Rep. Emily Dievendorf

Maddy summaryHB 5527 amends Michigan's penal code to increase penalties for assaulting public officials while they are performing their duties, such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Penalties range from up to 2 years in prison for basic assault to up to 20 years for causing death, based on the severity of harm (e.g., bodily injury requiring medical care or serious impairment of body function). The bill also adds a provision clarifying that attending a protest is protected under the First Amendment and does not by itself violate disorderly conduct laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's abandoned vehicle law to simplify vehicle redemption for owners. It allows owners to pay a $40 fee plus accrued towing/storage costs to reclaim their vehicle instead of posting a bond, directly affecting those who don't contest abandonment claims. The key change replaces bond requirements with a fixed payment option for vehicles deemed abandoned after 48 hours on public property (or 18 hours with valid registration). This applies when owners fail to request a hearing within 20 days of receiving notice from authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 5526 requires Michigan electric utilities to create worker transition programs during ownership changes, including skills training, job placement, and guarantees of comparable wages/benefits for at least 30 months after a sale. It mandates that acquiring entities must first offer jobs to existing non-supervisory workers before hiring externally and establish dispute resolution for workplace issues. The bill also sets new service quality standards for utilities, covering outages, maintenance, and billing, requiring annual reports on compliance and performance. These changes directly affect electric utilities, their workers, and customers by protecting jobs during ownership transitions and ensuring reliable service.

Maddy summaryHB 5528 amends Michigan's 1968 riot law (MCL 752.541 and 752.542) to clarify the definitions of riot and incitement to riot. It specifies that a riot occurs when five or more people acting together cause public terror through violent conduct, and incitement to riot involves urging others to commit unlawful violence, property destruction, or interfere with law enforcement officers. The bill explicitly states that peaceful protests - protected under the First Amendment and Michigan's constitution - are not violations of these provisions. This affects individuals participating in public gatherings or protests by defining clear legal boundaries between protected activity and unlawful conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 5524 creates a program to provide financial assistance to Michigan businesses that suffer revenue losses due to unexpected street closures or road construction projects extending beyond their scheduled end dates. The bill establishes a "road construction business loss reimbursement program" that offers grants covering up to $15,000 annually per business, based on a three-year average of lost revenue. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate a significant revenue decline directly tied to construction, and applications must be reviewed within 120 days using criteria like revenue decline rate, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity. The program requires the state transportation department to annually report grant usage details - including approved/rejected applications and project statuses - to relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 5503 prohibits Michigan electric utilities from charging residential customers fees for paying bills using credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, electronic transfers, or money orders. The bill directly affects residential utility customers by banning these specific transaction fees. Key provisions require utilities to eliminate these fees for all payment methods listed in the bill, ensuring no additional cost for standard payment options. This policy change applies to all electric utilities operating in Michigan under the amended section 10p of the Public Utilities Act.

Maddy summaryHB 5509 prohibits employers in Michigan from requiring employees to sign agreements that block disclosure of violations (or suspected violations) of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. It specifically bans such agreements unless employers provide written notice of the prohibition, give employees at least 5 business days to consult an attorney, and ensure the agreement explicitly releases the employee’s civil rights claim. The bill amends the Elliott-Larsen Act (MCL 37.2101-37.2804) by adding Section 202b, making non-compliant agreements void. This directly affects Michigan employees covered by the Elliott-Larsen Act, ensuring they can report workplace discrimination without being silenced by restrictive contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 5508 prohibits settlement agreements in sex discrimination, harassment, or assault claims against employers from blocking disclosure of factual details about the claim. It applies to complaints filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or civil lawsuits under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The bill allows settlements to keep the claimant's identity confidential and hide settlement amounts, but not the facts of the alleged discrimination. Violating this rule makes the confidentiality clause void under Michigan law.

Maddy summaryHR 240 is a resolution urging Michigan to pause state tax breaks and subsidies for new data center construction for one year. It directs state agencies to review the fiscal costs, electricity grid impacts, water use, environmental effects, and local governance concerns related to data center development, requiring reports within 12 months. The resolution also tasks specific House committees with examining local zoning, community input, and worker hiring practices for these projects. This applies directly to data center developers seeking state incentives and state agencies managing economic development programs.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 241) urges the U.S. Congress to impeach and remove Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. It cites specific incidents under her leadership, including the deaths of two Americans during ICE operations (Renee Good and Alex Pretti) and allegations of constitutional rights violations, such as unlawful detentions, denial of due process, and unsafe detention conditions. The resolution also claims Noem defied court orders and obstructed congressional oversight. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change policy but formally calls for impeachment proceedings. It was introduced by 17 House members and referred to the Government Operations Committee.