Rep. Bill Schuette

Maddy summaryHB 4905 amends Michigan's licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists to explicitly allow virtual supervision via secure technology during training. It directly affects individuals seeking licensure who must complete supervised clinical hours, permitting them to meet the 300-hour practicum and 1,000-hour post-degree experience requirements through real-time video sessions instead of requiring in-person sessions only. The bill modifies specific sections of the Public Health Code (MCL 333.16909) to clarify that supervision via secure video technology qualifies, as long as it enables direct, contemporaneous interaction. This change aligns licensing standards with modern telehealth practices while maintaining the same hour requirements and supervision ratios. The bill does not alter the total hours needed or the qualifications of supervisors.

Maddy summaryHB 6072 requires hospital boards in Michigan to follow the existing Hospital Financial Assistance Act when deciding how to provide financial help to patients. This change ensures that the rules for determining who qualifies for charity care and setting fees are consistent with state standards rather than being set solely by individual hospital boards. The bill only becomes active if a companion bill, HB 6071, is also passed into law. It directly affects public hospital trustees and the patients they serve by standardizing assistance policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the state of energy emergency in Michigan by an additional 77 days, effective July 1, 2026. The measure allows the sale of E15 fuel in several counties where current regulations previously restricted it to lower vapor pressure gasoline. By suspending these fuel requirements, the extension aims to increase fuel supply options and help manage rising gas prices for consumers and businesses. The resolution requires approval from both the House and Senate before being sent to the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Hospital Financial Assistance Act, which requires hospitals in Michigan to create and enforce financial aid programs for patients by January 1, 2027. The law mandates that these programs use federal poverty guidelines to determine eligibility, offering up to a full discount on medical bills for uninsured individuals earning at or below 350% of the poverty line. Hospitals must also publish clear information about these programs on their websites and in billing statements, and they are required to submit annual reports detailing the number of applications and the amount of debt forgiven or collected. To ensure compliance, the state Department of Health and Human Services will oversee the process, investigate complaints, and impose civil fines of up to $10,000 on hospitals that fail to follow the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Medical Debt Act, prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt in credit reports and bars creditors from reporting such debts to these agencies. It also prevents lenders from using unpaid medical bills as a negative factor when making credit decisions, with the exception of large mortgage loans exceeding federal limits. Additionally, the law restricts collection agencies from falsely claiming that medical debt will be reported on a consumer's credit file. These measures aim to protect individuals from having their medical financial obligations negatively impact their creditworthiness and future borrowing opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 4894 modifies Michigan's Skilled Trades Regulation Act by adding Section 1020 to remove a requirement that building inspector applicants must have completed qualifying experience within the 5 years before applying. This change directly affects individuals seeking registration as building inspectors by allowing them to use qualifying experience earned more than five years prior. The bill's key mechanism eliminates a specific time limit on qualifying experience, making it easier for applicants with older experience to apply. It does not change other licensing fees or standards, only the experience timeline for building inspector registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act to clarify that substance use disorder services programs exempt from licensure under the Public Health Code are eligible to contract with health care corporations for inpatient treatment. The amendment updates language in Section 414a to explicitly include these exempt programs alongside licensed facilities, ensuring they can participate in state-regulated health care contracts for substance abuse treatment. The bill does not create new programs or change existing coverage requirements but rather aligns the licensing references to reflect current exemptions under Michigan law. It affects health care corporations, providers of substance use disorder services, and the regulatory framework governing their contracting relationships.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's zoning enabling act to update how certain substance use disorder services programs are classified for zoning purposes. It specifically adjusts the language to include facilities that are exempt from licensure under state public health regulations, ensuring they are treated consistently with other licensed substance use disorder programs in zoning decisions. The change affects local governments and zoning boards that review residential property uses, particularly those evaluating the placement of group child care homes near substance use disorder treatment facilities. By aligning the zoning language with current licensing exemptions, the bill ensures that facilities not required to hold a license are still properly recognized in zoning determinations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to update time limits for court proceedings related to certain traffic violations, specifically those involving substance use disorder services. It requires courts to schedule initial court appearances within 14 days of arrest, hold pretrial conferences within 35 to 42 days, and finalize cases within 77 days, with specific exceptions for felony charges. The changes apply to individuals charged with misdemeanor traffic violations and ensure consistent timelines for moving cases through the court system. The bill does not alter existing licensing requirements for substance use disorder programs but clarifies how these programs are referenced in vehicle code sections.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Patient's Right to Independent Review Act to clarify which substance use disorder services programs qualify as facilities under the law. It specifically updates the definition of "facility" to include programs that are exempt from licensure under state public health regulations, alongside those that are currently licensed. The change ensures that patients receiving care from both licensed and exempt substance use disorder programs have the same access to external review processes when their health care services are denied or terminated. This update applies to health carriers and their designated review organizations, expanding the scope of facilities eligible for independent review protections.