Rep. Rachel Hood

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Department of Corrections to help prisoners obtain driver's licenses and state identification cards before they are released on parole or complete their sentences. The department must collect necessary documents and photos at least 60 days prior to release and forward them to the Secretary of State, while also informing inmates about this assistance upon entry into the system. To support these efforts, the legislation creates a dedicated "reentry success fund" to cover the costs of the program. The bill also allows the Secretary of State to access prisoner information electronically to verify identities during the application process.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's civil rights law to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's source of income. It applies to landlords, property managers, and real estate brokers who sell, rent, or lease residential properties. By adding "source of income" to the list of protected categories, the legislation ensures that individuals cannot be denied housing or treated differently because of how they pay their rent, such as using housing vouchers. The law takes effect on April 2, 2025, provided that two companion bills are also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan election laws to require petitioners proposing constitutional amendments or ballot initiatives to include a clear, impartial summary of their proposal's purpose. The new rules limit this summary to 100 words and mandate that it use plain language understandable to the general public without creating bias. Additionally, the bill establishes a review process where the Board of State Canvassers must approve or reject the petition form and summary within 30 days, and it clarifies the specific legal standards for determining whether a proposed amendment alters or abrogates existing constitutional provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 4900 updates Michigan laws regarding how courts collect money owed through legal judgments by clarifying definitions and adjusting collection procedures. The bill specifically affects creditors seeking to garnish wages or seize property, as well as individuals whose earnings are subject to such collection efforts. Key changes include refining the definition of "garnishable earnings" to account for specific insurance deductions and establishing a new $1 fee that plaintiffs must pay to the third party holding the debt when serving a garnishment order. Additionally, the legislation clarifies when garnishment proceedings can begin against government entities and individuals who owe money for labor performed.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to allow the state to use statistical random sampling to verify the signatures on petitions submitted by groups seeking to form a new political party. Instead of requiring every single signature to be manually checked, election officials would randomly select a portion of the signatures to validate, which could speed up the process for new parties. The measure directly affects citizens attempting to establish new political organizations and the election authorities responsible for processing their paperwork. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the Michigan State Police to destroy any firearms that are collected and turned over to the department through municipal gun buyback programs. Starting April 2, 2025, the department must ensure every part of these weapons is destroyed and is prohibited from reselling them. The rule applies to any weapon designed to fire projectiles using an explosive charge, such as guns, and directly affects local governments that run buyback events and the state agency responsible for disposing of the collected items.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan law to allow the Secretary of State to issue official state identification cards directly to individuals currently on parole or recently released from correctional facilities. The program requires the Secretary of State to electronically verify a prisoner's identity using records from the Department of Corrections and issue the card before the individual's projected release date. If the card cannot be delivered in time, the bill mandates that it be mailed to the Department of Corrections for handover to the individual. The legislation also clarifies that applicants who are not U.S. citizens must provide documents proving their legal presence in the United States and prohibits the Secretary of State from displaying Social Security numbers on the cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison within Michigan's Legislative Council to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the state legislature and federally recognized tribes. The office will be led by a liaison appointed by the council from a list provided by the United Tribes of Michigan, who will be supported by at least two policy advisors. Key duties include visiting each tribe annually, advising lawmakers on how proposed legislation impacts tribal communities, and providing mandatory training for legislators on tribal history and consultation processes. Additionally, the office must submit an annual public report detailing tribal concerns raised during the legislative process to the governor and legislative leaders.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan law to establish a process for disposing of weapons seized by law enforcement agencies. It requires the State Police director to determine if a seized firearm was reported lost or stolen before taking action, providing a 30-day window for the original owner to claim it if they are legally authorized to possess it. If the weapon is not claimed, the director may sell it at a public auction to eligible buyers, destroy it, or use another lawful disposal method. The legislation also grants the department of state police immunity from civil lawsuits regarding how they dispose of these seized items.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan election laws to allow county clerks to use statistical random sampling to verify the signatures on nominating petitions rather than checking every single one. It also clarifies the process for investigating complaints about fraudulent signatures and permits clerks to disqualify petitions that contain obviously invalid entries. Under the proposed changes, clerks could use digitized voter registration records to compare signatures and must make investigation reports public before making final decisions on a petition's validity. The legislation would apply to candidates running for office who rely on nominating petitions to get on the ballot.