Rep. Pat Outman

Maddy summaryHB 5126 creates new sentencing guidelines specifically for theft of cargo offenses in Michigan. It amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 777.16r) to establish distinct sentencing parameters for cases involving the theft of cargo, which currently lack specific guidelines. The bill directly affects courts, prosecutors, and defendants in cargo theft cases by providing clearer sentencing standards for these offenses. This is a procedural change to sentencing guidelines, not a new criminal charge or penalty. The bill was introduced on October 23, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates private residence vertical lifts in Michigan by updating state elevator laws to include specific safety standards for these devices. It requires that any private residence vertical lift be certified as safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory using specific American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards. The legislation also clarifies that these lifts do not need a traditional hoistway, pit, or machine room if they are installed according to manufacturer specifications and meet performance-based safety requirements. This change directly affects homeowners and contractors who install or maintain vertical lifts in private residences.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's lobbying laws to clarify definitions and restrictions on lobbyists and lobbyist agents providing food or beverages to legislators. It directly affects individuals and organizations engaged in lobbying activities by updating how expenditures, lobbying actions, and lobbyist classifications are defined under state law. The key provisions include revised thresholds for what constitutes a lobbyist based on spending amounts, exclusions for certain public employees from lobbyist status, and clarifications on what activities count as lobbying versus providing technical information. The bill also updates definitions of related terms like "expenditure," "financial transaction," and "governmental body" to ensure consistency across the lobbying regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 5450 amends Michigan's Food Law to prohibit local governments (counties, cities, villages, or townships) from charging fees, taxes, or assessments for the operation of mobile food establishments, such as food trucks. This directly affects food truck operators by eliminating an additional cost imposed by local jurisdictions. The bill achieves this by modifying Section 3113 of the Food Law to explicitly ban such fees, while still requiring compliance with state-mandated fire inspections and licensing under existing regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 5451 requires food trucks (mobile food establishments) to undergo annual fire inspections and additional inspections after significant modifications to fire safety systems, such as kitchen equipment or fuel piping. It creates a public database tracking these inspections and mandates that operators notify fire inspectors within 30 days of license applications or modifications. The bill specifies that inspections must comply with the International Fire Code, with results valid for one year (limiting inspections to once annually unless safety concerns arise). This directly affects food truck operators, who must pay a $200 maximum fee for annual inspections but receive no charge for additional safety-related checks.

Maddy summaryHB 5479 exempts "eligible fuel" (including motor fuel, alternative fuel, and leaded racing fuel) from Michigan's general sales tax starting January 1, 2026. This directly affects businesses selling these fuels and consumers purchasing them for eligible uses, excluding specific cases like aviation fuel or fuel used for heating. The bill explicitly excludes electric fuel used in vehicles if it's already taxed under the Motor Carrier Fuel Tax Act or Motor Fuel Tax Act. It defines key terms like "electric fuel" and "eligible fuel" based on existing tax acts, with no exemption for fuel used in aircraft or residential/commercial heating systems.

Maddy summaryHB 5434 amends Michigan's Motor Carrier Fuel Tax Act to add a 15-cent tax per gallon equivalent on electric fuel used by motor carriers operating qualified commercial vehicles on Michigan roads. The tax applies to large trucks and vehicles meeting specific weight or axle criteria (e.g., 3+ axles or over 26,000 pounds gross weight) and must be paid quarterly alongside existing taxes on motor fuel and alternative fuel. This bill directly affects commercial trucking companies and motor carriers operating in Michigan, including those in interstate commerce. The change extends the existing fuel tax framework to include electric fuel, aligning it with current taxation practices for other fuel types.

Maddy summaryHB 5433 modifies Michigan's use tax law to clarify how trade-in values for vehicles affect taxable purchases. It specifically updates Section 2(f)(xii) to set annual limits on credit for traded-in motor vehicles: $2,000 through 2018, then increasing by $500 yearly to $5,000 starting January 1, 2019. This directly affects businesses and individuals buying new or used vehicles who trade in older models, as it caps the amount subtracted from the purchase price for tax calculation purposes. The bill ensures consistent application of these limits for both new and used vehicle transactions, without changing the overall tax rate.

Maddy summaryHB 5435 adds a tax on electricity used to power commercial vehicles in Michigan, directly affecting businesses that operate electric trucks for commercial hauling on public roads. The bill requires these "electric fuel commercial users" to pay a tax calculated based on miles driven, using a formula comparing electricity use to traditional motor fuel rates. Businesses must obtain a $50 license and pay this tax through the same system used for motor carrier fuel taxes, replacing all other state taxes on electric fuel use for these vehicles. The tax does not apply to personal electric vehicle use or non-commercial vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's penal code to update penalties and exemptions related to firearm possession, particularly within school zones. It modifies existing laws to clarify when individuals, such as licensed concealed carry permit holders and certain security personnel, are exempt from school zone restrictions. The legislation also adjusts penalties for altering firearm markings and expands exemptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and school security employees. Additionally, it provides specific exceptions for transporting unloaded firearms in vehicles under certain conditions, such as hunting trips or moving between residences.