Rep. Tim Kelly

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4368 amends Michigan's Public Health Code regarding the reporting of infant deaths. It expands existing provisions to include the death of an infant who was born alive after an attempted abortion and then surrendered to an emergency service provider or a newborn safety device under the safe delivery of newborns law. For such cases, the bill mandates that the deceased infant be listed as "Baby Doe" and prohibits reporting any information that would directly identify the infant or their parents, such as names or addresses. It also reinforces the timelines for funeral directors and physicians to certify and file death records.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4333 proposes to amend Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure, specifically section 13k of chapter XVII (MCL 777.13k). The bill aims to establish or modify sentencing guidelines for individuals convicted of offenses related to conducting pathogen enhancement engineering or research. These guidelines would provide a framework for judges to determine appropriate penalties for such crimes. It directly affects individuals involved in this type of research and the state's judicial system by standardizing sentencing procedures for these specific offenses.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4332 prohibits individuals and governmental entities in Michigan from conducting "pathogen enhancement engineering or research," defined as altering pathogens to enhance their harmfulness or spread. Violations of this prohibition would be considered a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both. The bill also establishes a $50,000 reward for individuals whose reports lead to the discovery of such prohibited activities. Additionally, the department would be required to notify employees of biological research facilities about this reward and provide educational materials.

Maddy summaryHB 4336 amends Michigan's penal code to create new state crimes related to individuals who are not authorized to be in the United States. The bill establishes felony and misdemeanor offenses for knowingly bringing, transporting, harboring, or encouraging such persons to enter or remain in the U.S. It also creates a felony offense for knowingly hiring ten or more undocumented individuals for employment within a 12-month period. Penalties include fines and imprisonment, with higher penalties for offenses involving commercial gain, serious injury, or death. An exception is provided for religious organizations bringing in volunteer ministers or missionaries.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 4337 proposes to amend Michigan's code of criminal procedure. It specifically modifies section 16t of chapter XVII (MCL 777.16t), which pertains to sentencing guidelines. The bill aims to establish new sentencing guidelines for individuals convicted of bringing in and harboring certain undocumented persons. This change would directly affect those charged with this specific crime and the courts responsible for their sentencing.

Maddy summaryHB 4158 modifies Michigan's revised school code concerning student assessments in public school academies. The bill expands the types of standardized tests that these academies can use to measure pupil progress. Specifically, it allows public school academies participating in a pilot program under section 104d of the state school aid act to utilize a state-administered assessment system as an alternative to the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) or Michigan Merit Examination. This provides flexibility in assessment methods for eligible public school academies and their students.

Maddy summaryHB 4159 requires Michigan public school districts to provide a core academic curriculum aligned with state-developed standards for all students. It specifically mandates that history standards for grades 8-12 include learning objectives on genocide (including the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide), and that reading/writing standards for K-6 must use evidence-based "science of reading" methods focusing on phonics, decoding, and structured literacy. The bill also prohibits curriculum content that includes non-essential values or beliefs, and requires assessments to measure academic skills - not student attitudes. School districts must fully adopt these K-6 standards by the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 4157 creates a pilot program for a state-administered assessment system in Michigan public schools, replacing the current M-STEP testing. It requires item analysis for all tests (showing which questions students answered correctly and common mistakes) and mandates that districts use only student enrollment data from the time of testing when calculating school performance scores. The bill allocates $500,000 for an online tool to provide secure, immediate access to student-level assessment data for educators and parents. This bill directly affects public school districts receiving state aid and their students in grades 11-12, as it modifies assessment requirements under the State School Aid Act.

Maddy summaryHB 4156 amends Michigan's high school graduation requirements for diplomas. It modifies mathematics credit rules by allowing students to fulfill algebra II requirements through approved career and technical education programs (e.g., engineering, computer science) that cover equivalent content, rather than solely through traditional math courses. The bill also clarifies social science requirements, specifying that students entering grade 8 before 2023 may satisfy the economics credit with a personal economics course containing financial literacy, while maintaining core history and civics requirements for all students. These changes directly affect Michigan high school students and school districts by altering diploma eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 4335 aims to increase the penalties for drivers who commit moving violations that cause physical injury or death to a "vulnerable roadway user." This legislation amends a section of the state's code of criminal procedure. The bill seeks to enhance legal consequences for drivers involved in such incidents, thereby affecting individuals found responsible for these violations and aiming to provide greater protection for vulnerable individuals using roadways.