Sen. Jeff Irwin

Maddy summarySB 363 amends Michigan's criminal liability standards in Section 9 of the Revised Statutes (MCL 8.9) to clarify when a defendant must prove a specific mental state (like intent or knowledge) for a crime. The key provision updates the statute to explicitly exclude the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) from these new liability rules, ensuring existing standards for identity theft cases remain unchanged. This bill affects all criminal prosecutions under Michigan law except those specifically covered by the Identity Theft Protection Act. The change is procedural, updating statutory references without altering penalties or creating new requirements for identity theft offenses.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 360 amends Michigan's existing Identity Theft Protection Act. The bill revises and expands several key definitions, including what constitutes a "breach of the security of a database" and various types of "personal information" and "personal identifying information." These updates clarify the scope of protected data and the circumstances under which a security breach occurs, directly affecting Michigan residents and entities that handle their personal information. Additionally, the bill introduces new sections and repeals others, indicating a comprehensive update to the act's provisions.

Maddy summarySB 498 creates a temporary sales tax holiday for eligible back-to-school items in Michigan, affecting buyers of qualifying clothing and school supplies purchased between August 8-24 annually. It exempts items under $100 (clothing) or $20 (school supplies) from sales tax during this period, allowing buyers to claim refunds via receipts or affidavits within 30 days. Exclusions include clothing accessories, sports gear, protective equipment, and business-use items (except teacher classroom purchases). The holiday applies to all eligible years starting January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2030.

Maddy summarySB 499 creates a temporary tax holiday for eligible back-to-school items in Michigan. It exempts clothing priced under $100 and school supplies under $20 from use tax when purchased between August 8-24 each year (starting in 2025). To claim the refund, purchasers must submit receipts showing the item details, price, and tax paid within 30 days of purchase. This policy directly affects Michigan residents buying qualifying school items during the designated period, excluding accessories, sports equipment, and business-use items.

Maddy summarySB 477 sets a 10% annual cap on the portion of an electric utility's weather-adjusted retail sales that can be served by alternative energy suppliers, directly affecting Michigan utilities and their customers seeking to switch providers. The bill includes key exceptions: facilities already using alternative suppliers since 2008 (including expansions), iron ore mines/processing facilities in the Upper Peninsula under specific settlement agreements, and customers on a pre-2016 enrollment queue. It requires utilities to maintain a confidential queue for new customers and adjust the cap downward if usage remains below 10% for five years. The law aims to balance customer choice with grid stability for Michigan's electric utilities.

Maddy summarySB 479 modifies Michigan's environmental permit process to require state agencies to evaluate projects in environmentally overburdened communities - typically areas with historical pollution and health disparities - before denying permits or adding conditions. The bill creates a new Subpart 2 under the permit law, mandating that agencies consider whether a project would worsen environmental harm in these communities and potentially impose additional safeguards. It also repeals the Environmental Permit Review Commission, which previously handled certain permit appeals. This change directly affects developers seeking permits for projects in designated overburdened areas and shifts permit review authority to state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 399 amends Michigan's definition of "drug paraphernalia" in the Public Health Code to explicitly exclude certain testing products, like fentanyl test strips, from being classified as paraphernalia. The bill states that tools used to detect harmful chemicals in controlled substances - such as strips for testing fentanyl - do not count as drug paraphernalia under state law. This change directly affects individuals using these testing products for safety, including people who use or distribute them to prevent overdoses. The amendment aims to remove legal barriers for harm-reduction tools without altering other provisions about paraphernalia.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan law to prevent health insurers from denying or conditioning Medicare supplement insurance coverage based on an applicant's health status, pre-existing conditions, or medical history. It directly affects individuals aged 65+ during their initial Medicare Part B enrollment window, non-age-eligible applicants with specific Medicare enrollment timing, and those switching insurers while maintaining the same policy. Key provisions require insurers to offer these policies without health-based exclusions or higher pricing (capping rates at those for 65-year-olds), and to reduce pre-existing condition waiting periods based on prior continuous health coverage. The law ensures equal access to Medicare supplement plans during defined enrollment periods while clarifying what counts as qualifying prior coverage.

Maddy summarySB 159 empowers the Attorney General to investigate deceptive practices by online ticket sellers, such as hidden fees, false seat availability, or misleading pricing for event tickets. It creates a new legal framework allowing the AG to impose fines and remedies for violations, directly affecting businesses selling event tickets online. Key provisions establish clear procedures for investigations and specify penalty amounts for noncompliance. The law aims to protect consumers from unfair ticket sales tactics without specifying exact financial thresholds or enforcement timelines.

Maddy summarySB 46 updates regulations for water delivery systems in mobile home parks by amending existing water supply laws (1976 PA 399). The bill directly affects mobile home park owners and residents by requiring these systems to meet specific reliability and safety standards. Key provisions include setting requirements for system maintenance, water quality testing, and emergency response protocols for parks relying on shared water infrastructure. This change ensures consistent, safe water access for mobile home park communities under revised regulatory guidelines.