Sen. Thomas Albert

Maddy summarySB 488 eliminates specific reporting requirements for Michigan's Strategic Fund under the Michigan Strategic Fund Act. It repeals Sections 88s and 88t, which previously mandated detailed annual reports on financial assistance programs, including job creation numbers, salaries, loan status, and bankruptcy notices. The bill directly affects the Strategic Fund and businesses receiving its financial assistance by removing these transparency obligations. Key provisions removed include requirements to report new/retained jobs, average salaries, private investment amounts, and community revitalization project details. This change simplifies the fund's reporting process without altering its core economic development programs.

Maddy summarySB 438 repeals 2023 PA 10, which required prevailing wages and fringe benefits for workers on state construction projects. This bill directly affects state contractors and construction workers by removing the requirement to pay prevailing wages on state-funded projects. The repeal eliminates the specific legal provisions (MCL 408.1101-408.1126) that governed wage standards and penalties for noncompliance. As a procedural repeal, it makes no new policy changes but removes the existing law.

Maddy summarySB 437 amends Michigan's public employment law to prohibit most public employees from being required to pay union fees or dues as a condition of employment. It removes mandatory financial contributions to labor organizations for general public employees (excluding police, firefighters, and state troopers under specific constitutional provisions). The bill restores the pre-2023 policy that allows employees to choose whether to financially support a union, while preserving agreements for police/fire departments where such fees were previously permitted. This directly affects all non-exempt public workers in Michigan state and local government positions.

Maddy summarySB 436 amends Michigan's labor law to restore a "right to work" provision, prohibiting employers and labor organizations from requiring employees to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. The bill explicitly bans mandatory union dues (Section 14(2)), making any agreement requiring such payments unlawful and unenforceable after its effective date. It also allocates $1 million to the Department of Labor for public education and implementation support regarding these changes. The bill directly affects employees (who can no longer be forced to pay union fees), employers (who cannot require such payments), and labor organizations (which must operate under voluntary membership).

Maddy summarySB 217 increases penalties for drivers who commit moving violations (like speeding or reckless driving) that cause physical injury or death to pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable roadway users. It amends Michigan's criminal code (MCL 777.12e) to enhance the penalties for these specific offenses. The bill directly affects drivers whose actions result in harm to non-motorized road users, raising the legal consequences for such incidents.

Maddy summarySB 439 requires Michigan's Public Service Commission to establish standardized modeling scenarios for electric utilities' integrated resource plans by August 2025. These plans must include specific considerations like environmental regulations, demand response programs, electrification potential, and impacts on environmental justice communities. The bill mandates utilities to project 5-, 10-, and 15-year energy needs while accounting for regional infrastructure limits and technology costs. It directly affects regulated electric utilities in Michigan, requiring them to incorporate these standardized planning elements into their resource strategies. The bill does not address minimum wage payments, as incorrectly referenced in the title.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 226 of Michigan's Clean and Renewable Energy Act (2008 PA 295) to remove a reference to a minimum wage requirement for certain clean energy workers. It specifically updates the law to reflect the repeal of the 2023 PA 10 minimum wage standard that previously applied to these workers. The change affects workers in clean energy projects who were previously subject to that repealed wage provision. The bill makes no new policy changes - it only corrects the law to align with current requirements.

Maddy summarySB 378 requires Michigan public schools to receive annual letter grades (A-F) starting in the 2025-2026 school year based on five specific metrics: student proficiency in math and English language arts, student growth in those subjects, progress for English language learners, high school graduation rates, and academic performance compared to similar schools. The grades are assigned by the state education department using defined measures, such as growth from fall to spring assessments or maintaining proficiency. This directly affects all public schools in Michigan by publicly reporting their performance across these standardized indicators. The bill does not change school funding or operations but creates a new transparency framework for reporting school performance.

Maddy summarySB 379 modifies Michigan's school code to require school districts to base personnel decisions (like layoffs, recalls, or hiring) on teacher effectiveness measured by the existing performance evaluation system, rather than length of service or tenure alone. It specifically prohibits retaining teachers rated "ineffective" over those rated "minimally effective," "effective," or "highly effective," and mandates that individual performance - especially student growth - be the primary factor. School districts must adopt transparent procedures for these decisions, considering factors like teaching skills, classroom management, and contributions to school performance. The bill directly affects public school teachers, administrators, and school districts in Michigan, changing how staffing changes are handled. It also limits remedies for teachers challenging decisions to reinstatement only, excluding financial damages.

Maddy summarySB 380 modifies Michigan's teacher tenure rules to clarify how probationary teachers (new teachers) achieve tenure and how performance evaluations affect both probationary and tenured teachers. It requires probationary teachers to earn "effective" or "highly effective" ratings on their most recent three year-end evaluations (with specific timelines: 5 years before July 1, 2024, and 4 years after) to complete their probationary period. For tenured teachers rated "ineffective" or "minimally effective," the bill mandates an individualized development plan with clear goals, to be completed within 180 days. The bill directly affects public school teachers in Michigan, particularly new educators seeking tenure and existing tenured teachers needing performance support.