Rep. Phil Skaggs

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 15, 2025, as a day of remembrance for the 1900 Burt Lake Burnout in Michigan. It commemorates the forced displacement and burning of homes of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians by county authorities acting for a land speculator. The resolution directly honors the Burt Lake Band and acknowledges this historical injustice as part of Michigan's history. As a symbolic gesture, it has no policy or legal effect beyond recognizing the event.

Maddy summaryHR 186 is a ceremonial resolution designating October 16, 2025, as Community Dispute Resolution Day in Michigan. It honors the state’s 16 community dispute resolution centers, including Marquette Alger Resolution Service, and recognizes their 32 years of service under Michigan’s Community Dispute Resolution Act (Public Act 260 of 1988). The resolution acknowledges these centers’ role in providing mediation and conflict resolution services to citizens, schools, and businesses, reducing litigation costs while fostering community solutions. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing programs.

Maddy summaryHR 185 is a symbolic resolution declaring October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Michigan. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but officially recognizes the month for state-wide awareness efforts. The resolution directly affects Michigan state government by directing official recognition during that period, though it does not change policies or impact individuals. This is a procedural measure introduced and adopted by Representative Stephanie Young on October 21, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4107 requires Michigan schools to include specific health education content for students in grades 7-12. It mandates instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) use, and first aid response kits (including tourniquets and bleeding control supplies) as part of the health curriculum. Schools may use trained personnel like Red Cross instructors, EMTs, or properly trained teachers to deliver this instruction, with hands-on practice encouraged but not required for all students. The bill exempts 100% online schools from requiring hands-on CPR practice.

Maddy summaryHB 5004 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to clarify the requirements for workers who leave jobs due to medical reasons. To qualify for benefits, an employee must obtain a medical professional's statement confirming that continuing work would harm their health and must have made good-faith attempts to secure alternative work or a leave of absence with their employer. Without these steps, the employee is presumed to have left work voluntarily without good cause, disqualifying them from benefits. This change directly affects Michigan workers seeking unemployment benefits after a medical leave, ensuring eligibility aligns with documented medical necessity and employer cooperation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's unemployment benefits formula to increase payments for workers with dependents. It changes the weekly benefit rate calculation starting January 1, 2025, setting a new $12.66 per dependent amount (up to 5 dependents) with a $446 maximum weekly benefit - higher than the current $362 cap. The change directly affects unemployed Michigan residents who claim benefits and have dependents, as their weekly payments will increase based on these updated formulas. The bill does not alter eligibility rules or dependency definitions, only the monetary amounts used in the calculation.

Maddy summaryHB 5008 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law (MCL 421.62) to decrease the maximum percentage of wages that can be garnished for repayment of improperly collected benefits, from 50% to 20%. It directly affects unemployed workers who overreceived benefits, requiring them to repay the excess but limiting wage deductions. The bill also adds new hardship waiver criteria, allowing full repayment relief if a claimant’s household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or if overpayment resulted from agency errors. It maintains a 3-year deadline for the unemployment agency to seek repayment, except in cases of identity fraud or intentional fraud.

Maddy summaryHB 5000 increases Michigan's unemployment benefit payments for workers with dependents. It amends the calculation method to use 5.1% of the highest-earning quarter's wages (up from 4.1%) plus higher per-dependent amounts. For claims filed after January 1, 2025, the weekly rate rises to $12.66 per dependent (max $446); after 2026, it increases to $19.33 per dependent (max $530). This directly affects unemployed Michigan residents claiming benefits who have dependents, raising their weekly payments through 2028 and beyond.

Maddy summaryHB 5006 amends Michigan's unemployment insurance law to clarify how the state recovers benefits paid to individuals who weren't entitled to them. It sets a 3-year limit for the unemployment agency to seek repayment (except for identity fraud cases), limits deductions from future benefits or wages to 50% per payment, and establishes three specific situations where repayment can be waived: if the overpayment resulted from incorrect wage information provided by an employer, if the recipient's household income was at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or if the overpayment was due to a clerical error by the agency. The bill also specifies that waivers apply from the date of the error or application, and requires refunds for any payments made after a waiver is granted. This directly affects individuals who received unemployment benefits they didn't qualify for, changing how the state enforces repayment and grants relief.

Maddy summaryHB 5005 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to clarify when workers who leave jobs without notice may still qualify for benefits. It adds a new exception (subsection (iv)) allowing domestic violence victims to claim benefits without disqualification, provided they meet requirements under Section 29a. The bill also reinforces that workers absent for 3+ consecutive days without contacting their employer are presumed to have left voluntarily - unless they qualify for one of the specified exceptions. This change directly affects workers who leave employment due to domestic violence or other qualifying circumstances, ensuring they can access benefits without penalizing their former employers financially.