Sen. Jeff Irwin

Maddy summarySB 374 changes Michigan's eviction court record rules to help tenants by making it easier to seal or remove their records. It requires courts to seal eviction records until a judgment for possession is entered and allows sealing after judgment if the tenant vacated before the case, received emergency rental assistance, or owed less than $900 in rent. The bill automatically removes (expunges) records three years after a judgment becomes final and restricts access to sealed records - only allowing limited release for scholarly, educational, or legal purposes with court approval. This directly affects tenants in eviction cases and landlords who might otherwise use sealed records to deny housing.

Maddy summarySB 375 amends Michigan's Truth in Renting Act to clarify that "rent" includes essential services like heat, water, electricity, and pest control provided by landlords. It prohibits landlords from charging unreasonable fees, such as late fees exceeding $30 or 3% of rent, fees for non-renewal notices beyond one month, or fees for third-party services. The bill also requires rental agreements to include specific terms like tenant/landlord names, property description, rent amount, and payment schedule. These changes directly affect Michigan tenants and landlords by increasing transparency and preventing unfair financial burdens.

Maddy summarySB 810 is a procedural bill that repeals 2025 PA 23, the "Comprehensive road funding tax act" (MCL 205.901-205.913). It directly affects the tax provisions previously established under that law, which would have imposed specific taxes to fund road maintenance. The bill does not create new taxes or policies but formally removes the existing tax framework. This repeal would eliminate the legal basis for those taxes if enacted. (2 sentences, as it is a procedural repeal bill.)

Maddy summarySB 802 amends Michigan's controlled substances law to exempt non-commercial possession or distribution of specific psychoactive substances - including psilocybin (found in "magic mushrooms"), MDMA, and LSD - from criminal penalties, provided no money or valuable item is exchanged for the substance itself. Individuals may still charge reasonable fees for related services like counseling or spiritual guidance when these substances are used under supervision. This change primarily affects people in religious, therapeutic, or community settings using these substances without commercial transactions. The bill does not legalize these substances for general use but modifies penalties for specific non-commercial activities.

Maddy summarySB 583 allows Michigan taxpayers to receive tax notices by email if they have consented to electronic communication. The bill adds Section 28a, requiring taxpayers to provide written consent for electronic notices before the Department of Treasury can send them via email. This change directly affects individual and business taxpayers who choose to opt into electronic notices for tax matters. The key mechanism is the new consent requirement, which replaces the previous default of mail-based notices for all taxpayers.

Maddy summarySB 584 would change Michigan's tax law to make it optional for pension administrators to withhold income tax from pension or annuity payments. Currently, pension providers must withhold tax under Section 703 of the Income Tax Act, but this bill would allow them to choose whether to withhold. The change directly affects pension administrators (like retirement plan providers) and recipients of pension payments, as it removes a mandatory withholding requirement. The bill amends Section 703 of the 1967 Income Tax Act (MCL 206.703) without altering other withholding rules for employers, flow-through entities, or casinos.

Maddy summarySB 788 prohibits medical marijuana licensees from selling or transferring paraphernalia with a heating element designed for marijuana use, unless the heating element is made of or encased in glass or ceramic. This directly affects licensed medical marijuana businesses that sell such products. The key provision requires all heating elements in these devices to be constructed from one of two specified materials (glass or ceramic), banning other materials. The bill amends Michigan's Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MCL 333.27101-333.27801) to add this safety requirement.

Maddy summarySB 789 creates a new legal structure for "benefit corporations" in Michigan, allowing businesses to formally balance profit with social or environmental goals. It establishes specific duties for directors and officers to consider public benefits (like community impact or environmental sustainability) alongside shareholder interests when making decisions. This bill directly affects businesses that choose to register as benefit corporations under its new Chapter 9A provisions, requiring them to meet defined standards for public benefit reporting and governance. The law amends existing business corporation statutes to incorporate these requirements and defines key terms like "benefit corporation" and "independent director."

Maddy summarySB 786 prohibits the sale or transfer of vapor products with heating elements not made of or encased in glass or ceramic. It directly affects retailers and manufacturers selling vapor products in Michigan. The law requires heating elements to be glass or ceramic, with penalties including fines up to $1,000 for repeat violations. Sellers may avoid penalties if they made a reasonable effort to verify compliance.

Maddy summarySB 787 amends Michigan's marijuana law to prohibit the sale of marijuana accessories with heating elements unless those elements are made of or encased in glass or ceramic. This directly affects retailers selling vaping devices or similar products designed to heat marijuana. The key provision requires all such accessories sold in Michigan to use only glass or ceramic for heating components, banning those with metal or other materials. The law applies to all marijuana retailers and manufacturers selling these accessories within the state. It does not change other existing requirements for marijuana products or sales.