Rep. Brad Slagh

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 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 summaryHB 5219 would allow direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw milk and raw milk products in Michigan by amending the Food Law. It defines "direct farm-to-consumer product" to explicitly include raw milk meeting requirements under the 2001 Manufacturing Milk Law, enabling farmers to sell these products directly to consumers on their property. The bill adds new sections (4102a and 4102b) to establish this sales pathway while maintaining existing pasteurization requirements for other sales. This change directly affects farmers producing raw milk and consumers purchasing it directly from farms, without altering commercial milk sales rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5217 would allow direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw (unpasteurized) milk and milk products by dairy producers who comply with specific safety standards under Michigan's Food Law (2000). It amends existing milk regulations to explicitly permit this sale method, provided producers meet requirements in Section 4102a of the Food Law and adhere to the definition of "direct farm-to-consumer producer" from the Food Law. This change affects small dairy farms selling directly to consumers, not restaurants or grocery stores, and maintains existing pasteurization requirements for all other milk sales. The bill requires compliance with state safety protocols but does not alter pasteurization rules for commercial distribution.

Maddy summaryHB 5535 would allow plumbing inspectors to provide plumbing services without violating state law. Currently, plumbing inspectors (registered under Article 10) are prohibited from engaging in the plumbing business, such as installing pipes or selling materials, due to potential conflicts with their inspection duties. The bill amends Section 1123 of Michigan's Skilled Trades Regulation Act to remove this prohibition, permitting inspectors to work for or own plumbing businesses. This change directly affects local plumbing inspectors who wish to operate in both roles simultaneously.

Maddy summaryHB 5543 increases the annual funding for grade crossing surface improvements from $3 million to $6 million per year by amending Section 10(1)(b) of Michigan's Transportation Fund Act (MCL 247.660). This change directs more state transportation funds toward safety and surface repairs at railroad crossings - locations where roads intersect train tracks - across Michigan. The bill specifically adjusts the allocation within the state trunk line fund, ensuring doubled resources for maintaining these critical infrastructure points. It does not alter other funding mechanisms but directly affects how money is distributed for grade crossing safety upgrades.

Maddy summaryHB 4845 proposes to adjust competitive bidding requirements for road construction projects in Michigan. It raises the threshold for mandatory competitive bidding from $100,000 to $350,000 for individual local road projects (or $1,350,000 annually per agency, excluding cities over 500,000 population) and adds an annual inflation adjustment using the Consumer Price Index. The bill exempts traffic signal system upgrades and local road resurfacing from bidding rules. It directly affects state and local road agencies (counties, cities, villages) managing projects above these thresholds, requiring them to justify non-competitive contracts to oversight bodies. The changes aim to modernize cost thresholds while maintaining public bidding for significant infrastructure work.

Maddy summaryHB 4855 would amend Michigan law to permit bow hunters to carry a pistol while hunting. This directly affects licensed bow hunters who currently cannot possess a firearm during hunting activities under existing law (MCL 324.43510). The bill changes the prohibition in the 1994 Michigan Penal Code to allow pistol possession specifically for bow hunters during hunting. The amendment would remove the current restriction, enabling bow hunters to carry a pistol for lawful use while hunting.

Maddy summaryHB 5154 requires public middle schools (grades 6-8) and high schools (grades 9-12) to accept cash as a payment option for admission fees to interscholastic athletic events. It directly affects school districts and public school academies that charge such fees. The bill amends Michigan’s School Code to mandate that school boards ensure cash is accepted, alongside other payment methods. This change applies only to schools charging admission fees for athletic activities, with no other policy changes specified.

Maddy summaryHB 4980 amends Michigan's concealed pistol licensing law to allow applicants to file their license applications with *any* county clerk in the state where they reside, rather than requiring filing only in their county of residence. This change directly affects Michigan residents seeking concealed carry permits, simplifying the initial application process. The bill modifies Section 5b of the state's firearms licensing act (MCL 28.425b) to remove the residency county restriction, while maintaining all other requirements like fingerprinting, background checks, fees ($100), and training documentation. It does not alter eligibility criteria, fees, or processing timelines - only the location where applications must be submitted. The bill is pending in the Judiciary Committee as introduced on September 18, 2025.