Sen. Erika Geiss

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant's prior acts of domestic violence or sexual assault in current trials for those same crimes. To ensure fairness, the law requires prosecutors to disclose this prior evidence to the defense at least 15 days before the trial begins. The bill also sets a general rule that evidence of acts older than 10 years is inadmissible unless specific conditions are met, such as the prior act being reported to police within five years or resulting in a DNA match. These changes apply to cases where the defendant is accused of offenses involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or specific violations of the Michigan penal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to allow hearsay testimony in specific human trafficking and prostitution cases. It permits the admission of statements made to law enforcement that describe threats of physical injury, provided the statement was made recently and under circumstances indicating its trustworthiness. Prosecutors must disclose these statements to the defense at least 15 days before trial to ensure fair access to evidence. The changes apply only to cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or the specified sex crimes, leaving other legal proceedings unaffected.

Maddy summarySB 206 amends Michigan's landlord-tenant law to explicitly include various forms of financial assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers and emergency rental aid, as a protected "source of income" under the state's fair housing laws. This change prohibits landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants based on the specific programs or benefits they use to pay rent, provided the income is not derived illegally. The bill defines "source of income" broadly to cover federal, state, and local subsidy programs, ensuring that individuals relying on these funds have the same housing opportunities as those with other income sources. By clarifying these definitions within the existing legal framework, the legislation aims to prevent unfair treatment of tenants who depend on government or nonprofit assistance to secure housing.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits landlords in Michigan from discriminating against tenants or prospective tenants based on their source of income, such as housing vouchers or subsidies. It forbids landlords from denying housing, setting different terms, or advertising preferences related to how a tenant pays rent. Additionally, the bill requires that any income threshold for renting must be calculated after subtracting the value of rent vouchers or subsidies. People who suffer financial loss due to a violation can sue for actual damages or up to 4.5 times the monthly rent, plus legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's unemployment insurance system by increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount and adjusting how payments are calculated for dependents starting in 2025. It directly affects unemployed individuals who file for benefits, raising the weekly payment cap to $446 in 2025, $530 in 2026, and $614 in 2027. The legislation also changes the calculation method for dependents, increasing the additional weekly allowance per dependent from $6 to $12.66 in 2025, with further increases planned for subsequent years. These changes are designed to provide higher financial support to eligible claimers while maintaining specific rules for verifying dependent status and preventing fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan Education Trust Act to update definitions and refund rules for advance tuition payment contracts. It clarifies terms such as "qualified beneficiary" and "state institution of higher education," while also adjusting the conditions under which these contracts can be terminated. The legislation outlines specific scenarios for refunds, including situations where a student dies, is not admitted to a state school, or chooses to attend an independent college or community college. Additionally, it establishes guidelines for how refunds are calculated and transferred to other eligible educational institutions if the original contract is ended.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's search warrant procedures to require law enforcement officers to announce their identity and purpose and wait a reasonable amount of time before forcing entry into a home or building. Officers must wear uniforms or be clearly identifiable when breaking into a property, and they must include specific details about potential dangers, occupants, and disabilities in their warrant applications if they plan to skip the announcement step. Exceptions allowing entry without announcing identity are permitted only when there is an immediate threat to life, evidence suggests occupants know police are present, or announcing would hinder the investigation. The law also defines a "reasonable period of time" as the duration needed for an occupant to admit officers while accounting for the time it might take to destroy evidence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement officers in Michigan to complete specific training focused on mental health, de-escalation, and implicit bias. The legislation mandates that new officers finish this curriculum by July 1, 2025, while those already licensed must complete it by July 1, 2026. Key provisions include detailed training on verbal tactics, recognizing mental health indicators, and using behavioral health resources to divert individuals from the criminal justice system. Additionally, the bill directs the state commission to develop these standards and requires agencies to adopt written policies ensuring officers use de-escalation techniques whenever safe and reasonable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement agencies in Michigan to create and publicly share written policies on how officers should use force. The law mandates that these policies must include specific rules, such as using only objectively reasonable force, reserving deadly force for situations involving an immediate threat of death or serious injury, and prioritizing de-escalation techniques. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "deadly force" and "objectively reasonable" to guide policy creation and requires agencies to regularly review and update their policies to stay current with laws and court rulings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's penal code to explicitly prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of bump stocks. A bump stock is defined as a device that allows a semiautomatic firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull by using the weapon's recoil energy to reset the trigger automatically. Violating this new prohibition would result in a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The law includes exceptions for licensed federal manufacturers and certain self-defense spray devices, but it strictly targets the specific mechanism of the bump stock device.