Sen. Paul Wojno

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring the life and public service of R. Robert Geake, a former Michigan legislator who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The text details his extensive career, including his legislative work on committees focused on education, mental health, and children's welfare, as well as his later roles as an investigator and chair of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman and the Legislative Retirement System Board. The resolution formally expresses the Legislature's tribute to his dedication and instructs that copies of the document be sent to his family.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Energy Pricing Protection Act, prohibits businesses from charging excessively high prices for gasoline, propane, and home heating oil during market disruptions. It defines a market disruption as events like natural disasters, strikes, or emergencies and sets a 20% price increase threshold as the limit for what is considered unjustified, unless sellers can prove higher costs or prior discounts caused the rise. The law applies to anyone selling these essential energy products but excludes utilities regulated by state or federal commissions. Enforcement is handled by state and local prosecutors, who can issue written demands for documents and testimony and file court actions against violators, with investigative details kept confidential until a formal charge is made.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Hotel and Lodging Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising room rates by more than 20% during a declared state of emergency unless they can prove the increase is due to higher costs or pre-existing contracts. The law applies to hotels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and short-term rentals like Airbnb, but excludes large resort-managed units. It allows prosecutors to investigate violations by issuing legal demands for documents and testimony, with courts empowered to enforce compliance if the investigation is deemed proper.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Commodities and Emergency Services and Supplies Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising prices unfairly during a declared state of emergency. It specifically targets sales of building materials, food, emergency supplies, medical items, and general goods, defining an illegal price hike as an increase of more than 20% compared to pre-emergency rates unless the seller can prove higher costs. The law prohibits charging or offering these items at excessively high prices and grants prosecutors the power to investigate violations by demanding documents and testimony from suspected violators.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new grant program and fund to support community violence intervention and prevention efforts in Michigan. It directs state funding to eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations that meet specific criteria, such as having high homicide rates or a demonstrated need to address violence. The grants must be used for evidence-based strategies that utilize trauma-informed care, expand economic opportunities, and avoid contributing to mass incarceration. Furthermore, the legislation requires that at least 75% of any grant given to a local government be passed on to community-based or nonprofit groups, ensuring that law enforcement agencies do not receive these specific funds. The bill also mandates regular reporting on financial use and program outcomes to ensure accountability.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Services within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The office would manage state funds and grants, track violence trends, and provide technical assistance to local nonprofit organizations working to reduce shootings and homicides. It would also set statewide goals for violence reduction, publish best practices, and coordinate all related prevention efforts across the state. The legislation does not take effect unless a companion bill, SB 1016, is also passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's insurance code to require health insurers to provide consumers with a plain English summary of their policies and detailed information upon request. The legislation mandates that these summaries clearly explain coverage benefits, costs, exceptions, and renewal terms, while also ensuring policies are printed in a readable font size without highlighting specific text. Additionally, the bill requires insurers to disclose provider network details, professional credentials, and financial arrangements when asked, and it sets specific deadlines for delivering this information to applicants and policyholders.

Maddy summarySB 978 repeals the requirement that health insurers in Michigan provide emergency refills of prescription medications for up to a 30-day supply. This change directly affects insurance companies and their policyholders by removing the obligation to cover such emergency supplies under specific circumstances. The bill eliminates Section 3406w of the state's insurance code, which previously mandated these emergency coverage provisions. Consequently, insurers will no longer be required to grant these specific emergency refill exceptions, leaving the existing formulary and exception processes in Sections 3406o as the primary framework for drug coverage.

Maddy summarySB 974 updates Michigan's insurance code to align with the state's health insurance exchange by clarifying definitions for roles such as navigators and certified application counselors. The bill establishes strict rules requiring these individuals to be state-certified before they can receive funding or assist consumers with health plan enrollment. It explicitly prohibits them from selling insurance or recommending specific plans, ensuring they provide only impartial information about available coverage options. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state director implement a certification program including background checks and privacy training to protect consumer data.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the state insurance director to work with the Michigan health insurance exchange to officially certify qualified health and dental plans. It requires the director to create specific rules for this certification process while maintaining the authority to regulate insurance businesses and exempt these plans from certain laws. The legislation defines qualified plans using existing terms from the Michigan health insurance exchange act and includes a provision that it only takes effect if a related companion bill is also passed.