Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's environmental protection laws to establish a permitting structure for the discharge of wash water from oceangoing vessels in state waters. It requires vessel operators to obtain permits from the Department of Environmental Quality and mandates that vessels comply with federal aquatic nuisance rules regarding ballast water management to prevent the spread of invasive species. The legislation sets specific timelines for permit applications, outlines conditions for permit revocation or modification, and clarifies fee structures for vessel permits. The bill also includes provisions for administrative hearings if permit holders contest departmental orders and establishes that state standards may be more protective than federal rules if adopted through a Great Lakes compact.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 5450 amends Michigan's Food Law to prohibit local governments (counties, cities, villages, or townships) from charging fees, taxes, or assessments for the operation of mobile food establishments, such as food trucks. This directly affects food truck operators by eliminating an additional cost imposed by local jurisdictions. The bill achieves this by modifying Section 3113 of the Food Law to explicitly ban such fees, while still requiring compliance with state-mandated fire inspections and licensing under existing regulations.
Maddy summaryHB 5451 requires food trucks (mobile food establishments) to undergo annual fire inspections and additional inspections after significant modifications to fire safety systems, such as kitchen equipment or fuel piping. It creates a public database tracking these inspections and mandates that operators notify fire inspectors within 30 days of license applications or modifications. The bill specifies that inspections must comply with the International Fire Code, with results valid for one year (limiting inspections to once annually unless safety concerns arise). This directly affects food truck operators, who must pay a $200 maximum fee for annual inspections but receive no charge for additional safety-related checks.
Maddy summaryHB 5364 requires Michigan's state board of education to obtain legislative approval - via a concurrent resolution from both the state Senate and House - before revising the state's recommended academic curriculum standards. The bill directly affects school districts, the state board, and legislators by preventing changes to standards without formal legislative consent. Key provisions include prohibiting standards from including "attitudes, beliefs, or value systems" unrelated to academic learning, while maintaining existing requirements for standards covering subjects like history (including genocide education) and assessments focused solely on academic skills. The bill does not alter current standards but changes the process for future updates. It is currently pending in the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Maddy summaryHB 5635 amends Michigan's School Code (MCL 380.1177) to prevent schools or health departments from requiring stricter exemption documentation than state law allows for student immunizations. It directly affects students entering school for the first time or in grade 7, and their families seeking exemptions based on religious beliefs or other objections. The bill ensures schools can only accept the three standard exemption options: a physician's statement, a parent's religious exemption, or a statement showing the child is in process of compliance. It does not change existing immunization requirements but prohibits additional barriers to claiming exemptions beyond those specified in state law.
Maddy summaryHB 5597 allows building owners or their agents to hire third-party inspection companies to perform required building inspections instead of relying solely on government agency inspections. Third-party inspectors must be registered under Michigan's skilled trades regulations, and their reports must include compliance status, necessary corrections, conflicts of interest, and the inspector's credentials. The enforcing agency may issue a certificate of occupancy based on a satisfactory third-party report, which must be submitted to both the owner and the agency. This change directly affects building owners, third-party inspection companies, and local building enforcement agencies.
Maddy summaryHB 5634 prevents Michigan's health department from creating stricter rules or requiring additional paperwork for school immunization exemptions. It preserves only two existing exemption types: medical (certified by a physician) and religious/philosophical (via a parent's written statement). The bill explicitly blocks the department from mandating new exemption forms or imposing extra requirements beyond these two categories. This directly affects schools, parents seeking exemptions, and the health department's regulatory authority. The legislation maintains the current exemption framework without expanding or altering it.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for selecting commissioners to represent the state at a proposed Article V Convention under the U.S. Constitution. It sets specific qualifications for commissioners (e.g., U.S. citizenship for 5+ years, state residency for 5+ years, no recent federal lobbying or employment) and requires a process where legislative leaders nominate commissioners and alternates, followed by a majority vote in both chambers to commission them. The resolution also details procedures for handling vacancies, removing commissioners, and providing instructions to delegates. These rules directly affect state legislators who must vote on commissioner selections and potential commissioners who must meet the outlined criteria.
Maddy summaryHB 5151 prohibits Michigan commissioners at an Article V constitutional amendment convention from exceeding their assigned authority, such as voting beyond legislative instructions. It also makes it a felony (up to 5 years in prison) to bribe, threaten, intimidate, or obstruct any commissioner - whether from Michigan or another state - while they perform official duties. The bill defines "commission" as the legislative resolution setting commissioners' scope of authority and requires commissioners to strictly follow these instructions. This law directly affects Michigan’s state representatives at such conventions and anyone attempting to influence their actions, with penalties applying to violations before any vote or action occurs.
Maddy summaryHB 5210 allows commercial fishing license holders to list multiple vessels on a single license instead of requiring separate licenses for each boat. Licensees can add or remove vessels anytime by providing written notice to the department. The bill also clarifies rules for transferring licenses when boats are sold, damaged, or lost, including fee adjustments for larger vessels or non-resident transfers. All vessels listed under one license must operate within 50 miles of the originally designated port.