Rep. Rachel Hood

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to clarify the legal definition of lead abatement and specify which activities are exempt from regulatory requirements. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and nonprofit organizations by distinguishing between permanent lead hazard elimination and incidental paint removal during general repairs. The legislation explicitly exempts owner-occupied homes and small multifamily buildings from certain rules, while creating a specific exception for unpaid volunteer projects led by qualified nonprofit groups. Additionally, the bill repeals an outdated section of the law to ensure the regulations remain current and consistent with federal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Library Freedom to Read Act, which creates new rules for how public libraries in Michigan select and remove books and other materials. It requires libraries to adopt written policies that outline their standards for choosing items and the specific steps they must follow when someone requests a book be reconsidered or removed. Under the new law, library directors have the final say on collection decisions, and requests for reconsideration are only reviewed if they come from residents of the library's local area and meet specific conditions, such as the requester having read the entire item. The act defines what counts as a library material and clarifies that it does not apply to websites, interlibrary loans, or programs not run by the library itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's public health code to clarify definitions and reporting requirements related to elevated blood lead levels in children. It establishes specific thresholds for what constitutes an elevated level, requiring that a child's blood lead concentration meet or exceed 3.5 micrograms per deciliter or the current reference value set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The legislation also creates a new role for certified "EBL investigators" who must study a child's living environment to identify lead sources and provide reports on how to remove those exposures. Additionally, the bill defines terms such as emergency renovation operations and encapsulation to ensure consistency in how lead hazards are managed. The law will only take effect if a separate, related bill is also passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan courts to seal eviction records under specific circumstances to protect tenant privacy while maintaining public access to certain serious cases. It mandates that records be kept private if a tenant has paid all owed rent, if no eviction order was issued, or if the eviction occurred during the state of emergency declared in 2020. Conversely, the law keeps records public if an eviction order was issued multiple times within three years or if the eviction was based on severe issues like illegal drug activity, health hazards, or physical violence. Additionally, the bill allows for the automatic sealing of eviction records seven years after a judgment becomes final, unless the case involves the prohibited serious reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's health care laws to create a clear process for designating a surrogate to make medical decisions for adults or emancipated minors who cannot do so themselves. It establishes a specific priority list for potential surrogates, starting with out-of-state designations, followed by spouses, adult children, parents, and siblings, while excluding individuals subject to protective orders or pending abuse charges. The legislation requires that a surrogate's authority ends when the patient regains decision-making capacity and mandates that the surrogate sign an acceptance form confirming they will act in the patient's best interest without receiving payment. Additionally, the bill allows patients to disqualify specific individuals from serving as surrogates and ensures that surrogates are informed of the patient's known treatment preferences.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals and surgical outpatient facilities in Michigan to offer any leftover eye drops or ointments to patients after certain eye surgeries or treatments. The rule applies specifically when the medication was provided by the facility, used during an inpatient stay, and is needed for the patient's continued care at home. If a pharmacist dispenses the remaining medication, they must label it properly and do not need to provide additional usage instructions if the doctor already did so. This change aims to ensure patients have access to necessary post-procedure medications without needing to purchase them elsewhere.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's post-conviction DNA testing laws to allow certain felony defendants to request new trials based on DNA evidence. It establishes specific criteria for petitions, such as requiring proof that biological material exists, was not previously tested, or can be tested with more accurate modern technology. The legislation outlines the court's responsibilities to order testing, cover costs for indigent defendants, and determine whether the results warrant a new trial or the inclusion of the defendant's DNA in state databases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to avoid policies that conflict with federal rules for certified community behavioral health clinics. It mandates the creation of a process to determine where new clinic sites should be located to prevent overlapping service areas. Additionally, the state must continue cooperating with the federal government on these clinics unless the legislature votes to stop such participation. The bill does not take effect until another related piece of legislation is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's marriage license laws by increasing the standard fee from $20 to $50 and raising the additional fee for nonresidents from $10 to $25. It requires applicants to provide a birth certificate or other proof of age and directs $15 of each collected fee to fund domestic violence and child abuse counseling services. Large charter counties are given the option to set their own license fees, provided they allocate the collected money to the same counseling services and do not charge more than the actual cost of providing those services.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the District Library Freedom to Read Act, establishes new rules for Michigan district libraries regarding how they select and remove books and other materials. It requires libraries to create formal policies that outline standards for collection choices and a specific process for handling requests to remove items. Under the new rules, only residents of the library's service area can request reconsideration, and they must certify that they have read or viewed the entire material before filing. Additionally, the bill designates the library director as the final authority on collection decisions and sets limits on how frequently the same item can be reviewed.