Sen. Sue Shink

Maddy summarySB 57 creates the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act" to shield individuals and organizations from abusive lawsuits targeting free speech. It directly affects people sued for expressing views on public issues, such as through protests, social media, or public comments about government actions. Key provisions require courts to quickly dismiss such cases (within 60 days) by staying discovery, shifting the burden to prove the lawsuit is valid to the plaintiff, and imposing sanctions for frivolous claims. The law excludes lawsuits involving government employees, civil rights claims, or commercial speech about goods/services, focusing solely on protecting constitutional expression rights.

Maddy summarySB 58 requires Michigan's Department of Education, with input from the Department of Natural Resources, to create a model firearm safety program for students in grades 6-12 by June 2025. The program must be at least 10 hours long, taught by certified hunter education instructors, and cover safe handling, storage, types of firearms, and hunting practices - without bringing firearms into school buildings. Schools may offer the instruction as an optional extracurricular activity or integrate it into existing courses, and students or parents can request excusal without academic penalty. Completing the program fulfills the hunter safety requirement for obtaining a hunting license under state law. The bill directly affects public schools, students in grades 6-12, and the state departments overseeing education and natural resources.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 3) authorizes the Senate Majority Leader to take legal action against the House of Representatives to compel it to present nine specific bills to the Governor. The bills - passed by both chambers during the 2023-2024 legislative session - were returned to the House on December 20, 2024, but the House has refused to present them to the Governor despite a constitutional requirement under Michigan’s Article IV, Section 33. The Senate seeks to enforce this duty through court action, targeting House Bills 4177 and 4665-4667 (2023) and 4900-4901, 5817-5818, and 6058 (2024). The resolution focuses solely on procedural compliance, not policy content.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's source of income. It directly affects landlords, real estate brokers, and anyone involved in property transactions by banning them from refusing to rent or sell homes to individuals using government assistance, veterans benefits, Social Security, or other legal income sources. The law clarifies that these protections apply to all forms of discrimination, including refusing to negotiate, making false claims about property availability, or publishing advertisements that exclude people based on how they pay rent. By adding "source of income" to the list of protected categories, the legislation ensures that housing opportunities cannot be denied solely because a tenant relies on subsidies or retirement funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's penal code to strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking during legal proceedings. It allows courts to admit expert testimony explaining how trafficking victims may behave differently than expected and clarifies that a victim's testimony does not require corroboration. Additionally, the law ensures that victims cannot be forced to testify or produce documents if doing so might incriminate them, with the strict rule that any truthful information they provide cannot be used against them in a criminal case except to challenge their credibility or prove they lied.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant's prior acts of domestic violence or sexual assault in current trials for those same crimes. To ensure fairness, the law requires prosecutors to disclose this prior evidence to the defense at least 15 days before the trial begins. The bill also sets a general rule that evidence of acts older than 10 years is inadmissible unless specific conditions are met, such as the prior act being reported to police within five years or resulting in a DNA match. These changes apply to cases where the defendant is accused of offenses involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or specific violations of the Michigan penal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to allow hearsay testimony in specific human trafficking and prostitution cases. It permits the admission of statements made to law enforcement that describe threats of physical injury, provided the statement was made recently and under circumstances indicating its trustworthiness. Prosecutors must disclose these statements to the defense at least 15 days before trial to ensure fair access to evidence. The changes apply only to cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or the specified sex crimes, leaving other legal proceedings unaffected.

Maddy summarySB 206 amends Michigan's landlord-tenant law to explicitly include various forms of financial assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers and emergency rental aid, as a protected "source of income" under the state's fair housing laws. This change prohibits landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants based on the specific programs or benefits they use to pay rent, provided the income is not derived illegally. The bill defines "source of income" broadly to cover federal, state, and local subsidy programs, ensuring that individuals relying on these funds have the same housing opportunities as those with other income sources. By clarifying these definitions within the existing legal framework, the legislation aims to prevent unfair treatment of tenants who depend on government or nonprofit assistance to secure housing.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits landlords in Michigan from discriminating against tenants or prospective tenants based on their source of income, such as housing vouchers or subsidies. It forbids landlords from denying housing, setting different terms, or advertising preferences related to how a tenant pays rent. Additionally, the bill requires that any income threshold for renting must be calculated after subtracting the value of rent vouchers or subsidies. People who suffer financial loss due to a violation can sue for actual damages or up to 4.5 times the monthly rent, plus legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's unemployment insurance system by increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount and adjusting how payments are calculated for dependents starting in 2025. It directly affects unemployed individuals who file for benefits, raising the weekly payment cap to $446 in 2025, $530 in 2026, and $614 in 2027. The legislation also changes the calculation method for dependents, increasing the additional weekly allowance per dependent from $6 to $12.66 in 2025, with further increases planned for subsequent years. These changes are designed to provide higher financial support to eligible claimers while maintaining specific rules for verifying dependent status and preventing fraud.