Rep. Amos O'Neal

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal defense for individuals charged with crimes who were victims of human trafficking. It allows defendants to argue that their criminal act was a direct result of being trafficked, applying to both felony and misdemeanor charges under Michigan law. To use this defense, the defendant must prove it by a "preponderance of evidence" (more likely than not). The bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to include this provision, directly affecting trafficking victims facing criminal charges for acts committed under coercion.

Maddy summaryHB 4996 requires Michigan's department to make publicly available a specific form summarizing tenant rights, as mandated by the Truth in Renting Act (1978 PA 454, MCL 554.643a). The bill directs the department to provide physical copies at its office and post the form online within 60 days of the form's creation by the state court administrative office. This affects landlords participating in the state's rent vending program and tenants who receive the form, ensuring they have clear access to their rights. The key provision is the mandated public availability of the tenant rights summary, not new restrictions on landlords or eviction protections.

Maddy summaryHB 4992 updates Michigan's landlord-tenant law to clarify communication requirements for security deposits. It requires tenants to provide updated contact information (mailing address, email, or phone) within 4 days after moving out, and landlords must send an itemized damage notice with repair costs within 15 days of move-out. Landlords must use methods tenants previously agreed to (like email or text) to send these notices, and tenants must respond within 7 days to dispute charges - failure to respond forfeits the right to dispute. If landlords miss the 15-day deadline, they must immediately refund the full security deposit. This directly affects all Michigan landlords and tenants in rental agreements involving security deposits.

Maddy summaryHB 4995 prohibits Michigan landlords from using a prospective tenant's credit score as the sole factor in lease decisions. The bill allows landlords to accept "reusable screening reports" (consumer reports prepared within 45 days by the tenant at their own expense) without charging an application fee, and requires landlords to disclose screening criteria in writing before accepting an application. Landlords who decline to accept such reports may charge a $25 or less fee only if they provide the required written disclosures to applicants. This law directly affects landlords and prospective tenants in Michigan's rental housing market by changing tenant screening practices and reducing fees for applicants who provide recent credit reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords to place tenant rent payments into an escrow account when a safety certificate is withheld due to unresolved housing violations. It directly affects tenants in rental properties with safety hazards and landlords who fail to correct violations after being notified. The key provision suspends rent payments during the certificate withholding period, redirecting those funds to cover necessary repairs instead of going to the landlord. Tenants are not required to pay rent during this time unless the safety issue was caused by the tenant themselves. The escrow funds must be used for repairs, and any unused portion is returned to the tenant if they move out before repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryHB 4991 increases damages for unlawful evictions to 3 times actual losses or $200-$2,000 per day (whichever is greater). It defines unlawful eviction as actions like changing locks without keys, cutting essential utilities (heat/water/electric), or using force to remove tenants. Landlords may legally evict only with court orders, for necessary repairs, or after following specific steps if a tenant dies (e.g., notifying next of kin and waiting 10 days). For severe violations, courts can add fines up to 10% of damages, deposited into Michigan’s housing fund. The bill applies directly to tenants and landlords in residential housing disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 5021 requires local labor organizations representing casino gaming employees in Michigan to register biennially with the Gaming Control Board and provide detailed personal information about designated individuals, including home addresses, Social Security numbers, criminal history (even expunged convictions), fingerprints, and employment details. The bill establishes disqualification grounds for union officers or employees if they have certain criminal convictions (including gambling, theft, fraud, or prostitution-related offenses), made false statements, or engage in ongoing criminal activity for economic gain. Disqualification for prostitution charges specifically applies only if the individual has an ongoing pattern of such behavior, not isolated incidents. This bill directly affects union leaders in Michigan's casino industry by creating new transparency requirements and eligibility standards for their roles.

Maddy summaryHB 4990 modifies Michigan's eviction laws to strengthen tenant protections. It adds new defenses against retaliatory evictions (e.g., for tenants reporting safety violations or joining tenant groups) and allows courts to deduct rent owed when landlords breach leases or safety codes (Sec. 5720, 5741). The bill also prohibits landlords from recovering late fees if they breached the lease and limits attorney fees/costs for landlords who fail to meet legal obligations (Sec. 5759). These changes directly affect tenants facing eviction and landlords initiating eviction proceedings. The bill aims to ensure evictions are not used as punishment for lawful tenant actions.

Maddy summaryHB 5015 requires youth under a Michigan youth agency's care (public wards) who have been found responsible for specific crimes - including prostitution-related offenses (like MCL 750.451, 750.454, or 750.462) - to provide DNA samples and pay a $60 fee. The youth agency must collect these samples without the youth's consent or a court order, and the DNA profiles can only be used for law enforcement, court proceedings, or anonymized research. The fee covers costs for DNA profiling under Michigan's existing system, and youth already having a DNA sample from law enforcement is exempt. This bill directly affects minors in youth rehabilitation programs convicted of listed crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 5020 amends Section 1(b) of Michigan's Fourth Class City Act (MCL 91.1) to replace the term "prostitution" with "commercial sexual activity" in city ordinances. This technical update affects fourth-class cities' authority to prohibit certain conduct under local laws. The bill makes no substantive policy change - it only modernizes the legal terminology while preserving existing enforcement powers. The amendment aligns city ordinance language with current legal standards without altering regulatory scope.