Rep. Emily Dievendorf

Maddy summaryHB 4796 would require any armed military force from another state, territory, or district to obtain the Michigan governor's permission before entering the state to perform military duty. This applies to out-of-state military units but excludes U.S. military forces acting under valid presidential authority. The bill amends Michigan's Military Act to add this authorization requirement as a new Section 132. It directly affects military forces from other jurisdictions seeking to conduct training or operations within Michigan. The policy change aims to clarify state authority over military activity on Michigan soil.

Maddy summaryHB 4797 creates a grant program to provide funding to public broadcast stations in Michigan, directly affecting local public radio and TV stations that serve educational, cultural, or civic needs. The bill requires stations to apply with documentation about their local service, financial need, and how funds will maintain public interest programming. It establishes a "public media fund" in the state treasury, appropriating $13 million for fiscal year 2025 to award grants of up to $1.5 million per station for programming, staffing, or infrastructure. The Michigan Department of Education administers the program, prioritizing stations demonstrating commitment to noncommercial, community-focused broadcasting.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution (HR 152) opposes the Trump administration's actions that would terminate federal workers without just cause and eliminate their right to collectively bargain. It specifically targets executive orders from March 2025 that banned collective bargaining for nearly a million federal employees. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Weiss and referred to the Government Operations Committee, is a symbolic statement urging the administration to cease these actions. It does not create new law but expresses legislative disapproval of policies affecting federal workers' job security and labor rights.

Maddy summaryHB 4767 requires Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to develop a statewide research and monitoring plan focused on microplastics in the Great Lakes. The plan must assess microplastic impacts on health, ecosystems, and drinking water, establish baseline data, identify sources, and propose solutions like source reduction and public education. It mandates collaboration with universities (e.g., MSU, U of M) and adherence to federal standards, with the initial plan due to the legislature by July 2026 and full implementation by July 2028. This directly affects state agencies, research institutions, and Michigan residents through efforts to protect the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Maddy summaryHB 4768 requires Michigan's environmental department to establish a program testing public drinking water for microplastics from 2027 to 2030. The program mandates quarterly testing using methods from agencies like the EPA, focusing on water sources such as Great Lakes tributaries, groundwater near landfills, and agricultural areas. By July 2031, the department must submit a report to the legislature detailing microplastic levels, testing methods, and recommendations for future action. This bill creates a baseline study to understand microplastic presence without setting immediate regulatory limits.

Maddy summaryHB 4766 prohibits the manufacture and sale of personal care products (like face washes and lotions) and cleaning products (including soaps and air fresheners) containing plastic microbeads in Michigan. Starting January 1, 2026, manufacturers cannot make such products, and retailers cannot sell them starting January 1, 2027, with an exception for microbeads below 1 part per million by weight. The law applies to businesses producing or selling these items in Michigan, and violations can result in daily fines up to $2,000. Enforcement falls to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, which will track compliance and report annually.

Maddy summaryHB 4758 requires Michigan Works agencies to create teams providing job transition services to two groups: individuals who lost federal jobs involuntarily between January 2025 and January 2027 (dislocated federal employees), and veterans. The bill mandates these teams to analyze job matches with public employers, assess transferable skills, and refer individuals to both public and private employers needing staff. It also requires assistance with filing for unemployment benefits under Michigan’s existing employment security system. The law applies specifically to Michigan Works agencies and public employers like state/local governments, schools, and community colleges. This bill creates a new coordination framework but does not establish new benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 4759 encourages public employers (like state agencies, cities, schools, and community colleges) to use an expedited hiring process for dislocated federal employees who are referred through the state's reemployment services program. The bill requires public employers receiving such referrals to prioritize these candidates, though it does not mandate hiring. Key provisions include defining "public employer" broadly and specifying that this process must follow existing constitutional hiring rules for state positions. It does not override other laws but depends on another bill (HB 4758) being enacted first. The measure directly affects dislocated federal workers seeking new jobs and public employers hiring for open positions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the federal government to maintain funding and reinstate staff for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) while negotiating the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." It directly affects Michigan residents who rely on the state's Home Heating Credit Program, which provided assistance to 248,765 Michiganders in 2022 - including low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities - by helping cover heating costs. The resolution highlights that proposed federal budget cuts to LIHEAP and the recent firing of LIHEAP program staff threaten the program's continuation, potentially causing payment delays or termination. As a non-binding request, it asks federal leaders to prioritize LIHEAP funding to prevent disruption of this critical aid.

Maddy summaryHB 4742 amends Michigan's environmental permit process to address projects in communities disproportionately affected by pollution (environmentally overburdened communities). It adds a new section (Subpart 2) requiring state agencies to consider community impacts when denying permits or imposing additional conditions for such projects. The bill also repeals the Environmental Permit Review Commission, which previously reviewed permit decisions. This directly affects developers seeking permits in these communities and state agencies responsible for environmental permitting under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.