Rep. Pat Outman

Maddy summaryHB 5117 removes population-based quotas for "specially designated merchant" liquor licenses in Michigan. It eliminates the requirement that only one such license may be issued per 1,000 residents (or fraction thereof) for certain applicants, including large grocery stores meeting size/sales criteria, pharmacies, and gas station retailers with motor fuel licenses. The bill also clarifies that licenses issued under these exemptions cannot be transferred to new locations. This change directly affects businesses seeking new licenses or renewing existing ones, particularly those operating large retail food establishments or combining alcohol sales with other services.

Maddy summaryHB 4432 creates a $2,500 refundable state income tax credit for qualified volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in Michigan, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2025. To qualify, volunteers must serve at least 10 hours monthly with a life support agency (like EMS organizations), receive no hourly wage or salary, and only be reimbursed for reasonable expenses or receive customary benefits. The credit requires a signed verification statement from the agency confirming the volunteer’s service hours, compliance with training standards, and non-salary compensation. This directly affects unpaid EMS volunteers who meet these criteria, reducing their state tax liability or providing a refund if the credit exceeds their tax bill.

Maddy summaryHB 4039 requires Michigan state agencies to eliminate at least two existing regulations for every new rule they propose. This directly affects all state agencies that create or change regulations, mandating they submit a list of rescinded rules alongside new rule requests. The bill establishes a process where the Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention must approve these requests before agencies can proceed, ensuring new rules don’t expand regulation without removing older ones. It aims to reduce regulatory burden by making rulemaking more streamlined and transparent.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a substantive bill. It declares October 28, 2025, as "Oxi Day" in Michigan to honor Greece's historical refusal to surrender to Italian fascist forces on October 28, 1940. The resolution recognizes Greek-American heritage and commemorates the Greek resistance that contributed to Allied victory in WWII. It has no legal effect or direct impact on residents, as it is purely symbolic recognition.

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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares October 15, 2025, as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Michigan. It directly honors families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss - impacting all Michiganders who experience these losses or support affected individuals. The bill aims to raise public awareness about pregnancy and infant loss, encouraging communities and professionals (like healthcare workers and educators) to provide more compassionate support. It does not create new laws or allocate funding, but serves as a symbolic gesture to acknowledge these experiences.

Maddy summaryHB 5098 prevents Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency from stopping its fraud detection software except for brief, documented maintenance needed to keep the system running. The bill requires the agency to immediately restore the software after any maintenance and limits such maintenance to what's strictly necessary. This directly affects the agency's operations and people filing unemployment claims, as the software helps identify potentially fraudulent applications. The law amends Michigan's Employment Security Act to mandate continuous use of the fraud detection tools, with specific rules for temporary maintenance periods.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 184) urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act. The resolution states that H.R. 1156 would extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic unemployment fraud from five to ten years, allowing federal and state authorities more time to investigate complex fraud cases - such as those involving identity theft or money laundering - and recover misused taxpayer funds. It references Michigan's estimated $8.5 billion in potentially fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits as context for the need for extended enforcement. As a procedural resolution, HR 184 itself does not create new law but seeks to advance H.R. 1156.

Maddy summaryHB 4526 amends Michigan's condemnation law to clarify how courts review the "public necessity" of utility projects (like power lines) when property owners challenge them. It requires courts to hold hearings within 30 days of a challenge and decide within 60 days, prioritizing transmission line routes near public land, existing rights-of-way, or property boundaries. For private utility projects, courts must determine necessity based on evidence, while certificates from the Public Service Commission create a "prima facie" case for necessity. The bill also limits appeals of court rulings on necessity to require court permission, streamlining the process for utility companies and property owners.

Maddy summaryHB 4709 prohibits the construction of commercial wind turbines for electricity production in the Great Lakes or their connecting waters, and bans operating any such turbines built in violation of this rule. It directly affects commercial wind energy developers planning projects in these waters, preventing new installations. The bill also states that renewable energy credits cannot be issued for electricity generated by prohibited turbines, and allows the attorney general to seek court injunctions to stop violations. This amendment adds a specific environmental protection measure to Michigan's Clean Energy Act.