Rep. Matt Bierlein

Maddy summaryHB 4051 amends Michigan's individual income tax law to increase the deduction limit for retirement and pension benefits. It establishes a $42,240 annual deduction for single filers and $84,480 for joint filers on retirement income (previously higher limits existed but were not explicitly capped), with these amounts automatically adjusted each year based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill directly affects Michigan taxpayers receiving retirement benefits by allowing them to deduct a larger portion of that income from their taxable income. This change modifies existing tax code provisions to provide a clearer, inflation-adjusted deduction threshold for retirement income.

Maddy summaryHB 4001 updates Michigan's minimum wage schedule, setting new rates that increase to $12.00 per hour starting February 21, 2025, and reaching $15.00 by 2029. It replaces the previous 2018 law (PA 337) and adds an annual adjustment mechanism: starting in 2019, the wage will rise each January based on Midwest-region inflation data, capped at 3.5% per year. The bill also modifies youth wage rules, allowing employers to pay new workers under 20 a training rate of 75% of the minimum wage for their first 90 days, while prohibiting displacement of existing workers to hire at this lower rate. This directly affects all hourly workers in Michigan covered by state minimum wage laws, including young workers and employers subject to wage requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4030 amends Michigan's Youth Employment Standards Act to allow parents or legal guardians of homeschooled minors to issue work permits for their children. The bill changes the definition of "issuing officer" to explicitly include a minor's parent or guardian when the child is educated under Michigan's homeschooling law (MCL 380.1561). This directly affects homeschooled minors under 18 who seek employment, removing the prior requirement for school district authorization. The key mechanism updates the permit process to accommodate homeschooling families, streamlining access to work permits without school district involvement.

Maddy summaryHB 4019 requires Michigan's Department of Treasury to mail individual income tax filers a single-page annual report starting in 2025. The report will show how tax revenue is collected (from wages, quarterly payments, business taxes, and annual payments) and distributed to specific state funds like the general fund, school aid, transportation, and campaign funds. It directly affects all Michigan residents who file individual income tax returns. The bill mandates this transparency without changing tax rates or filing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 4006 amends Michigan's zoning law to prevent local governments from banning weddings or similar events in barns or farm facilities located in agricultural zones. It directly affects farmers and rural property owners who host commercial events, allowing them to use agricultural land for this purpose without zoning restrictions. The bill permits reasonable regulations like noise limits, traffic management, or operating hours but prohibits outright bans on the event use. This change would apply to existing zoning ordinances under Michigan's zoning enabling act (MCL 125.3101-125.3702). The bill is currently in committee review after its January 2025 introduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in Michigan to issue rebates to policyholders if the insurer fails to meet federal medical loss ratio standards. The law mandates that companies report their financial calculations and rebate details to both the state department and the federal Department of Health and Human Services. However, the requirement does not apply to plans that are exempt under federal law, such as those covering retirees or grandfathered policies. Essentially, the measure ensures that insurers pass unused premium funds back to consumers when their spending on medical care falls below a specific threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and nonpublic schools in Michigan to adopt and implement a standardized plan for response terminology starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The law mandates that school boards and directors use consistent language when communicating about safety incidents to ensure clarity across the education system. However, the bill does not take effect unless it is passed together with a companion bill, HB 4096.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 94 in Wayne County as the "Corporal Mohamed Said Memorial Highway." The designated section runs between Oakwood Boulevard and Outer Drive W. By adding this new section to the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, the legislation officially names the road in honor of Corporal Mohamed Said.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison within Michigan's Legislative Council to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the state legislature and federally recognized tribes. The office will be led by a liaison appointed by the council from a list provided by the United Tribes of Michigan, who will be supported by at least two policy advisors. Key duties include visiting each tribe annually, advising lawmakers on how proposed legislation impacts tribal communities, and providing mandatory training for legislators on tribal history and consultation processes. Additionally, the office must submit an annual public report detailing tribal concerns raised during the legislative process to the governor and legislative leaders.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's vehicle owner liability laws to explicitly exempt individuals participating in peer-to-peer car sharing programs from liability for accidents that occur during a sharing period. By adding a new section to the Vehicle Code, the legislation clarifies that the strict liability rules applying to vehicle owners do not extend to shared vehicles when they are being used by the platform or an authorized driver. The law defines specific terms such as "car sharing period" and "shared vehicle owner" to ensure clarity, while maintaining existing liability standards for traditional car leases and other vehicle ownership scenarios.