Rep. Emily Dievendorf

Maddy summaryHB 5570 updates Michigan's sentencing guidelines to include specific rules for cases involving the creation or distribution of deepfake sexual images. The bill modifies an existing section of the state's criminal procedure code to ensure that judges and prosecutors have clear standards when determining penalties for these offenses. By adding these provisions to the official sentencing framework, the legislation aims to provide consistency in how courts handle new types of digital sexual exploitation. This change directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants involved in cases related to non-consensual deepfake imagery.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes updating Michigan's sentencing guidelines specifically for crimes committed against animals. It directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants involved in animal cruelty cases by modifying the legal rules used to determine punishments. The key mechanism involves revising the existing statutory language to ensure these guidelines are current and clearly applied within the criminal justice system. As a procedural amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the bill focuses on the technical framework for sentencing rather than creating new crimes or changing penalty ranges.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act to shield individuals from strategic lawsuits aimed at discouraging them from participating in public discourse or exercising constitutional rights. It allows people who are sued over their speech, press, assembly, or petitioning activities to file a special motion that immediately pauses most court proceedings, including discovery, to determine if the lawsuit is valid. If the court finds the suit lacks merit, it will be dismissed quickly, and the plaintiff may face penalties for filing the frivolous case. However, the law excludes lawsuits brought by government entities regarding public safety threats and does not apply to claims involving employment discrimination, whistleblower protections, or other specific civil rights violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to update Michigan's sentencing guidelines by modifying the specific factors judges consider when determining punishments for various crimes. It directly affects the judicial process by changing how points are assigned for offenses against persons, property, controlled substances, public order, and public safety. The key change involves adjusting which offense variables are scored for different crime categories, though the bill's final effect is currently contingent on the passage of two other related bills.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the composition of Michigan's Board of Psychology to include more licensed professionals by replacing public members with psychologists who hold limited licenses. It establishes a new limited license category for individuals with a master's degree in psychology, allowing them to practice under specific supervision and advertising restrictions. To qualify for this limited license, applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited program and complete one year of supervised postgraduate experience in a healthcare setting. The legislation also updates the board's membership requirements to ensure that at least five of its voting members hold a doctoral degree in psychology.

Maddy summaryHB 5588 amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to update the definitions of specific terms used in sentencing guidelines. The bill clarifies the meanings of words such as aircraft, companion animal, departure, homicide, intermediate sanction, ORV, snowmobile, vehicle, and vessel by referencing their existing definitions in other state laws. These changes ensure that legal documents and sentencing decisions consistently use the current definitions for these terms. The legislation directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who apply these guidelines during criminal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include providing legal representation for youth in juvenile court cases, in addition to its existing role for adults. By amending the state's indigent defense act, the legislation ensures that young people facing delinquency charges receive effective legal counsel starting from their initial court appearance. The commission will be responsible for setting minimum standards for how local courts deliver these services to both adults and youth, while also managing funding adjustments based on economic indicators. Ultimately, the bill aims to standardize the quality of legal defense available to financially unable defendants across the state's juvenile justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create a state public utility in Michigan that would take over all electric and natural gas generation, distribution, and transmission facilities currently owned by private investor-owned utilities. The amendment establishes a new State Public Utility Board with the power to purchase these assets using bonds, set all utility rates, and manage the system without needing local government consent for infrastructure placement. Within 18 months of taking effect, the board must implement a plan to lower rates for low-income residential customers, build electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and upgrade the distribution network for renewable energy. Additionally, the bill requires all existing private utilities to divest their systems to the state and grants the new state utility the right to use public rights-of-way without obtaining local franchises.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's food laws to update definitions and procedures for handling food safety issues, particularly regarding fish processing. It clarifies what constitutes a foodborne illness outbreak and requires health departments to establish communication systems with hospitals and police to quickly investigate such incidents. The legislation also mandates that fish-smoking establishments use specific temperature-monitoring devices, calibrate them annually, and keep detailed records of their accuracy checks. Additionally, it updates the rules for evaluating food service establishments and ensures that investigation findings are shared with business owners to prevent future outbreaks.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to clarify the legal definition of lead abatement and specify which activities are exempt from regulatory requirements. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and nonprofit organizations by distinguishing between permanent lead hazard elimination and incidental paint removal during general repairs. The legislation explicitly exempts owner-occupied homes and small multifamily buildings from certain rules, while creating a specific exception for unpaid volunteer projects led by qualified nonprofit groups. Additionally, the bill repeals an outdated section of the law to ensure the regulations remain current and consistent with federal standards.