Rep. Kara Hope

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan election law to expand the list of documents that qualify as valid identification for voting and voter registration. It directly affects voters and election officials by clarifying which specific IDs, such as driver's licenses, passports, military cards, and student IDs, are acceptable. The legislation explicitly excludes mobile versions of certain licenses and state ID cards from this list while also defining other key terms like "absent voter" and "educational institution." The bill does not take effect until three other related Senate bills are also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Lobbyist Act to clarify which items and services do not count as "gifts" that public employees must report. It explicitly excludes standard campaign contributions, routine business loans, meals, and contributions to registered legal defense funds from the definition of a reportable gift. Additionally, the legislation sets specific monetary limits for small, de minimis items, allowing public officials to accept single items under $20 or a total of $80 worth of items within a three-month period without triggering reporting requirements. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens for public officials while maintaining transparency around larger or more significant transfers of value.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's financial disclosure requirements for state representatives, senators, and other high-ranking public officials. It clarifies definitions for terms like "gift," "lobbyist," and "earned income" while expanding the specific details officers must report on their financial forms. Key changes include requiring the disclosure of a spouse's employment and lobbyist registration, adjusting asset and debt reporting thresholds to account for inflation, and specifying which types of investments and business positions must be listed. The legislation directly affects the transparency of financial interests for elected officials and their immediate families by standardizing how this information is collected and reported.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to strengthen the regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks, for properties not connected to public sewer lines. It establishes new definitions for various waste systems and grants local health departments expanded authority to inspect, evaluate, and enforce compliance with these regulations. The legislation also clarifies that connecting to an available public sewer system is a priority for public health and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Michigan to cover a 12-month supply of prescription birth control at once, provided the medication is on the plan's list of covered drugs. The law mandates that insurers also cover related medical services, such as doctor visits and exams, needed to prescribe and dispense these contraceptives. While the coverage must be available regardless of when the patient first started the plan, standard cost-sharing rules like copayments and deductibles still apply, and the requirement does not extend to the final month of a plan year. The policy takes effect on December 31, 2025, affecting all health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state or covering Michigan residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to allow Michigan county boards of commissioners to hire retired employees back into county sheriff's offices without requiring them to forfeit their retirement benefits. The legislation clarifies that counties can employ retirees in this specific role while they continue to receive their existing pension or retirement allowance. By modifying section 12a of the 1951 County Boards of Commissioners Act, the measure provides legal authority for counties to utilize the experience of former sheriff's office staff without creating a financial penalty for their retirement status.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Technical Advisory Committee within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to guide regulations on onsite wastewater treatment systems. The committee will consist of 21 members representing local health departments, engineers, scientists, manufacturers, installers, and other stakeholders to advise on standards, testing, and ethical guidelines. It establishes specific requirements for registering and continuing education for evaluators and practitioners who design, construct, maintain, or manage these systems. The committee will also provide guidance on how local health departments should handle older systems that were permitted before the new statewide sewage code took effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in Michigan to impose specific restrictions on firearms, pneumatic guns, and related ammunition within their jurisdictions. It explicitly permits municipalities to regulate how employees carry weapons at work, set age limits for children possessing air guns, ban threatening displays of such weapons, and prohibit open carry inside government buildings. The legislation also clarifies that these local rules cannot override existing state criminal laws and must allow law enforcement officers to openly carry firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's sentencing laws to allow certain prisoners convicted of multiple felonies to petition the court for a review of their sentences. It establishes a formal process for these individuals to request resentencing, which would require a judge to evaluate whether their current punishment remains appropriate under current legal standards. The legislation specifically targets those sentenced under the state's habitual offender provisions and creates new sections in the criminal procedure code to govern this review mechanism. By adding these new procedures, the bill aims to provide a legal pathway for eligible inmates to seek a reduction in their prison terms without changing the underlying laws that led to their original convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers in Michigan from requiring employees, independent contractors, or interns to sign noncompete agreements, which are contracts that prevent workers from working for competitors after leaving their current job. The law allows noncompetes only in specific situations, such as when a business owner sells their company or when a worker is highly compensated and restricted from soliciting clients rather than competing directly. Agreements that violate these rules are declared unenforceable, and workers who face penalties for breaking them can sue for lost wages and legal fees. However, the bill does not ban agreements protecting trade secrets or those restricting client solicitation under strict conditions, such as a high salary and a one-year limit.