Sen. Erika Geiss

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal penalties for engaging in sexual acts with a dead human body in Michigan. It establishes that sexual contact, defined as intentional touching of specific body areas for sexual purposes like revenge or humiliation, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison or a $500 fine. More severe sexual penetration, such as entry into genital or anal openings, is classified as a felony carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The law also allows prison terms for these offenses to run consecutively to other sentences related to the same incident.

Maddy summaryThis law allows credit union members to designate their accounts as inactive if they are not using them but wish to keep their membership status. Under this rule, the credit union cannot charge fees on these inactive accounts, and the member can remove the inactive status at any time. If an account remains inactive for three years, the credit union must turn the funds over to the state treasury and end the membership. The change applies to domestic credit unions and requires all members of a shared account to agree before designating it as inactive.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify how inland lake levels are defined and financed. It provides clearer definitions for terms like "inland lake" and "normal level," specifying that normal levels are target elevations chosen to benefit the public and protect property while excluding the Great Lakes. The legislation also expands the ability of local districts to raise money for lake level projects by allowing them to issue bonds and accept advances from various sources, including private companies and the federal government, to cover costs like engineering and land acquisition. These financial tools are intended to help communities manage water levels through special assessments on affected properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's foster care laws to strengthen protections for children by requiring agencies to follow stricter procedures before moving a child from one placement to another. Under the new rules, agencies must notify the foster parents, the court, and a review board of any proposed change, and they must keep the child in their current home while an appeal is considered if the foster parents disagree. The law also mandates that agencies document the reasons for any move and ensures that Indian tribes are consulted when changes involve Native American children. Exceptions to these notification requirements are allowed only in cases of immediate danger, such as suspected abuse or risk of harm, where the child's safety takes priority over the standard process.

Maddy summarySB 706 modifies Michigan's vehicle code to remove unpaid driver responsibility fees from the centralized computerized driving records maintained by the secretary of state. This change affects drivers who have accumulated these fees, ensuring that such financial obligations no longer appear on their official driving history alongside traffic violations and accidents. The bill achieves this by amending specific sections of the state law that previously required these fees to be listed in the central file. Consequently, the removal of this information aims to provide a more accurate reflection of a driver's actual traffic behavior rather than their financial compliance with state fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Motor Bus Transportation Act to clarify how identification must be displayed on commercial buses. It requires that a motor carrier's legal name and primary telephone number be visible on both sides of the vehicle in high-contrast colors readable from at least 50 feet away. The law also mandates that these markings comply with federal vehicle identification standards, while explicitly exempting school buses from the requirement to display a phone number.

Maddy summarySB 389 modifies Michigan's unclaimed property laws by adjusting the timeframes after which certain financial instruments and accounts are considered abandoned. The bill specifically shortens the dormancy period for travelers checks and money orders from 15 years to 3 years, while maintaining a 3-year wait for bank accounts, cashier's checks, and other financial deposits. These changes apply primarily to funds held by issuers or financial organizations where the owner has not communicated with the entity or shown interest in the property within the specified time. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the rules for charging fees or stopping interest payments on dormant accounts, requiring specific written contracts and advance notice for such actions. The law also establishes criteria for when the state can claim these funds, focusing on whether the financial instrument was purchased in Michigan or if the issuer is based in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow the Department of Environmental Quality to issue emergency orders against individuals violating rules regarding structures or fill on inland lake or stream bottomlands. The provision authorizes the department to demand immediate repairs or removal of such structures to prevent harm to public health, safety, property, or natural resources, and permits the department to perform these actions and recover costs if the owner fails to comply. While the department can modify or terminate these orders once the emergency is resolved, the law requires a hearing within 15 days to review the order's necessity, and it specifically excludes violations related to residential property.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new speed limit of 15 miles per hour for vehicles operating on highways or streets closed to nonemergency motor vehicles. It applies to any individual driving on these restricted roads, regardless of whether they are exempt from the general closure rules. Violating this speed restriction is classified as a civil infraction. The law amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to create this specific exception for closed roads.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act to update the definitions of key terms used in the program. It clarifies who qualifies as an eligible entity, such as local school districts in areas with high poverty rates, and expands what counts as qualified educational expenses to include costs like housing, food, and computer equipment. The changes ensure that local governments have a clearer framework for committing financial resources to help students from these specific communities pay for postsecondary education and vocational training.