Rep. Emily Dievendorf

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Judges Retirement Act to increase employer contributions and employee matching options for judges participating in the Tier 2 retirement plan. Under the new rules, employers must contribute 4% of a judge's salary to their Tier 2 account, while judges can choose to contribute up to 5% of their salary starting in April 2025, with their employer matching that amount dollar-for-dollar. The legislation also allows judges who were previously unable to contribute due to a legal restraining order to make up to 6% of their salary with an equivalent employer contribution for a specific period. Additionally, judges taking office on or after January 1, 2002, are required to contribute 2% of their compensation to the retirement system, which will be used to fund health and sick care benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers in Michigan from selling specific weight loss dietary supplements and diet pills to anyone under the age of 18. To enforce this, the law requires physical stores to check identification before a sale and mandates that online orders include age verification through independent government databases and secure shipping methods that prevent minors from receiving the product. The state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will create and annually update a list of covered products based on their marketing claims regarding weight loss or appetite control. Retailers found violating these rules could face civil fines of up to $1,000 or other legal remedies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the month of May each year in Michigan as Huntington's Disease Awareness Month. The legislation aims to increase public and medical knowledge about Huntington's disease, a progressive neurological condition that currently has no cure. By officially recognizing this time period, the state hopes to encourage greater understanding of the disease's challenges and support ongoing research efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for how fines are handled in certain state civil infraction cases related to environmental protection. Instead of directing these specific fines to public libraries, the legislation allows a portion of the revenue to be dedicated to a grant program assisting farmers impacted by PFAS contamination. The change applies only to fines resulting from violations of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, leaving other civil fine distributions unchanged. This measure requires the passage of two other related bills before it can take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance companies in Michigan from covering any medical service if the patient's required copayment or coinsurance exceeds 50% of the total cost. It applies to new policies starting after the law is passed and to existing policies when they are next renewed or changed. If an insurer includes such a high-cost service in a plan, they would be violating this rule, and the state insurance director is authorized to investigate complaints about these violations. The measure aims to ensure that patients do not face excessive out-of-pocket costs for services included in their health insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to assist Michigan farmers whose land, crops, or water are contaminated with PFAS chemicals. The program would provide financial support for medical testing and care, purchasing or selling farmland, cleaning up contamination, and replacing lost income or mortgage payments. To receive funding, farmers must submit detailed applications outlining their financial history and a plan for how they intend to use the grant money, such as transitioning to alternative revenue streams or ceasing operations. The funds for these grants would come from a newly created state fund, potentially financed by increases in state civil infraction penalties. The legislation requires the department to create specific rules to administer the program and defines key terms like "agricultural land" and "contamination" to guide eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Michigan to provide suitable seats, such as chairs or stools with back support, to employees working at locations owned or controlled by the employer if it is reasonable for them to sit while performing their duties. If sitting during work is not feasible, the law mandates that employers place these seats near the employee's workspace and prohibits banning their use unless the worker is actively engaged in tasks. Employers who fail to comply face civil fines of $250 for each affected employee for every two-week period of violation, with penalties collected by county prosecutors or the state attorney general. The legislation also allows the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to create specific rules to implement these requirements and clarifies that the law applies to existing contracts that conflict with the new standards once those agreements expire or are renewed.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the owners and top executives of contractors seeking or holding state and local government contracts worth at least $250,000 from making political donations. The restrictions apply to contributions to candidates, political parties, and specific types of advocacy groups during a period starting 18 months before a contract is sought and ending 18 months after the contract concludes. If a contractor violates these rules, they face penalties including the cancellation of current contracts or disqualification from future contracts for up to three years. The law defines "contractor" to include businesses and nonprofits receiving significant government funding and specifies which individuals within those organizations are subject to the donation ban.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies from awarding contracts to companies whose principals have donated to specific political groups within 18 months before signing the agreement. The law defines "principals" to include company owners, executives, board members, and employees involved in government relations, while banning donations to candidate committees, party committees, and certain tax-exempt political organizations. To enforce this rule, contractors must sign an affidavit confirming no prohibited donations were made during the 18 months prior to the contract, throughout the contract term, and for 18 months after it ends. Violations would render the contract void and bar the company from future state contracts for three years, though the ban does not apply to small businesses with less than $250,000 in state contracts or to grants and loans.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of highway M-11 in Kent County as the "Korean War Veterans Memorial Drive." The affected roadway stretches from the intersection with 3 Mile Road south to the bridge over the Grand River. By amending state highway naming laws, the legislation officially assigns this commemorative name to the route. The change applies immediately and does not alter any traffic rules or funding provisions.