Rep. Tim Kelly

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts honorably discharged veterans (who are Michigan residents) from paying the state park recreation passport fee. Veterans can obtain a special sticker or hangtag by verifying their status through the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This allows them to enter all state parks and recreation areas without paying the annual fee required for most resident vehicle owners. The exemption applies to all locations where the fee would normally be required, including designated boating access sites.

Maddy summaryHB 4705 amends Michigan's State School Aid Act to allocate $17.77 billion in state funding for K-12 public schools during the 2025-2026 school year. It specifies that funds will come from the state school aid fund and designated trust funds (including those for transportation, meals, and school readiness programs). The bill establishes a payment schedule of 11 installments per year, starting October 20 and ending August 20, to distribute funds to school districts. Additionally, it allows temporary advances to districts in urgent need, with advances limited to no more than 30 days before the regular payment date.

Maddy summaryHB 4516 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to clarify when workers lose eligibility for benefits due to leaving jobs. It shifts the burden of proof to claimants to prove they left work "involuntarily" for employer-related reasons, rather than assuming voluntary departure. The bill adds specific exceptions where benefits aren't charged to employers, including for domestic violence victims, military spouses relocating due to service, and part-time workers switching employers. These changes directly affect unemployed workers applying for benefits who left their jobs, ensuring clearer standards for disqualification and employer accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 4367 creates Michigan's "Purple Star School Program" to support military-connected students in public schools. It requires schools to designate a military liaison, maintain an easily accessible website with relocation and support resources, implement transition programs for military-connected students, provide staff training, and offer at least one community initiative like monthly recognition or military partnerships. The program applies to all public schools serving military-connected pupils, defined as students whose families include active/reserve military members or those who lost a service member in action. Schools must meet all these requirements to earn the "Purple Star" designation by 2026. The law aims to improve support systems for military-connected students through concrete, school-level actions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests the Michigan Governor to call a special election to fill the vacancy in the 35th Senate District, which has been unfilled since January 3, 2025. The vacancy occurred after Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned to take a U.S. Congressional seat, as required by Michigan law (MCL 168.178). The resolution cites the state constitution and election law, which mandate the Governor issue writs to fill legislative vacancies. It directly affects hundreds of thousands of residents in the 35th District who currently lack representation in the state Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 4669 requires Michigan correctional facilities to allow unannounced, immediate inspections by state legislators upon request. It directly affects all correctional facilities under the Department of Corrections and state legislators (senators and representatives). The key provision mandates that facility staff must grant legislators access to inspect any premises without prior notice. This bill enhances legislative oversight by providing direct, on-the-ground access to correctional facilities for lawmakers.

Maddy summaryHB 4655 prohibits Michigan state departments or licensing boards from requiring implicit bias training as a condition for health professional licensure or license renewal. The bill directly affects licensed healthcare workers (like nurses, doctors, and therapists) who would otherwise need to complete such training to obtain or maintain their licenses. It achieves this by amending Michigan's Public Health Code to add Section 16149, which bans the enforcement of rules mandating this training, and by rescinding a related section of the Michigan Administrative Code (MCL 338.7004). The bill removes a potential requirement for healthcare professionals seeking initial licensure or renewal.

Maddy summaryHB 4652 requires Michigan's governor to announce a special election date to fill a vacant legislative seat within 30 days of the vacancy occurring, and to hold that election within 180 days. This bill directly affects state senators and representatives whose seats become vacant during their term, as it sets strict deadlines for filling those positions. The key mechanism establishes clear timeframes for the governor to act, replacing previous flexibility with fixed deadlines under Michigan's election law. It amends sections 178, 634, and 641 of the Michigan Election Code to enforce these timelines. The bill does not change how vacancies may be filled at the next general election if the governor chooses that option.

Maddy summaryHB 4653 sets specific timelines for holding special elections to fill vacant legislative seats in Michigan. It requires the governor to announce the special election date within 30 days of a vacancy occurring and mandates that the election be held no later than 180 days after the vacancy begins. The bill directly affects voters in districts with vacancies and the governor's office, establishing clear deadlines for the election process. This procedural bill amends Michigan's election law to standardize the timeline for filling legislative vacancies, ensuring elections occur within defined windows.

Maddy summaryHB 4257 defines key terms related to waste management, specifically for anaerobic digestion byproducts (digestate) and their "beneficial use" in agriculture or construction. It creates five distinct categories of beneficial use (e.g., soil application at agronomic rates, road base, or construction fill) with specific environmental safeguards like runoff prevention and groundwater protection. The bill directly affects waste management facilities, farmers, and construction entities handling digestate or ash by clarifying legal standards for its use. These definitions ensure consistent application under existing environmental rules, requiring materials to meet soil-nutrient balance and pollution prevention criteria.