Sen. Sue Shink

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Michigan Education Trust Act to update definitions and refund rules for advance tuition payment contracts. It clarifies terms such as "qualified beneficiary" and "state institution of higher education," while also adjusting the conditions under which these contracts can be terminated. The legislation outlines specific scenarios for refunds, including situations where a student dies, is not admitted to a state school, or chooses to attend an independent college or community college. Additionally, it establishes guidelines for how refunds are calculated and transferred to other eligible educational institutions if the original contract is ended.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act in Michigan to update and clarify the definitions of various terms used throughout the law. It directly affects water suppliers, public water systems, and mobile home parks by refining how they are categorized and regulated. Key changes include redefining concepts such as "community supply," "nontransient noncommunity water supply," and "public water supply" to better align with current service levels and operational realities. Additionally, the legislation clarifies specific technical definitions like "customer site piping" and "source water assessment" to ensure consistent application of state drinking water standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement officers in Michigan to complete specific training focused on mental health, de-escalation, and implicit bias. The legislation mandates that new officers finish this curriculum by July 1, 2025, while those already licensed must complete it by July 1, 2026. Key provisions include detailed training on verbal tactics, recognizing mental health indicators, and using behavioral health resources to divert individuals from the criminal justice system. Additionally, the bill directs the state commission to develop these standards and requires agencies to adopt written policies ensuring officers use de-escalation techniques whenever safe and reasonable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement agencies in Michigan to create and publicly share written policies on how officers should use force. The law mandates that these policies must include specific rules, such as using only objectively reasonable force, reserving deadly force for situations involving an immediate threat of death or serious injury, and prioritizing de-escalation techniques. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "deadly force" and "objectively reasonable" to guide policy creation and requires agencies to regularly review and update their policies to stay current with laws and court rulings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's penal code to explicitly prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of bump stocks. A bump stock is defined as a device that allows a semiautomatic firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull by using the weapon's recoil energy to reset the trigger automatically. Violating this new prohibition would result in a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The law includes exceptions for licensed federal manufacturers and certain self-defense spray devices, but it strictly targets the specific mechanism of the bump stock device.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens oversight for Michigan public school academies by requiring the organizations that authorize them to perform specific duties. The law mandates that authorizing bodies establish independent boards with local representation, ensure fair student admission processes, and monitor financial and academic performance. Additionally, it requires these bodies to submit regular reports on their oversight efforts and gives them the power to revoke contracts if academies fail to meet academic goals, legal standards, or fiscal requirements. The legislation also clarifies that authorizing bodies serve as fiscal agents and must ensure academy boards meet frequently and operate without interference from educational management companies.

Maddy summarySB 944 updates the rules for public school academies in Michigan that hire outside companies to manage their operations. The bill requires these management companies to share detailed financial reports and specific salary information for high-paid staff with the academy's board of directors. Additionally, the law mandates that academies post this financial and personnel data on their websites for public viewing within 30 days of receiving it. This legislation aims to increase transparency regarding how public funds are used and how management contracts are structured.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Strategic Advisory Board to create and update a ten-year economic development plan for Michigan, covering rural, suburban, and urban areas. The plan must include specific goals such as promoting natural resource industries, ensuring affordable housing, protecting the environment, and improving education and infrastructure. Additionally, the bill requires the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to update this strategic plan annually by September 30.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's environmental laws to clarify how the state handles the cleanup of contaminated sites, specifically allowing for more flexibility when full restoration to drinking water standards is not technically possible. It requires that cleanup efforts generally meet safety standards and stop the spread of pollution, but it permits the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to approve alternative solutions if achieving strict standards is impractical, too costly, or would cause more harm than good. The legislation also introduces specific conditions under which a site can be closed without meeting certain chemical limits, such as when natural processes will reduce contamination over time or when strict cleanup would have negative environmental impacts. These changes directly affect property owners, developers, and environmental agencies by defining the rules and exceptions they must follow when remediating hazardous waste sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's environmental cleanup laws by clarifying definitions for terms like agricultural property and hazardous substance background levels. It requires property owners to conduct specific environmental assessments before buying or occupying land and establishes new standards for determining when soil contamination is safe for residential use. The legislation also adds new sections to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act while repealing an outdated provision. These changes aim to streamline the process for cleaning up contaminated sites and provide clearer guidelines for developers and landowners.