Rep. Timmy Beson

Maddy summaryHB 4350 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow individuals to feed wild birds and other wildlife under specific conditions. This bill permits such feeding if it occurs within 300 feet of a residence and the total amount of feed does not exceed two gallons. It clarifies that this allowance does not apply to activities like baiting for hunting, normal agricultural practices, or feeding conducted in a way that excludes deer and elk. This aims to create limited exceptions for recreational or preventative feeding of wildlife by residents.

Maddy summaryHB 5249 creates a new "adaptive care license" for ambulance operations currently licensed only for basic life support (BLS). It allows these operations to gradually upgrade to provide limited advanced life support (ALS) or advanced life support (ALS) services, provided they demonstrate staffing and equipment readiness for higher care levels by January 1, 2025. The license requires annual documentation of progress toward this upgrade, including training and equipment plans, and must be renewed annually alongside the operation's regular license. This applies specifically to ambulance services owned or contracted by local governments that previously provided only BLS for emergency response.

Maddy summaryHB 4042 exempts food vendors at temporary outdoor events like festivals, fairs, and community celebrations (e.g., chili cook-offs or cultural festivals) from standard food safety regulations that apply to permanent food service establishments. Specifically, it removes the requirement for these vendors to comply with the Michigan Food Code, food safety audits, and sanitation assessments during their temporary operations. This change directly affects food concession operators at events defined as "festivals" or "fairs" under the bill, including those held by local organizations or agricultural societies. The exemption applies only to the temporary nature of these events, not to permanent food service locations like restaurants or grocery stores. This is a technical amendment to existing law, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 4309 establishes a licensure compact for physician's assistants, allowing them licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without needing separate licenses. This directly affects physician's assistants seeking to work across state lines and patients in states participating in the compact. The bill creates legal mechanisms by amending existing law to enable reciprocal licensing agreements between states, removing barriers for PAs to provide care in multiple jurisdictions. It provides the framework for states to join the compact through mutual recognition of licenses, streamlining practice for qualified professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act to clarify how charitable organizations can spend money from their endowment funds. It establishes a rebuttable presumption of imprudence if an organization spends more than 8% of an endowment's average fair market value over a three-year period. The legislation also clarifies that certain standard terms in donor agreements do not automatically restrict spending to just the income generated by the fund. These changes aim to provide clearer guidance for institutions managing donor-restricted assets while maintaining the ability to act prudently based on specific donor instructions.

Maddy summaryHB 6163 amends the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act to formally define "marihuana plant waste" and authorize licensed facilities to transport and dispose of it. The bill primarily affects growers, processors, and other licensed entities by clarifying that discarded plant material can be legally moved and discarded rather than being treated as contraband. By updating specific sections of the existing law, the legislation provides a clear regulatory framework for the proper handling of cultivation byproducts within the state's medical marijuana program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's marijuana regulations to explicitly allow for the transportation and disposal of marijuana plant waste. It defines plant waste as roots, stalks, leaves, and stems intended for destruction through incineration, landfilling, composting, or anaerobic digestion, while clarifying that such waste is not considered hazardous waste. The legislation establishes specific roles for "marijuana disposers," who must be licensed operators or permitted incinerators authorized to receive and destroy this material. By adding these definitions and permissions, the bill provides a legal framework for licensed marijuana businesses to manage and dispose of plant remnants without violating environmental or waste disposal laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to eliminate registration and tonnage fees for composting products. It directly affects manufacturers and distributors of specialty fertilizers, soil conditioners, and composted agricultural products by removing specific fee requirements that previously applied to these items. The key provision removes the $0.35 per ton fee for agricultural use fertilizers and the $0.05 per cubic yard fee for agricultural use composted products that make nutrient claims, while maintaining existing registration and water quality protection fees for other fertilizer and soil conditioner products. The bill also clarifies that small packages of 10 pounds or less remain exempt from inspection fees and establishes that out-of-state registrants must maintain a Michigan registered office or pay audit costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the State Employment Contract Regulation Act to limit severance pay for employees and officers in Michigan's executive and legislative branches. It generally prohibits contracts that offer more than 12 weeks of wages in severance, ban non-disclosure agreements that prevent reporting illegal activities, and require contracts to be fully disclosed to the public. Exceptions allowing higher severance or restricted contracts are permitted only if legal counsel determines they are necessary to protect public funds from litigation risks, provided such agreements include legal releases of claims. Additionally, the law mandates that any contract offering six weeks or more of severance be posted online within 28 days, while contracts for elected officials must be shared with legislative leaders within three days.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to exempt the construction and maintenance of certain residential ponds from state permitting requirements. It directly affects homeowners and property owners who wish to build small, noncommercial ponds on residential or agricultural land. The key provision allows for the excavation or construction of ponds under one acre in surface area, provided they are used for residential purposes and meet specific conditions outlined in the legislation. This change removes the need for a permit for these specific residential pond projects, simplifying the process for property owners while maintaining oversight for larger or commercial water structures.