Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Michigan National Guard Child Care Assistance Act to provide financial support for child care costs to eligible National Guard members. To qualify, a service member must be in active duty without disciplinary issues, and they must either be a single parent or have a spouse who is also an eligible National Guard member. Approved members receive a stipend of $5.00 per hour for up to 12 hours daily during weekend drills and annual training, capped at 39 days per year. The program is administered by the Adjutant General within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs using a dedicated state fund that does not expire at the end of the fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 5867 amends Michigan's tax tribunal act to clarify how property tax appeals are handled and how refunds are calculated when assessments are found unlawful. The bill outlines specific rules for determining a property's taxable value and state equalized valuation, while also detailing the burden of proof for both the taxpayer and the assessing agency. It further establishes procedures for taxpayers to amend their appeals to include claims for refunds from subsequent years if they paid extra taxes due to errors, along with specific interest rates for those refunds. This legislation directly affects property owners and tax assessors by standardizing the process for resolving valuation disputes and seeking monetary corrections.

Maddy summaryHB 5868 amends the Michigan Tax Tribunal Act to update the definitions of key terms used in property tax disputes. The bill clarifies what constitutes an "agency," "mediation," "mediator," and "proceeding" within the context of the tribunal's jurisdiction. It also specifies that the term "entire tribunal" refers to the hearing division excluding the residential property and small claims divisions. Additionally, the legislation excludes the drain code from the definition of "property tax laws" for the purposes of the act. This measure does not take effect unless two other related bills are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's property tax laws to prevent assessors from using certain sales as benchmarks for calculating property values. It specifically instructs tax officials to exclude transactions involving properties with deed restrictions that limit their sale or transfer from being used in sales studies. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that normal home repairs and maintenance, such as roof replacement or furnace installation, should not increase a home's assessed value until it is actually sold. The bill also requires buyers to inform assessors if they paid extra for items like financing costs or personal property included in the purchase price, ensuring these amounts are not counted toward the property's taxable value.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan's property tax tribunal to issue detailed, independent written explanations when deciding disputes over property valuations. Under the new rules, the tribunal must separately analyze market conditions, the property's highest and best use, construction costs, and comparable sales data before determining a value. The legislation also mandates that the tribunal explain its reasoning for accepting or rejecting specific valuation methods and stipulations from the parties involved. By enforcing these transparency measures, the bill aims to ensure that property tax assessments are based on verified evidence and clearly articulated legal findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create a buddy-to-buddy mentorship program for active-duty service members and veterans living in the state. The initiative pairs individuals with volunteer mentors who provide guidance on practical matters like education, employment, and healthcare, as well as connect them with advocates for mental health and substance use support. While non-veterans can serve as mentors, the program prioritizes recruiting veterans to lead these efforts. Additionally, the bill establishes that private information shared within the program remains confidential and is exempt from public disclosure under the state's freedom of information laws. This legislation will only take effect if several other related bills are also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to better support service members and veterans. The office will be led by a manager appointed based on experience in veteran mental health and will have the authority to collect data on mental health conditions, administer grants to local and nonprofit groups, and publish a free wellness resource guide with treatment listings and a self-assessment tool. Additionally, the legislation ensures that any personal data collected remains confidential and is exempt from public disclosure under state freedom of information laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Mental Health within the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to better support service members, veterans, and their families. It requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to partner with the agency on statewide outreach, create educational materials for families, and develop a program to help navigate mental health and substance use disorder resources. The legislation also allows for the use of mobile or electronic platforms to connect individuals with these services and protects specific personal records from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. This office will only become operational if several other related bills are also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill officially designates May 2 of every year as Negro Leagues Day. The law establishes this specific date as a recognized observance to honor the history of the Negro Leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African American players. By creating this new designation, the state acknowledges the significant contributions of these athletes to the sport and American culture. The measure does not mandate any specific actions or changes to existing holidays but serves to formally recognize the day within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a transition bridge program within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to support the mental health and well-being of service members and veterans. The program will be overseen by the office of mental health and suicide prevention and may be operated through partnerships with nonprofit organizations or government agencies. It requires the program to run at least four times a year and provide resources on recognizing mental health challenges, accessing treatment, and adapting to civilian life. Eligible participants, who must reside in Michigan, can enroll up to one year after leaving military service, with the department making a special effort to offer the program two months before and after their separation date. The legislation also mandates that any data collected excludes personally identifying information and restricts the public disclosure of records specific to individual service members.