Rep. Helena Scott

Maddy summaryHB 4133, the "Access to Health Facilities Act," prohibits physical obstruction, intimidation, or violence targeting individuals accessing or providing reproductive health services at licensed health facilities, including abortion care. It criminalizes actions like blocking entrances, threatening patients, or damaging property at these facilities, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors (up to 1 year jail, $10,000 fine) to felonies (up to life in prison for causing death). The law also allows civil lawsuits for $5,000 per violation and civil fines up to $25,000 for violators. It explicitly protects First Amendment-protected protests but does not affect local abortion regulations or existing protest laws.

Maddy summaryHB 4131 updates Michigan's animal care laws by clarifying definitions and requirements for dog shelter and tethering. It directly affects dog owners, breeders, pet shops, and animal shelters by specifying that dog shelters must include properly insulated doghouses with dry bedding (like straw or cedar shavings) during freezing temperatures, excluding items like blankets, cardboard, or crawl spaces. The bill also requires tethers for dogs to be at least three times the dog's length (nose-to-tail) unless used for grooming, training, transport, or hunting. These changes aim to ensure dogs have adequate protection from weather and prevent harmful tethering practices. The bill is currently in committee after its February 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 4132 amends Michigan's personal protection order law to explicitly include animal-related abuse as a prohibited act in domestic violence cases. The bill adds new language (subsection 1(k)) making it illegal for a respondent to injure, kill, threaten, or remove an animal in which the petitioner has ownership interest, or to retain an animal taken from the petitioner. This directly affects domestic violence victims who rely on pets for emotional support, expanding court orders to protect both people and their companion animals. The provision specifies it does not override lawful animal use (e.g., hunting under state law) and aligns with existing protections for victims.

Maddy summaryHB 4130 amends Section 2 of Michigan's Animal Welfare Fund Act (MCL 287.992) by updating the definition of "State animal anticruelty laws" to explicitly include specific sections of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.49-750.70, 750.70a, and MCL 750.50(8) and (12)). This technical update ensures the fund act correctly references existing animal cruelty laws without creating new policies or funding. The bill affects how the Animal Welfare Fund Act applies to enforcement of current animal protection laws. It is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4121 prohibits local governments (counties, cities, townships, villages) from adopting property tax caps that automatically reduce tax rates when revenue hits a fixed dollar limit. It voids any existing local tax cap with this automatic reduction feature and requires local units to disregard such caps. The bill specifically targets caps imposed by local charter, ordinance, or policy - not state-mandated limits - making them unenforceable. This change ensures local tax revenue limits cannot trigger automatic rate cuts based solely on annual dollar amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 4093 updates Michigan's Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act to correct an outdated reference in jury selection rules for eminent domain cases. It amends Section 12 (MCL 213.62) to properly reference current jury selection procedures under the Revised Judicature Act, replacing obsolete language. The bill directly affects property owners and government entities involved in condemnation proceedings where jury trials for "just compensation" are requested. This procedural update only takes effect if companion bill HB 4091 is enacted, ensuring alignment with related legislative changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4094 modifies Michigan's jury eligibility rules to remove disqualifications for most criminal records, allowing prospective jurors with past convictions to serve unless the crime is similar to the current case. It also prohibits excluding jurors based on protected statuses (such as race, gender, or religion under Michigan's Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act) or using peremptory challenges for invalid reasons like a juror living in a high-crime neighborhood. The bill requires courts to deny peremptory challenges if protected status appears to be a factor, with specific examples of invalid justifications provided. These changes aim to address historical discrimination in jury selection while keeping the process accessible for all eligible residents.

Maddy summaryHB 4091 replaces local jury boards with a centralized state system for jury selection across Michigan courts. It directs the State Court Administrative Office (under the Supreme Court) to create a statewide jury pool using driver's license and state ID data provided by the Secretary of State, eliminating county-level processes. The bill mandates electronic transmission of jury lists to courts, establishes a standard juror questionnaire, and requires annual updates to the jury pool list. This change directly affects all Michigan courts (circuit, probate, district, and municipal) and potential jurors statewide by standardizing jury selection procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 4092 is a technical amendment to Michigan's Probate Code (MCL 712A.17) that corrects outdated references following a prior repeal. It updates procedural language about court hearings, including requirements for adjournments (e.g., 14-day written notice for continuances) and jury demands in non-criminal probate cases. The bill does not create new policies but ensures the code accurately reflects current law. It depends on the passage of companion bill HB 4091 to take effect, as noted in its enacting section. This is a procedural correction affecting court procedures in probate matters, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 4036 removes an expiration date (sunset provision) from Michigan's distance education reciprocal exchange program, which allows colleges and universities to share courses across state lines. The bill repeals Section 7 of the 2015 Higher Education Authorization and Distance Education Reciprocal Exchange Act (MCL 390.1697), making the program permanent. This directly affects Michigan colleges and out-of-state institutions participating in the reciprocal course-sharing agreement, ensuring the program continues without needing annual renewal.