and law enforcement operations. The bill was introduced on July 15, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 4675 requires Michigan's education department to develop and share a list of optional cursive handwriting instruction programs for public schools by June 2027. Starting in the 2026-2027 or 2027-2028 school year, school districts and public school academies are encouraged - but not required - to incorporate one of these model programs into their curriculum. The bill aims to support schools in meeting existing credit requirements under Michigan’s merit standards by offering cursive instruction as a voluntary option. It directly affects Michigan public schools by providing resources for optional handwriting education, without mandating changes to current standards.

Maddy summaryHR 138 is a symbolic resolution introduced by Michigan House representatives to declare June 2025 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month in the state. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the historical significance of LGBTQ+ rights movements, including the Stonewall Riots and key legal victories like Obergefell and Bostock. The resolution aims to affirm Michigan's support for LGBTQ+ communities and their contributions to the state's cultural and economic vitality. This declaration directly affects all Michiganders by officially honoring Pride Month through state-level recognition.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution (HR 132) urges the federal government to reinstate the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which was suspended indefinitely by President Trump's January 2025 executive order. It directly affects refugees currently blocked from entering the U.S. due to the suspension, citing court challenges and a 2024 report noting refugees undergo the most rigorous screening of any immigrant group. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action to resume refugee admissions. It was introduced on June 12, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares June 12, 2025, as "Black Men Awareness Day" in Michigan. It is a symbolic recognition meant to honor Black men's contributions to Michigan's history, culture, and communities. The resolution does not create new laws, policies, or funding mechanisms - it solely establishes a designated day for awareness. It directly affects Michigan residents through this official state acknowledgment. The bill was introduced and adopted by the Michigan House of Representatives on June 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4604 updates Michigan's law recognizing out-of-state marriages to use gender-neutral language, removing the current reference to "a man and a woman." It repeals the provision that deemed same-sex marriages invalid under Michigan law for recognition purposes. The bill would ensure marriages legally performed in other states - regardless of the spouses' gender - are recognized as valid in Michigan. However, this change is conditional: it only takes effect if the related constitutional amendment (HJR F'25) is approved by voters. This affects how Michigan law treats marriages solemnized in other states, not Michigan's own marriage eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4616 updates Michigan's marriage laws to remove gender-specific language. It amends sections 2, 3, and 9 of the 1846 Revised Statutes (MCL 551.2, 551.3, and 551.9) to replace terms like "man and woman" with gender-neutral language, affecting all couples entering marriage in Michigan. The bill removes gender references from the definition of marriage, prohibited relationships, and the solemnization requirements. It repeals outdated sections (MCL 551.1 and 551.4) that contained gendered language. The change applies to all marriage contracts and ceremonies under current law.

Maddy summaryHB 4613 updates Michigan law to replace gender-specific terms like "husband and wife" with "spouses" in rules about joint ownership of personal property. It clarifies that certain personal property (such as bonds, stocks, or promissory notes) held by married couples will automatically be considered joint tenancy with survivorship rights - meaning the surviving spouse inherits the property - unless the document specifies otherwise. This change applies to personal property, not real estate, and aligns existing rules with modern marriage terminology. The bill requires a constitutional amendment (HJR F'25) to take effect, as noted in its enacting section.

Maddy summaryHB 4615 updates Michigan's Uniform Veterans' Guardianship Act to remove gendered language. It replaces references like "his wife" with the gender-neutral term "spouse" in Section 13 (MCL 35.83), ensuring the law applies equally to all veterans under guardianship regardless of their spouse's gender. This change directly affects veterans who have appointed guardians and their spouses, making the legal language inclusive without altering existing support or maintenance provisions for wards.

Maddy summaryHB 4609 amends Michigan's 1981 Married Women's Property Act (1981 PA 216) to replace gender-specific language with neutral terms. It updates sections 1, 4, 5, and 6 to refer to "a person" instead of "a married woman," and removes references to "husband" or "spouse" where they are not legally necessary. The bill preserves all existing property rights for married individuals but modernizes the law's language to be inclusive. This is a procedural update, not a change to property rights, and depends on a constitutional amendment passing.