Sen. Jeff Irwin

Maddy summarySB 256 amends Michigan's criminal sentencing guidelines to reduce penalties for tampering with utility services (like electricity or water) that could shut off a residence. It specifically changes sections 777.16o and 777.16s of the Michigan Penal Code to reflect that certain utility tampering acts are now decriminalized, shifting them from criminal offenses to civil or administrative matters. The bill directly affects individuals who might interfere with utility services to a home, such as low-income residents attempting to avoid shutoffs. This change removes potential criminal charges for these specific acts while maintaining safety and service protections.

Maddy summarySB 562 would increase the minimum percentage of federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP) funds that must be spent on weatherization services for low-income households. It directly affects eligible households receiving energy assistance by expanding access to home weatherization improvements like insulation and efficient heating systems. The bill amends Michigan’s existing law (MCL 206.527a) to raise the required allocation of LiHEAP funds for weatherization assistance. This policy change modifies how state funds are distributed under federal energy assistance programs.

Maddy summarySB 628 requires Michigan's medical assistance program (Medicaid) to cover syringe service programs, which provide clean needles, disposal containers, and other harm reduction supplies to people who inject drugs. This directly affects individuals who use injection drugs by expanding access to safer equipment, and it affects the state's Medicaid program by mandating coverage for these services. The bill defines "syringe service programs" as harm reduction initiatives offering supplies like needles, cookers, and sharps disposal containers. It does not change eligibility for Medicaid but ensures these specific harm reduction services are funded under existing medical assistance.

Maddy summarySB 629 creates a legal framework for needle and syringe access programs in Michigan to reduce the spread of communicable diseases like HIV and hepatitis. It allows authorized programs (run by health departments or local agencies) to distribute sterile needles/syringes and provide related services. Participants in these programs are exempt from criminal penalties under existing laws for possessing needles, trace amounts of drugs in used equipment, or drug testing supplies. The bill directly affects people who use injection drugs, local health programs, and law enforcement by clarifying that program participation does not violate drug possession or paraphernalia laws.

Maddy summarySB 329 removes penalties that insurers could apply for past lapses in auto insurance coverage. It specifically eliminates requirements for applicants to prove they maintained insurance for the 6 months before applying (prior to January 1, 2022), and prohibits insurers from refusing coverage, raising premiums, or charging reinstatement fees solely due to prior coverage gaps. The bill directly affects drivers applying for auto insurance before 2022 who had brief periods without coverage. These changes streamline the application process by preventing insurers from penalizing applicants for past lapses that occurred before the effective date.

Maddy summarySB 625 amends Michigan's unemployment benefits law to clarify procedures for recovering improperly paid benefits. It directly affects individuals who received benefits they weren't entitled to, requiring repayment within 3 years (except for identity fraud cases) through deductions from future benefits (max 50%), cash payments, or tax refunds. The bill establishes specific waiver conditions where repayment may be forgiven if it would be "contrary to equity and good conscience," such as when benefits were paid due to agency errors, claimants provided unintentionally incorrect wage info, or household income was below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. This update streamlines repayment processes while offering relief in defined hardship scenarios.

Maddy summarySCR 6 is a memorial resolution passed by the Michigan Legislature to honor Virgil Clark Smith, a former member of the Michigan Senate (1988-2000) and House of Representatives (1977-1988). The resolution commemorates his 40+ years of public service, including his historic role as the first African American Senate Democratic Floor Leader. It expresses the Legislature's tribute to his dedication, leadership, and legacy as a trailblazing legislator and later Wayne County Circuit Court judge. The resolution was adopted unanimously by both chambers in October 2025 and will be transmitted to Smith's family.

Maddy summarySB 515 requires landlords of certain rental units in Michigan to install carbon monoxide detectors. It amends Michigan's housing code (MCL 554.601-554.616) by adding a new section mandating this safety device in specified properties. The bill directly affects residential landlords who manage qualifying units, such as multi-family dwellings or older buildings where carbon monoxide risks are higher. This policy change aims to enhance occupant safety by ensuring detectors are present in targeted rental housing. The bill passed the state legislature on October 23, 2025, and is now pending further legislative steps.

Maddy summarySB 548 requires Michigan insurance companies to cover the costs of state-mandated market conduct exams, which are regulatory reviews of insurers' business practices. This bill amends Michigan's insurance code (MCL 500.100-500.8302) by adding Chapter 4A to establish this requirement. It directly affects all insurers operating in Michigan by shifting the financial responsibility for these exams from the state to the companies themselves. The bill was introduced by Senator Jeff Irwin on September 17, 2025, and recently advanced to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable report.

Maddy summarySB 537 requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to collect incarcerated individuals' pre-incarceration addresses (where they lived before prison) and basic demographic data (race, Hispanic/Latino origin, and age over 18) when they enter prison. After each federal census, the department must send this data to the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, along with geographic information about where the person was incarcerated. The commission may use this information when drawing new voting districts, but the data cannot be used for distributing state or federal funds. This bill directly affects incarcerated individuals in Michigan prisons and the redistricting process.