Sen. Erika Geiss

Maddy summarySR 65 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 2025 as "Hunger Action Month" in Michigan. It recognizes the annual nationwide effort led by Feeding America to raise awareness about food insecurity and support local food banks. The resolution highlights Michigan's ongoing challenges, including 1.5 million residents facing food insecurity and 19% childhood food insecurity rates, without creating new policies or funding. This procedural resolution serves to acknowledge community efforts and the need for food assistance, rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summarySB 362 updates Michigan's definition of "racketeering" in the penal code to explicitly include "a felony violation of the identity theft protection act" (2004 PA 452). This means identity theft crimes now qualify as racketeering offenses, allowing prosecutors to pursue them under more severe racketeering statutes. The change directly affects individuals convicted of identity theft, as it expands the legal framework for charging such cases. The bill revises Section 159g of the penal code to add this specific reference, without creating new penalties or altering existing laws.

Maddy summarySB 364 updates Michigan's criminal procedure code to clarify jurisdiction rules for prosecuting identity theft cases. It specifies that identity theft violations under the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) and related laws can be prosecuted in three locations: where the crime occurred, where stolen data was used, or where the victim lives. The bill also ensures that if multiple identity theft violations are charged, any jurisdiction can handle all charges together, preventing fragmented prosecutions. This change directly affects prosecutors and courts handling identity theft cases under the listed statutes.

Maddy summarySB 361 amends Michigan's Deferred Presentment Service Transactions Act (2005 PA 244) to establish a statewide, real-time database for licensees providing deferred presentment services (like payday loans). The database requires licensees to verify customer transaction history, track compliance with federal regulations, and monitor violations - directly affecting businesses offering these services. Key provisions mandate the database provider (either state-operated or contracted) to prevent fraud, comply with the Identity Theft Protection Act, securely handle customer data, and automatically close transactions after specific timeframes. The bill also includes safeguards for consumers injured by third-party provider violations and requires detailed reporting on transaction closures.

Maddy summarySB 363 amends Michigan's criminal liability standards in Section 9 of the Revised Statutes (MCL 8.9) to clarify when a defendant must prove a specific mental state (like intent or knowledge) for a crime. The key provision updates the statute to explicitly exclude the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) from these new liability rules, ensuring existing standards for identity theft cases remain unchanged. This bill affects all criminal prosecutions under Michigan law except those specifically covered by the Identity Theft Protection Act. The change is procedural, updating statutory references without altering penalties or creating new requirements for identity theft offenses.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 360 amends Michigan's existing Identity Theft Protection Act. The bill revises and expands several key definitions, including what constitutes a "breach of the security of a database" and various types of "personal information" and "personal identifying information." These updates clarify the scope of protected data and the circumstances under which a security breach occurs, directly affecting Michigan residents and entities that handle their personal information. Additionally, the bill introduces new sections and repeals others, indicating a comprehensive update to the act's provisions.

Maddy summarySB 246 increases disposal fees for hazardous waste and adjusts limits on certain disposal wells and TENORM (radioactive materials) disposal. It directly affects waste disposal facilities and generators of hazardous waste by changing fee structures under Michigan's environmental code. Key provisions amend specific sections to raise fee limits, update disposal well regulations, and clarify TENORM handling requirements. The bill modifies multiple sections of Michigan's 1994 environmental protection law (PA 451) to modernize waste disposal oversight. (Passed on August 26, 2025, with 19 yeas, 15 nays.)

Maddy summarySB 247 imposes a fee of 0.417 cents per gallon on hazardous waste injected into "class I multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal wells" (special wells serving multiple generators). Owners/operators must pay this fee quarterly, adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index, and forward revenue to a community fund. Exemptions apply for certain cleanup waste, site cleanups, and specific waste types, requiring written certification from generators. The collected fees fund annual grants to cities and townships hosting these wells, distributed based on the percentage of fees collected from that area.

Maddy summarySB 479 modifies Michigan's environmental permit process to require state agencies to evaluate projects in environmentally overburdened communities - typically areas with historical pollution and health disparities - before denying permits or adding conditions. The bill creates a new Subpart 2 under the permit law, mandating that agencies consider whether a project would worsen environmental harm in these communities and potentially impose additional safeguards. It also repeals the Environmental Permit Review Commission, which previously handled certain permit appeals. This change directly affects developers seeking permits for projects in designated overburdened areas and shifts permit review authority to state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 453 requires Michigan public school districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies to include one unit of age- and grade-appropriate Black history instruction in their history curriculum starting in the 2027-2028 school year. This instruction must cover Black contributions to U.S. society, the history of Black communities in Michigan and the Midwest (including discriminatory policies), and civil rights advancements. The bill also mandates a similar unit of Indigenous People history instruction with identical content requirements. The superintendent of public instruction must develop guidelines with input from cultural centers and scholars, and all instruction must be inclusive and non-discriminatory for all students.