Sen. Sue Shink

Maddy summarySenate Bill 295 requires Michigan public schools to provide water safety instruction to students. By the 2026-2027 school year, school districts and public school academies must offer age- and grade-appropriate water safety lessons, covering topics like safe behaviors in and around water and the importance of CPR, as part of physical education. The Department of Education will develop a model program for this instruction. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services will create a multilingual informational notice on water safety, which schools must distribute annually to parents and post online beginning October 2026. This bill aims to enhance water safety education for students across Michigan.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 302, titled the "agricultural equipment repair act," requires original equipment manufacturers and authorized repair providers of agricultural equipment to make diagnostic, maintenance, and repair parts, tools, and documentation available. This access is provided to independent repair providers and owners of agricultural equipment, such as tractors and combines. The bill specifies that these resources must be offered at fair and reasonable costs and under fair and reasonable terms. The goal is to ensure that owners and independent shops can access the necessary materials to repair their farm machinery.

Maddy summarySB 170 is a budget bill that allocates $393.39 million in state funds to support Michigan's judiciary for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly funds court operations, including the Supreme Court ($102.8 million), Court of Appeals ($27.7 million), and judicial salaries for approximately 591 judges across all courts. Key provisions include funding for court administration, problem-solving courts, technology systems, and specialized programs like foster care review and drug treatment courts. The bill specifies exact amounts for each judicial branch and program without changing existing laws or creating new policies. This is a routine funding measure for the state's court system, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates Michigan's "Uniform Premarital and Marital Agreements Act," establishing clear rules for premarital (before marriage) and marital (during marriage) agreements. It requires such agreements to be in writing and signed by both parties to be enforceable, and they cannot be enforced if signed under unfair pressure, such as threats to cancel a wedding. The law also determines which state's laws apply to these agreements, either the one chosen by the couple or Michigan law. This act directly affects couples who use these agreements to define financial rights and responsibilities during marriage or in the event of divorce.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 39 expresses the Michigan Senate's commitment to strengthening and deepening ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan. It urges Michigan businesses to refer to Taiwan as "Taiwan" and encourages the United States to enhance trade agreements, provide defense support, and advocate for Taiwan's participation in international organizations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 268 proposes to modify the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Michigan, specifically focusing on nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners. It expands the authority of certified nurse anesthetists to include prescribing and administering anesthesia and analgesic agents, as well as developing and implementing care plans. These services may be provided without direct physician supervision if the nurse anesthetist meets specific experience or education requirements and participates in a patient-centered care team. The bill also allows healthcare facilities to adopt policies for these services and clarifies that it does not mandate new third-party reimbursement or worker's compensation benefits.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5 mandates that Michigan's medical assistance program, which includes Medicaid, must comply with section 12 of the "prescription drug cost and affordability review act," subject to federal law. This means the state's program for medical assistance will be required to follow specific rules related to prescription drug costs and affordability outlined in that separate act. The bill will only become effective if Senate Bill No. 3 of the 103rd Legislature is also passed into law.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 29 designates April 20-26, 2025, as Infertility Awareness Week. This resolution aims to raise awareness about infertility and its impact on individuals and couples.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 26 designates April 18, 2025, as Lineman Appreciation Day. This resolution aims to recognize the work of linemen in constructing and maintaining energy infrastructure and their role as first responders during emergencies.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 129 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to expand the circumstances under which public bodies can hold electronic meetings. Primarily, it allows appointed members of public bodies with disabilities to participate remotely as an accommodation, enabling them to fully engage without disclosing the nature of their disability, provided they are physically in the state. However, this accommodation does not apply to elected members or to state legislative bodies when taking a formal vote. Additionally, the bill permits remote meetings for public bodies managing municipal public employee retirement systems and joint agencies formed under the Michigan energy employment act.