Sen. Paul Wojno

Maddy summarySB 52 amends Michigan's Port Authority Act (1978 PA 639) to update financial rules for port authorities. It modifies how these authorities manage grant funds, issue revenue bonds, and use "ancillary financing facilities" like interest rate swaps or insurance contracts. The bill adds new language (Section 19a) and revises multiple existing sections to clarify financial operations. This procedural update directly affects port authorities managing state-owned port facilities, such as piers, docks, and related infrastructure, without creating new facilities or changing their core responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 81 expands Michigan's Indigent Defense Commission's duties to include providing effective legal representation for indigent youth (those under 18 facing juvenile court cases). The bill amends the existing law to require the Commission to establish minimum standards for youth defense services, ensuring they meet constitutional requirements for "effective assistance of counsel." It specifically defines "youth" and clarifies that indigent criminal defense services for youth must begin at their initial court appearance. This change directly affects juvenile defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, ensuring they receive legally required representation under the same standards applied to adults.

Maddy summarySB 106 creates a special vehicle registration plate in Michigan that supports animal welfare. Vehicle owners who purchase this plate will contribute funds to a dedicated "Protecting Michigan's Pets Fund," managed by the state treasurer. The fund receives all plate sale proceeds and disburses money quarterly to the Michigan Pet Alliance to support spay/neuter programs and care for homeless/abused animals in shelters. This bill directly affects plate buyers and provides a new funding source for animal welfare organizations.

Maddy summarySB 293 amends Michigan’s animal welfare law (MCL 750.50) to clarify and strengthen standards for animal care. It defines "adequate care" as providing food, water, shelter, and veterinary attention to maintain an animal’s health, and prohibits neglect that jeopardizes health. The bill requires owners to reimburse shelters for care costs when animals are forfeited due to neglect, and adds specific rules like tethering dogs with a minimum 3x length leash. It directly affects pet owners, breeders, pet shops, and animal shelters by imposing penalties for violations and creating restitution mechanisms. The changes focus on concrete standards for care, abandonment, and transportation, without adding new categories of prohibited conduct.

Maddy summarySB 294 strengthens Michigan's animal cruelty laws by increasing penalties for harming companion animals (like pets and service animals) and adding new requirements for convicted individuals. It classifies offenses into three degrees (with first-degree punishable by up to 10 years in prison) and mandates courts to order restitution for animal care costs, including veterinary treatment and shelter. The bill also allows courts to prohibit convicted individuals from owning animals for a specified period or permanently. Exemptions cover lawful activities like hunting, farming, and veterinary care. This law directly affects people convicted of animal cruelty, particularly those targeting companion animals.

Maddy summarySB 716 shortens Michigan's review period for aligning state controlled substance schedules with federal changes. It requires the state administrator to decide within 30 days (down from 91 days) whether to adopt federal scheduling changes for substances, rather than automatically following federal action. If the state chooses not to adopt a federal schedule, it must publish its reasons within 30 days of that decision. This directly affects the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (the "administrator") and impacts how quickly Michigan regulates substances like drugs or chemicals under state law. The bill does not change which substances are controlled but streamlines the process for updating Michigan's schedules.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Michigan's state of energy emergency from July 1, 2026, to September 16, 2026, to align with a potential federal waiver allowing more flexible gasoline production. The measure directly affects consumers and businesses by aiming to prevent fuel shortages and price spikes that could occur if stricter fuel regulations were reinstated. By keeping the emergency in effect, the state can continue to relax its own fuel requirements while the federal government addresses supply constraints. The resolution takes effect immediately upon July 1, ensuring there is no gap in the emergency declaration.

Maddy summarySB 792 amends Michigan's "Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act" to clarify definitions and update eligibility for tax exemptions on rehabilitation projects. The bill specifies that "obsolete property" includes blighted, functionally obsolete, or brownfield sites (e.g., industrial buildings converted to residential use), and defines "rehabilitation" to require major improvements (exceeding 10% of property value), excluding minor repairs. It refines criteria for local governments to establish rehabilitation districts, limiting eligibility to areas with economic hardship indicators like low median income or proximity to large cities. This affects property owners and local governments in designated districts by ensuring only substantial rehabilitation projects qualify for tax relief under the updated rules.

Maddy summarySB 793 amends Michigan's industrial facility tax law to clarify key definitions for tax exemption eligibility. It updates terms like "restoration" (major renovations to industrial properties, including structural improvements) and "speculative building" (new structures built without a specific tenant) to better align with current development practices. These changes directly affect local governments, economic development organizations, and businesses seeking tax benefits for industrial property improvements. The bill focuses on making the program's rules clearer without altering the core tax exemption structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's liquor control laws to clarify definitions for various alcohol producers and to permit custom engraving on spirit bottles. It amends existing statutes to refine what constitutes "manufacture" and introduces new categories for mixed spirit drinks based on their alcohol content and packaging, specifically allowing higher-alcohol spirits in metal cans. Additionally, the legislation authorizes vendors and third-party engravers to personalize bottles purchased from specially designated distributors, either before sale or after a consumer buys the bottle for pickup. These changes aim to modernize regulations for small distillers and craft producers while creating a legal framework for personalized liquor gifts.