Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4449, known as the "employee family health privacy act," aims to protect employees in Michigan. It prohibits employers from making employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, or compensation, based on the known or believed health condition or illness of an employee's family member. The bill also prevents employers from inquiring about a family member's health status, with exceptions for verifying sick leave, family and medical leave eligibility, or processing health coverage claims. Additionally, it prohibits retaliation against individuals who act to enforce their rights under this act and allows for civil actions to seek remedies for violations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4461 requires the Secretary of State to review voter eligibility if an individual, during a transaction, provides a document indicating they are not a U.S. citizen and are currently registered to vote. The Secretary of State must then verify citizenship status using databases like the motor vehicle database or SAVE. If the individual is found to be not a U.S. citizen, they will receive a notice, and their voter registration will be canceled after 60 days unless proof of U.S. citizenship is provided. The bill also mandates the Secretary of State to establish procedures for individuals to appeal such cancellations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4462 amends Michigan election law to update procedures for maintaining voter registration records. It establishes processes for local clerks to notify electors whose addresses may have changed within or between cities, requiring them to confirm their information or risk voting in a former precinct or having their registration canceled after a period of inactivity. The bill also directs the Secretary of State to notify electors who have moved out of state or have not voted for 20 years, potentially leading to registration cancellation if they do not respond. A key change is reducing the response time for electors to return address confirmation cards to 15 days before an election, and any prior absent voter ballot applications are rescinded upon receiving these notices.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 89 is a resolution introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives. It formally affirms the constitutional right of the people of Michigan to propose and approve amendments to the state's constitution. This right includes amendments that impact federal elections, such as those passed as Proposal 3 of 2018 and Proposal 2 of 2022. The resolution underscores the ability of Michigan citizens to directly participate in amending their state's foundational document.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 90 is a resolution urging the President, the United States Congress, and the National Labor Relations Board to enact policies that would ban employers from permanently replacing striking employees. This aims to strengthen protections for workers who are on strike.

Maddy summaryHB 4288 prohibits Michigan state agencies from hiring for unclassified positions based on factors other than objective merit, such as education or work experience. It directly affects state agencies hiring for roles outside the classified civil service (e.g., certain executive branch positions). The bill requires hiring decisions to rely solely on merit-based criteria and imposes civil fines of up to $10,000 per violation, with the attorney general authorized to collect penalties. This legislation creates new requirements for state hiring practices under Michigan law.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 85 is a resolution from the Michigan House of Representatives urging the federal government to pursue policies that support Michigan farmers. It specifically calls for fair and balanced trade policies to protect the state's agricultural sector from tariffs and trade disputes, and for investments in programs that promote agricultural resilience and market diversification.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4409 requires employers in Michigan to create and maintain a written job description for every position, directly affecting employers, job applicants, and current employees. These descriptions must detail essential duties, required skills, working conditions, schedule, and salary information. Employers must provide the applicable job description to applicants during recruitment, hiring, or promotion, and to any employee upon request. Current employees must also be given an opportunity to review and initial any revised job description before it is applied to them. Violations can lead to escalating civil fines for employers and allow aggrieved individuals to sue for actual damages or $10,000, plus attorney fees.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4389 proposes to establish a new fee on the disposal of hazardous waste in Class I multisource commercial injection wells in Michigan. Owners and operators of these wells would pay 0.417 cents per gallon of waste injected, generally assessing this fee against off-site waste generators. The collected fees would be deposited into a new "disposal well host community fund." This fund would then provide annual grants to cities and townships hosting these wells to promote public health, safety, or welfare in their jurisdictions. The bill also includes provisions for annual fee adjustments based on inflation and outlines specific waste types that are exempt from the fee.

Maddy summaryHB 4393 proposes amendments to Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The bill aims to increase disposal fees for hazardous waste and landfills. Additionally, it seeks to introduce limitations on certain types of disposal wells and the disposal of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM). These changes would directly impact entities involved in hazardous waste management, landfill operations, and specific disposal well activities within the state.