Rep. Emily Dievendorf

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's insurance code to clarify the rules for sponsored captive insurance companies. It allows a wider range of business entities, including associations and trusts, to participate in these companies without needing to be shareholders or affiliates. The legislation also permits sponsors to participate in their own sponsored captives and requires that participants generally insure only their own risks or those of their affiliates, unless approved by the state insurance director. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines on who can join such insurance structures and what risks they can cover.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's insurance code to clarify which entities are eligible to sponsor a sponsored captive insurance company. It specifies that sponsors must be licensed insurers, holding companies, reinsurers, or certain captive companies, while explicitly excluding risk retention groups from acting as sponsors or participants. The legislation also outlines specific requirements for securing business written by these captives, mandating that it be backed by a licensed insurer, state-approved reinsurance, or a secured trust fund. Additionally, the bill directs the insurance director to evaluate proposed sponsors based on their financial stability, experience, and business reputation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local governments in Michigan, such as counties, cities, and townships, from creating rules that automatically lower their property tax rates when revenue collection hits a specific dollar limit. It declares any existing local rules with such automatic reductions invalid and requires those governments to stop enforcing them immediately. The law specifically targets self-imposed limits on tax revenue that would force a drop in the tax rate, while leaving other state or constitutional tax restrictions unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's insurance code to update the rules for Special Purpose Financial Captives, which are companies that pool risk for specific financial products. It clarifies that issuing new securities to continue securitization activities or swapping out a counterparty for one with a similar or higher credit rating does not count as a major change to the company's plan. The legislation also sets specific deadlines for filing audited financial statements and statements of operations, requires captive insurers to respond to regulator inquiries within 30 days, and establishes a penalty of up to $5,000 plus daily fines for failing to meet these reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands legal protections for individuals who voluntarily provide emergency bleeding control, such as using pressure, dressings, or tourniquets, to people in medical distress. It states that these individuals cannot be sued for damages resulting from their actions unless they act with gross negligence or willful misconduct. The law applies to anyone without a pre-existing duty to help who responds in good faith to an emergency situation. This change aims to encourage bystanders to assist with life-saving bleeding control measures without fear of civil liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Library Freedom to Read Act, which creates new rules for how public libraries in Michigan select and remove books and other materials. It requires libraries to adopt written policies that outline their standards for choosing items and the specific steps they must follow when someone requests a book be reconsidered or removed. Under the new law, library directors have the final say on collection decisions, and requests for reconsideration are only reviewed if they come from residents of the library's local area and meet specific conditions, such as the requester having read the entire item. The act defines what counts as a library material and clarifies that it does not apply to websites, interlibrary loans, or programs not run by the library itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan Liquor Control Code to prevent the Liquor Control Commission from using certain past violations to deny, suspend, or revoke liquor licenses. Specifically, it states that if at least two years have passed since a violation occurred, the commission cannot consider it when making licensing decisions. The law defines a "qualified violation" as any breach of the liquor code that is not a criminal offense or a state civil infraction. This change aims to ensure that older, non-criminal mistakes do not permanently bar individuals or businesses from holding liquor licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's driver license application requirements to ensure that all applicants, whether citizens or non-citizens, provide sufficient documentation to verify their identity and legal presence in the state. It allows individuals to use a parole identification card as valid proof of identity and explicitly permits applicants to select "M," "F," or "X" as their sex designation without needing extra paperwork. The legislation also mandates that the address provided on the driver license application be used for voter registration purposes, which may automatically update a person's voting record if it differs from their current registration. Additionally, the bill requires specific certifications for commercial licenses, including confirmation that the applicant meets federal driver qualification standards and that the test vehicle matches the type they intend to drive.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the discount that specially designated distributors and on-premises licensees receive on alcoholic liquor from 17% to 23%. It also establishes a new certification program for small distillers that use at least 40% Michigan-grown grain, allowing them to sell their products with a lower required profit margin for the state. The law requires the department of agriculture and rural development to certify these distillers, maintain records of their grain sources, and submit annual reports listing certified entities. Additionally, the bill includes penalties for providing false information during the certification process and mandates that distillers keep accurate accounts of their qualified grain transactions for inspection.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan courts to seal eviction records under specific circumstances to protect tenant privacy while maintaining public access to certain serious cases. It mandates that records be kept private if a tenant has paid all owed rent, if no eviction order was issued, or if the eviction occurred during the state of emergency declared in 2020. Conversely, the law keeps records public if an eviction order was issued multiple times within three years or if the eviction was based on severe issues like illegal drug activity, health hazards, or physical violence. Additionally, the bill allows for the automatic sealing of eviction records seven years after a judgment becomes final, unless the case involves the prohibited serious reasons.