Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1137 comprehensively revises state civil procedure laws to expand protections for individuals with consumer debts by increasing the value of property exempt from seizure, such as raising the homestead exemption to $125,000 and the household goods exemption to $5,000. The bill establishes a new cap on wage garnishment, limiting creditors to seizing only 15% of an individual's weekly earnings or the amount exceeding 35 times the minimum wage, whichever is less. It also introduces specific procedural safeguards, including requirements for financial institutions to identify and protect exempt funds in deposit accounts and mandates that courts provide debtors with clear notices about their rights before property can be seized. Additionally, the legislation creates a mechanism for periodic inflation adjustments to these exemption amounts and restricts the state from intercepting tax refunds to satisfy consumer debts when the refund includes specific earned income tax credits.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1047 creates a new rate class for large energy users, specifically targeting data centers, to ensure they do not shift costs to residential and small business customers. The bill requires these facilities to sign long-term contracts with electric utilities that include a minimum monthly charge based on their potential usage, even if they consume less power. Additionally, the legislation mandates that large energy users pay for all costs they cause, such as new power lines and generation, and must provide collateral or a letter of credit to guarantee these payments. To further protect the grid, the bill also requires these facilities to participate in demand response programs, source 90% of their electricity from clean energy, and pay a significant application fee.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's water laws to streamline the registration process for large-scale water withdrawals while introducing new requirements for water conservation and reporting. It primarily affects property owners, agricultural operators, and industrial facilities that plan to extract significant amounts of water, requiring them to register their intended capacity before beginning operations. The legislation mandates that the state develop and post generic water conservation measures for different sectors, with specific rules for agriculture and data centers, and requires facilities permitted under new provisions to submit annual reports on wastewater usage and pollutant levels. Additionally, the bill clarifies exemptions for smaller residential wells and test wells, while establishing a timeline for property owners to develop their water capacity after registration or face invalidation of their application.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in Michigan to include specific labor conditions in contracts for building or maintaining data centers. Under the new rules, these projects must use registered apprenticeship programs, pay workers at least the prevailing local wage and fringe benefit rates, and utilize project labor agreements or collective bargaining agreements. The legislation defines data centers as facilities housing equipment for data storage and processing and aims to ensure fair labor standards for construction work without speculating on future economic impacts.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Data Center Nondisclosure Agreement Prohibition Act, prevents public employees and officers in Michigan from signing nondisclosure agreements related to data center projects. It defines a data center as a facility with significant power demand and restricts these officials from using confidentiality claims to hide information from the public. The law applies to agreements entered into, amended, or renewed after its effective date, though it allows exceptions for legally privileged information or settlement documents. Violations of this rule could result in a civil fine of up to $1,000, which can be pursued by county prosecutors or the attorney general.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits insurance companies in Michigan from using price optimization techniques when setting rates. It defines price optimization as adjusting premiums based on factors unrelated to risk, such as a customer's willingness to pay or their likelihood of switching providers. The law also bans insurers from penalizing customers for shopping around, canceling policies early, or complaining about their coverage. By outlawing these practices, the bill aims to ensure that insurance rates are determined solely by the risk of loss or expense rather than a consumer's financial behavior.
Maddy summarySB 966 amends the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966 to add new powers for the State Housing Development Authority in Michigan. The bill allows the authority to establish and collect fees for its publications, loans, and related services, and to use the resulting income for its corporate purposes. These funds are not considered interest and can be used to support the authority's housing initiatives, provided they are not pledged for bond repayment. The legislation directly affects the State Housing Development Authority by expanding its financial and operational capabilities to better serve housing needs across Michigan.
Maddy summarySB 105 requires health plans and nonprofit dental corporations providing dental benefits to offer payment methods that deliver 100% of the payable amount to dentists without charging the dentist a fee to access payment (excluding fees from the dentist's financial institution). Dentists who choose to opt out of a payment method must maintain that choice until they opt back in or sign a new contract. This bill directly affects dentists and dental benefit providers in Michigan, applying to policies delivered, issued, or renewed after the law's effective date. It mandates specific reimbursement structures to reduce financial barriers for dental providers.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 18 amends the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to establish new rules for how state and federal benefits are managed for children in foster care. It requires the Department to screen children for benefit eligibility, apply for benefits on their behalf, and generally prohibits using these funds to cover the cost of their foster care. However, benefits may be used for a child's special needs services or conserved for future needs, with appropriate consultation. The bill also mandates financial literacy training for children aged 14 and older, requires regular notification and accounting of benefit use to the child and their guardian, and facilitates the transfer of these assets to the child upon leaving foster care or turning 18.
Maddy summarySB 585 requires conservators (appointed to manage the estates of protected individuals, such as minors without parental rights or adults under guardianship) to obtain a court-approved appraisal from a licensed professional before selling a protected individual's principal residence or real property. The appraisal must be conducted within six months of the sale, and the court must determine the sale is in the protected individual's best interest before approving it. This change applies specifically to sales of real property and adds a formal valuation requirement to existing conservator powers under Michigan law. The bill amends Section 5423 of the Estates and Protected Individuals Code to ensure objective property valuation in significant financial decisions.