Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Crime Victim's Rights Act to ensure that victims of crime receive specific notices regarding their rights during the resentencing of prisoners. It requires prosecutors to inform victims about their ability to submit impact statements detailing physical, emotional, and economic harm, as well as their views on restitution and sentencing. The legislation also mandates that victims be notified about the availability of pre-sentence reports and the details of upcoming sentencing hearings. Additionally, these notification requirements apply to cases involving juveniles, ensuring consistent treatment of victims across different types of criminal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Revised Judicature Act to clarify how existing personal protection orders apply to animal abuse cases. It directly affects individuals seeking legal protection from domestic violence or stalking by explicitly adding provisions that allow courts to restrain a respondent from injuring, killing, or neglecting an animal owned by the petitioner. The key mechanism involves expanding the list of prohibited behaviors to include specific acts against pets intended to cause mental distress or exert control over the victim. Additionally, the bill ensures that courts cannot refuse to issue an order solely because there is no police or medical report, while prohibiting mutual orders unless both parties independently petition for them. These changes aim to strengthen legal recourse for victims by formally recognizing animal cruelty as a relevant factor in domestic safety restraining orders.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter within the Michigan Strategic Fund Act to establish a formal Center for Microenterprise Development. The legislation defines a microenterprise as a small business with 10 or fewer employees and outlines the role of nonprofit organizations that provide training, technical assistance, or loans to these businesses. By adding specific definitions for terms like "economic development project" and "green chemistry," the bill sets the framework for the fund to support small-scale industrial, commercial, and agricultural ventures. The changes amend existing state laws to ensure the fund can officially recognize and assist these smaller enterprises through structured development programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Judicial Protection Act, establishes new safety and privacy measures for judges in Michigan and their immediate family members. It allows judges to request that government agencies and private entities stop sharing specific personal details, such as home addresses, phone numbers, and financial information, with the public. To enforce this, the law creates a formal process where judges can submit written requests to remove or prevent the posting of this sensitive data. The protections apply to state, federal, and tribal court judges within the state, as well as their spouses, children, parents, and other relatives living at the same address.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act to update rules governing licenses for medical and recreational marijuana businesses. It directly affects individuals and companies involved in the cultivation, processing, testing, transportation, and sale of marijuana and industrial hemp by modifying existing requirements and adding new sections to the law. The key provisions include changes to how licenses are issued, adjustments to tax structures on commercial facilities, and updates to definitions regarding product safety and the roles of state regulatory agencies. Additionally, the legislation repeals certain previous sections while establishing new ones to ensure the safety of products and the security of licensed premises.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to repeal the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, which currently regulates the licensing and operation of medical marijuana facilities in Michigan. The repeal would take effect on March 1, 2026, removing the existing legal framework that governs these businesses. However, the bill includes a condition stating that it will only become law if a separate, related bill is also enacted into legislation. If passed, the change would eliminate the specific licensing requirements and oversight procedures established by the 2016 act.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's vehicle code to clarify lane usage rules for drivers on roadways with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction. It requires vehicles to stay in the extreme right-hand lane unless passing, turning left, avoiding streetcars, or responding to construction. The law specifically restricts heavy trucks and trailers from using any lane other than the rightmost one on freeways with three or more lanes, except when making turns or avoiding hazards. Local governments are also prohibited from passing ordinances that contradict these specific lane assignment rules. Violations of these requirements are classified as civil infractions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by clarifying definitions for political terms and expanding reporting requirements for specific nonprofit groups. It formally defines "501(c)(4) organizations" and "527 organizations" as entities that are controlled, directed, or staffed by candidates, elected officials, their appointees, or their family members. Additionally, the legislation provides new definitions for concepts like "election cycle," "honorarium," and "fund raising event" to ensure consistent application of campaign finance rules. These changes directly affect political candidates, public officials, and the nonprofit organizations that interact with them by establishing clearer boundaries for what must be disclosed to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement to make time-stamped, audiovisual recordings of interrogations involving juveniles who are treated as adults for major felonies. It mandates that an attorney must be present during these custodial interrogations and establishes that any self-incriminating response from a juvenile is presumed inadmissible if it is not electronically recorded. The legislation also specifies that prosecutors must provide copies of recorded statements to defense counsel and instructs juries to consider the absence of a recording when evaluating evidence if one was not made. These changes aim to ensure transparency and legal representation for young suspects facing serious charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that a juvenile have an attorney present during any interrogation while in custodial detention, and it prohibits these minors from waiving their right to legal representation. Additionally, the law states that any self-incriminating statements made by a juvenile during such an interrogation are inadmissible as evidence if they were not represented by counsel at the time. These provisions directly affect juveniles under the age of 18 who are subject to delinquency petitions and law enforcement questioning in a detention setting.