Sen. Rosemary Bayer

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for Michigan taxpayers who donate money to endowment funds at certified community foundations starting in 2024. Individuals can claim a credit equal to 50% of their donation, up to a maximum of $100 for single filers or $200 for joint filers, while estates and trusts can claim up to 10% of their tax liability or $5,000, whichever is less. To qualify, the community foundation must be certified by the state department and have at least $1 million in assets, and donors must receive a gift acknowledgment confirming the contribution went to an endowment fund. The bill also requires the state department to report the total amount of these credits claimed each year to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's liquor control code to address situations where liquor retailers use payments that are rejected by banks due to insufficient funds. Under the new rules, a retailer who makes such a dishonored payment to a wholesaler must pay a $50 administrative fee. If the retailer repeats this mistake within 12 months, the fee increases to $150 for a second offense and $300 for a third or subsequent offense. The bill also clarifies that any fines imposed by the state commission for these violations must be placed into a specific state fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's laws regarding embezzlement from vulnerable adults and their estates by clarifying that fraud committed while a person is alive and continued after their death counts as a single continuous offense. It establishes specific penalties based on the value of the stolen property, ranging from misdemeanors for amounts under $1,000 to felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison for amounts exceeding $100,000. The legislation also allows courts to combine the value of multiple thefts occurring within a 12-month period or against a single individual to determine the appropriate charge severity. Additionally, the bill requires prosecutors to explicitly list prior convictions when seeking enhanced sentences and protects financial institutions and their employees from liability when acting within the normal course of business.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows counties or groups of counties in Michigan to establish multidisciplinary teams dedicated to protecting vulnerable adults, defined as individuals over 18 who require supervision due to age, disability, or illness. These teams would be composed of representatives from various sectors, including law enforcement, adult protective services, healthcare providers, legal aid, and finance experts, to coordinate efforts against abuse and neglect. The legislation grants these teams the authority to share confidential information among themselves and specific government agencies while exempting their records and meetings from public disclosure laws. Ultimately, the teams aim to prevent exploitation, coordinate care services, and develop programs to detect and stop the abuse of vulnerable adults in the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal tool called an elder and vulnerable adult personal protection order for Michigan residents aged 60 or older, as well as for vulnerable adults and those with developmental disabilities. The order allows courts to stop specific harmful behaviors, such as entering a person's home, threatening violence, abusing their pets, or financially exploiting their assets. It also includes provisions to transfer related cases to probate courts if the person is under guardianship and requires fiduciaries to notify the court if such an order is issued against them.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's definition of racketeering to explicitly include embezzlement committed against vulnerable adults. By adding this specific crime to the list of offenses that constitute racketeering, the legislation ensures that individuals who steal from elderly or disabled persons can be prosecuted under broader organized crime statutes. The change directly affects prosecutors and defendants by expanding the legal tools available to address financial exploitation of those who cannot protect themselves. No new penalties are created; rather, the bill clarifies that this type of theft falls under the existing framework for serious, repeated criminal activity.

Maddy summarySB 802 requires Michigan to create and maintain an electronic registry that lists available inpatient psychiatric beds and community-based mental health and substance use disorder services. This registry must categorize available resources by factors such as patient gender, age, and diagnosis, and it must be accessible to health plans, hospitals, and individuals seeking help. The bill mandates that psychiatric facilities and community programs provide near real-time data on their capacity to the state department, which will then share this information with the Michigan crisis and access line. Consequently, the crisis line will be better equipped to connect callers directly with open beds and appropriate providers using digital communication tools. Additionally, the legislation establishes a committee to oversee the registry's operation and includes a requirement for the department to report quarterly on its implementation progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend an existing section of Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act that outlines the state department's duties regarding water resources and pollution control. The primary change would allow the department to continue enforcing rules that were established before January 1, 2007, even though the original law previously prohibited creating new rules after that date. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the department can take actions to comply with federal water pollution laws but must stay within the budget amounts approved by the state legislature. The legislation directly affects the state environmental agency and its regulatory authority over surface and underground waters.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Palliative Care Advisory Task Force within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to improve access to end-of-life care. The 13-member group, appointed by the governor with Senate approval, includes representatives from hospices, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients or their families. The task force is charged with defining palliative care, conducting research, identifying available services, and developing strategies to educate the public. It must meet at least quarterly and submit an annual report by January 1, 2027, detailing current services and gaps in care across the state. Members serve four-year terms without pay but can be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's water withdrawal regulations to improve data collection and clarify permit requirements for large-scale water users. It mandates that facilities withdrawing significant amounts of water submit annual reports detailing usage, sources, and location data, while exempting small withdrawals under 1.5 million gallons annually from fees and detailed reporting. The legislation also introduces a new rule preventing permit holders from passing infrastructure costs to the public when increasing withdrawal capacity, and it adjusts the threshold for requiring a permit for new common distribution systems from 2 million to 1 million gallons per day. Additionally, the bill simplifies the reporting process for users whose water consumption remains within 4% of their previous year's usage and establishes a 45-day public comment period for new permit applications.