Rep. Brad Slagh

Maddy summaryHB 5240 prohibits Michigan credit unions from denying, restricting, or canceling financial services to agriculture producers based on their greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer use, or machinery type. It specifically targets credit unions that have made environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments, presuming such restrictions violate the law unless the credit union proves the decision was based solely on ordinary business reasons unrelated to ESG goals. Violations carry a civil fine of up to $10,000 per incident. The bill directly affects domestic credit unions and agriculture producers (defined as farm owners/operators under Michigan law), covering services like loans, deposits, and other financial products.

Maddy summaryHB 5241 prohibits Michigan state departments and agencies from entering contracts with businesses that boycott certain entities. Starting October 1, 2017, contracts for state building projects require a representation that the business is not boycotting "strategic partners" (as defined in the law). A new provision, effective January 1, 2026, extends this to ban contracts with businesses boycotting entities in conventional energy, mining, agriculture, timber, or firearms industries. The law directly affects state contractors by requiring written assurances they are not engaging in these boycotts.

Maddy summaryHB 5238 prohibits banks in Michigan from denying, restricting, or canceling financial services to agriculture producers based on their greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer use, or machinery type. It specifically targets banks with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments - like public statements or participation in green initiatives - by creating a presumption that such actions violate the law. Banks can rebut this presumption with clear evidence that the decision was based solely on ordinary business reasons unrelated to ESG goals. Violations could result in civil fines up to $10,000 per incident, covering services like loans, deposits, and financing. The bill directly affects Michigan farmers operating under the Right to Farm Act and aims to prevent financial discrimination tied to environmental practices.

Maddy summaryHB 5242 prohibits accrediting agencies from considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, programs, or practices when making accreditation decisions for Michigan's public and private colleges and universities. The bill directly affects higher education institutions, accrediting agencies, and their students and employees by requiring accreditation decisions to focus solely on academic standards. Key provisions ban agencies from reviewing DEI-related information, collecting such data, or requiring diversity statements, with enforcement through lawsuits by students, employees, or the Attorney General. Violations could result in triple damages, attorney fees, and up to $1,000 per affected student in penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 5239 prohibits savings banks in Michigan from denying, restricting, or canceling financial services to agriculture producers based on their greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel fertilizer use, or fossil fuel-powered machinery. It directly affects savings banks (which must stop such restrictions) and agriculture producers (who gain protection from service denials tied to environmental factors). The bill creates a presumption of violation if a bank with an environmental/social commitment denies services, but allows banks to rebut this with evidence showing the decision was based solely on ordinary business reasons unrelated to environmental goals. Violations carry a civil fine of up to $10,000.

Maddy summaryHB 5237 prohibits Michigan public employee retirement systems from investing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds unless those investments offer comparable financial returns to other options. The bill amends Section 13 of the Public Employee Retirement System Investment Act to require investment fiduciaries to consider *only* financial factors (like risk and return) when making decisions, explicitly excluding non-financial social, political, or ideological objectives. This directly affects retirement systems managing funds for state employees, including teachers and public workers, by restricting their ability to prioritize ESG criteria in investment choices. The key provision clarifies that ESG considerations cannot be used as a primary factor unless they demonstrably align with financial performance goals.

Maddy summaryHB 4421 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) agents to obtain a warrant or the property owner's consent before entering private property for enforcement activities. It explicitly states that the "open fields doctrine" (which typically allows warrantless searches in open areas) does not apply to DEGLE searches. This change directly affects DEGLE enforcement officers and property owners/occupants by imposing standard warrant requirements for all searches on private land. The policy shift ensures DEGLE must follow similar procedural rules as law enforcement when conducting inspections or investigations on private property.

Maddy summaryHB 4427 requires counties to issue a "brown alert" when sewage or E. coli levels in waterways reach dangerous public health levels. This directly affects county officials responsible for environmental monitoring and residents who use or live near affected waterways. The bill amends existing law by adding a new section mandating this alert system, replacing previous voluntary protocols. It creates a specific, actionable requirement for counties to notify the public during hazardous conditions. The law passed the House with strong support (94-10) and is now under review by the Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryHR 195 is a resolution opposing Michigan's proposed Health Education Standards Framework. It urges the Michigan Department of Education to redraft the standards or the Michigan State Board of Education to reject them, specifically requesting the exclusion of content related to gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation from health education standards. The resolution cites parental rights and existing law requiring local control and opt-out provisions for sex education as justification. It directly targets state education officials, not students or schools, and serves as a non-binding request for policy revision.

Maddy summaryHB 4088 adjusts the property tax credit for Michigan homeowners by raising the taxable value cap for homestead eligibility from $135,000 (through 2021) to $196,500 starting in 2026. It requires annual adjustments to this cap based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), rounded to the nearest $100, to maintain its real value over time. The bill directly affects homeowners claiming the property tax credit who own homestead properties with taxable values exceeding the new cap. This change modifies the eligibility threshold under Section 520 of Michigan's Income Tax Act, ensuring the cap keeps pace with inflation.