Sen. Sue Shink

Maddy summarySenate Bill 963 creates the Language Assistance for Elections Act to require Michigan local governments to provide election materials in languages other than English for residents with limited English proficiency. The law mandates that counties, cities, and townships must offer translated ballots, voting instructions, and signage if their population includes a specific number of voters who share a single non-English language. The Secretary of State will publish a list of affected jurisdictions and languages annually, while also providing certified translations and electronic voting systems to ensure accuracy. Local governments will be reimbursed for additional costs associated with implementing these translation and testing requirements.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1038 updates Michigan's environmental laws to impose stricter regulations on facilities that store, handle, or process bulk solid materials like coal and coke. The bill requires these facilities to obtain an annual certificate of operation, install real-time air quality monitors around their perimeters, and maintain detailed logs of equipment maintenance and dust control activities. Key operational changes include mandating enclosed storage for piles, limiting outdoor pile heights, enforcing vehicle cleaning and wheel washing, and requiring weather stations to monitor wind conditions for effective dust suppression. Additionally, the bill directs the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to issue compliance orders within 45 days of enactment, setting a schedule for full implementation of these new standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's existing laws regarding post-conviction DNA testing for individuals convicted of felonies. It allows defendants to petition the court for DNA testing of biological evidence collected during their original investigation, with specific conditions for those convicted before and after January 8, 2001. The legislation outlines the process for requesting testing, including requirements to prove the evidence is available and relevant to the case, and establishes rules for handling the results. If the testing excludes the defendant as the source of the evidence, the court must appoint counsel and hold a hearing to decide if a new trial is warranted. Additionally, the bill ensures that victims receive written notice of these petitions and hearings when the victim's identity is known.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 909 modifies Michigan's Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act to clarify the rules for individuals seeking financial compensation after being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. The bill updates legal definitions for terms like 'new evidence' and 'plaintiff' while establishing specific requirements for filing a compensation claim, such as proving innocence through new evidence or a gubernatorial pardon. It also introduces a process to notify victims of the original crime about compensation applications and outlines how discovery and legal arguments will proceed during these cases.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill requires law enforcement agencies to obtain written parental consent before using minors under 18 as confidential informants or active participants in law enforcement activities. The law defines specific types of law enforcement agencies covered, including state police, local police departments, and university police, while excluding individuals who voluntarily report crimes without being recontacted for additional information. Parents or legal guardians can seek court orders to stop agencies from using their children in these roles if consent requirements are not met, and the bill mandates that agencies pay court costs and attorney fees along with damages ranging from $500 to $1,000 if they violate the consent provision. The legislation does not apply to minors who are legally emancipated under existing state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to provide every prisoner with a medical information release form, an emergency contact form, and an informational brochure upon intake. Prisoners must designate specific individuals to receive their medical information (authorized recipients) and to be contacted during a critical medical emergency (emergency contacts), with the department instructing them to keep contact details updated. In a critical medical emergency, the department must notify the designated emergency contact and may arrange for approved visitors (like family or clergy) to visit the prisoner in the hospital. The department must develop the required forms and brochure within 90 days of the bill's effective date and make them available to all prisoners.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates June 2026 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ Pride Month in Michigan. The measure serves as a symbolic recognition of the LGBTQ+ community's history, contributions, and ongoing fight for equality rather than enacting new laws or policies. By adopting this resolution, the state legislature acknowledges the cultural and civic value of the community and aligns with national traditions of celebrating Pride Month.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retailers in Michigan to round down the final price of cash transactions to the nearest five cents, a rule that applies to most items sold in stores but excludes taxes. It also mandates that the total price of an item be clearly displayed at the place of sale, though this requirement does not apply to goods sold by weight, vending machines, prepared food, or certain small items like gum and greeting cards. The legislation updates existing definitions to clarify terms such as "consumer item" and "automatic checkout system" to ensure consistent application of these pricing and display standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's property recording laws to update and clarify the formatting requirements for legal documents submitted to county registers of deeds. It directly affects anyone executing or filing real estate instruments such as deeds, mortgages, and other property-related documents within the state. The key provisions specify detailed standards for document size, font size, ink color, paper weight, and the inclusion of printed names and addresses for signatories and notaries, while also requiring English translations for non-English documents. The bill maintains existing rules about obscuring social security numbers and clarifies procedures for recording affidavits with attached mortgage copies. These changes aim to standardize how property documents are prepared and processed by local recording offices.

Maddy summarySB 783 prohibits publicly traded companies receiving Michigan state economic incentives (like grants, tax breaks, or loans) from buying back their own company shares during the incentive period. It requires the Michigan Strategic Fund to include this restriction in all new incentive agreements, with a 10% penalty plus repayment of incentives if violated. The bill directly affects publicly traded businesses that seek state economic development assistance under Michigan's Strategic Fund Act. This policy change aims to ensure state incentives support broader economic activity rather than shareholder returns.