Sen. Jeff Irwin

Maddy summarySB 126 would eliminate Michigan's participation in daylight saving time (DST), meaning the state would no longer advance clocks in spring or set them back in fall. It directly affects all Michiganders and state government entities by changing how time is observed statewide. The bill requires voter approval through a referendum at the November 2026 general election; if approved, it would take effect 30 days after the election results are certified. This change would exempt Michigan from federal DST rules under 15 USC 260a.

Maddy summarySB 89 creates parole eligibility for individuals convicted of first-degree murder under a felony-murder theory before November 4, 1980, who are currently serving life sentences without parole. The bill amends Michigan’s penal code to allow these specific individuals - historically convicted under a legal standard that barred parole - to be considered for parole under the state’s corrections code. This change directly affects people already incarcerated under such pre-1980 convictions, altering their sentencing status without altering their original conviction. The provision applies only to those serving life sentences on the bill’s effective date, not to new cases.

Maddy summarySB 90 amends Michigan's Corrections Code to require parole consideration for individuals sentenced before 1980 for certain crimes. It specifically creates a new process (via added sections 35a and 83a) to allow parole boards to review cases of people incarcerated for offenses listed in Section 33b (like certain violent crimes) who were sentenced prior to 1980. The bill changes existing rules by mandating that parole boards must consider these individuals for parole, rather than automatically denying it based on their sentence date. This directly affects thousands of incarcerated people in Michigan who were convicted and sentenced before 1980 for qualifying offenses.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a law) introduced by Senator Santana to formally recognize February 2025 as Black History Month in Michigan. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups; instead, it affirms the legislature's support for the annual observance of Black History Month. The resolution cites historical context, honors African-American contributions, and encourages public awareness of both achievements and ongoing efforts toward racial equality. It was introduced and adopted by the Senate on February 12-13, 2025, with no further legislative action required.

Maddy summarySB 57 creates the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act" to shield individuals and organizations from abusive lawsuits targeting free speech. It directly affects people sued for expressing views on public issues, such as through protests, social media, or public comments about government actions. Key provisions require courts to quickly dismiss such cases (within 60 days) by staying discovery, shifting the burden to prove the lawsuit is valid to the plaintiff, and imposing sanctions for frivolous claims. The law excludes lawsuits involving government employees, civil rights claims, or commercial speech about goods/services, focusing solely on protecting constitutional expression rights.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 3) authorizes the Senate Majority Leader to take legal action against the House of Representatives to compel it to present nine specific bills to the Governor. The bills - passed by both chambers during the 2023-2024 legislative session - were returned to the House on December 20, 2024, but the House has refused to present them to the Governor despite a constitutional requirement under Michigan’s Article IV, Section 33. The Senate seeks to enforce this duty through court action, targeting House Bills 4177 and 4665-4667 (2023) and 4900-4901, 5817-5818, and 6058 (2024). The resolution focuses solely on procedural compliance, not policy content.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's source of income. It directly affects landlords, real estate brokers, and anyone involved in property transactions by banning them from refusing to rent or sell homes to individuals using government assistance, veterans benefits, Social Security, or other legal income sources. The law clarifies that these protections apply to all forms of discrimination, including refusing to negotiate, making false claims about property availability, or publishing advertisements that exclude people based on how they pay rent. By adding "source of income" to the list of protected categories, the legislation ensures that housing opportunities cannot be denied solely because a tenant relies on subsidies or retirement funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's penal code to strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking during legal proceedings. It allows courts to admit expert testimony explaining how trafficking victims may behave differently than expected and clarifies that a victim's testimony does not require corroboration. Additionally, the law ensures that victims cannot be forced to testify or produce documents if doing so might incriminate them, with the strict rule that any truthful information they provide cannot be used against them in a criminal case except to challenge their credibility or prove they lied.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant's prior acts of domestic violence or sexual assault in current trials for those same crimes. To ensure fairness, the law requires prosecutors to disclose this prior evidence to the defense at least 15 days before the trial begins. The bill also sets a general rule that evidence of acts older than 10 years is inadmissible unless specific conditions are met, such as the prior act being reported to police within five years or resulting in a DNA match. These changes apply to cases where the defendant is accused of offenses involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or specific violations of the Michigan penal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to allow hearsay testimony in specific human trafficking and prostitution cases. It permits the admission of statements made to law enforcement that describe threats of physical injury, provided the statement was made recently and under circumstances indicating its trustworthiness. Prosecutors must disclose these statements to the defense at least 15 days before trial to ensure fair access to evidence. The changes apply only to cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or the specified sex crimes, leaving other legal proceedings unaffected.