Rep. Emily Dievendorf

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code to regulate the appointment and duties of professional guardians and conservators. It requires courts to find that no suitable family member or friend is available before appointing a professional and mandates that these professionals submit criminal background checks and post a financial bond. The legislation also establishes strict rules for compensation, requiring professionals to disclose any outside income received for their role, and outlines specific care standards such as maintaining a visitation schedule and ensuring adequate staffing. Additionally, the bill clarifies notification procedures for interested parties and defines the limits on what support staff can do, prohibiting them from making major financial or medical decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's ethics rules to restrict former state legislators and top executive officials from lobbying on behalf of private interests for a set period after leaving office. Specifically, it prohibits former lawmakers from lobbying for one year after their term ends and extends this one-year ban to the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. The law allows these individuals to continue lobbying for the state government or their former offices during this time but sets a financial threshold that, if exceeded, requires them to register as lobbyists. Violating these restrictions is classified as a misdemeanor punishable by fines, jail time, or both.

Maddy summaryHB 5581 amends Michigan's lobbying laws to clarify definitions and update spending thresholds for individuals and organizations engaging in lobbying activities. The bill specifically redefines who qualifies as a lobbyist or lobbyist agent by adjusting the annual expenditure limits and clarifying rules about group spending on food and travel. It also expands the list of state officials considered "executive branch officials" for lobbying purposes to include various department directors and commission members. Additionally, the legislation updates terminology to ensure consistency across the statute while maintaining exemptions for journalists and most public employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase Michigan's corporate income tax rate from 6.0% to 10.0% starting on October 1, 2025, while also revising how the tax base is calculated. The legislation eliminates specific tax breaks for oil and gas and mineral production income and expenses, and it adjusts rules regarding interest, dividends, and payments for intangible assets to align more closely with federal tax calculations. Additionally, the bill changes how tax revenue is distributed by the state, shifting funds from the general fund to specific reserves for housing, community development, revitalization, and strategic outreach beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. These changes directly affect corporations operating within Michigan and alter the flow of state tax revenue to various government funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against harassment within educational institutions, covering public and private schools, colleges, and vocational programs. It explicitly defines harassment to include unwelcome conduct that interferes with a person's education or creates a hostile environment, and it clarifies that such harassment includes sexual conduct quid pro quo situations. The legislation holds institutions responsible for harassment by their employees, contractors, or other agents, as well as harassment by outsiders, if the school receives notice and fails to act. To avoid liability, schools must demonstrate they have implemented comprehensive prevention policies, conducted annual training for students and staff, established clear complaint procedures, and provided timely supportive measures to affected individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's governmental immunity laws to explicitly exempt school employees and volunteers from liability when they are sued for harassment. It clarifies that this exemption applies regardless of whether the conduct is considered discretionary or ministerial, provided the individual was acting within their authority and did not commit gross negligence. The legislation also maintains existing protections for judges, legislators, and medical personnel while defining specific terms like "gross negligence" and "tactical operation." Ultimately, the measure aims to remove barriers that might prevent victims of school harassment from seeking legal recourse against public officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to remove the $300 annual cap on retirement allowance increases for state employees in Michigan. Under the new rules, the annual increase would be calculated as 3% of the retirement allowance, without the previous dollar limit. The legislation also modifies how supplemental payments are distributed to retirees based on investment returns and service credits. These changes would directly affect current and future state retirees by potentially increasing their annual pension growth.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent Family Advisory Board within Michigan's Department of Corrections to improve visitation policies and family reunification efforts. The board will consist of 11 to 16 members, including representatives from the department, the legislative corrections ombudsman, current and former incarcerated individuals, and family members, who will meet regularly and hold public informational sessions. Additionally, the bill modifies hearing procedures by requiring that prisoners be granted access to video recordings of restricted visits before their evidentiary hearings, unless such access is deemed dangerous or disruptive. The department must also consult with the advisory board on any proposed changes to visitation policies and provide them with draft documents for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's vehicle code to clarify and standardize the fees that towing companies and storage facilities can charge for abandoned or impounded vehicles. It establishes specific maximum rates for towing and daily storage based on vehicle weight, ranging from $175 to $360 for towing and $25 to $75 per day for storage, while also setting caps on additional services like winching and cleanup. The legislation requires these towing and storage agencies to publicly display their fee schedules on signs at their business locations and on their websites to ensure transparency. Additionally, the bill prohibits charging different rates to individual vehicle owners compared to commercial entities for similar services and allows local governments to set their own fee schedules within these limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Climate Resiliency Corps program in Michigan to train and employ residents in projects that address climate change, such as creating green infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and supporting sustainable agriculture. The program would be managed by the Michigan Community Service Commission in partnership with local governments, nonprofits, universities, and other organizations, with a goal of placing at least 40% of participants in environmental justice communities. Selected corps members, who must be state residents at least 17 years old, would receive wages or stipends, scholarships, and workforce development training while working on approved resiliency projects. The legislation also creates a dedicated state fund to finance grants, scholarships, and the administrative costs of running the program.