Sen. Sylvia Santana

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 69) designates September 15-19, 2025, as "Septic Smart Week" in Michigan. It recognizes the importance of proper septic system maintenance to protect public health and water quality, as over 1.3 million Michigan septic systems treat wastewater for homes and businesses. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness about preventing pollutants from poorly maintained systems, aligning with existing state and EPA programs like the SepticSmart initiative.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 70) formally recognizes September 15-October 15, 2025, as Hispanic Heritage Month in Michigan. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or groups; instead, it serves as a ceremonial designation by the Michigan Senate to honor the cultural, historical, and societal contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and Michigan. The resolution aligns with the established national observance period and acknowledges Michigan’s Hispanic-American community.

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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but symbolically recognizes childhood cancer as the leading cause of death by disease for children under 14 in the U.S. The resolution aims to raise public awareness, honor affected children and families, and support ongoing research efforts. It directly affects the general public, healthcare advocates, and childhood cancer organizations through a formal legislative acknowledgment.

Maddy summarySB 336 modifies Michigan's search warrant procedures by requiring law enforcement officers to announce their identity and purpose before entering a property, then wait a reasonable time for admittance before forcing entry. It allows exceptions to this rule only in specific situations: imminent danger, evidence destruction risk, or if announcing would compromise an investigation. Officers seeking exceptions must include details about occupants (including disabilities) and animals in their warrant application. The bill directly affects police executing warrants and residents of homes or buildings being searched, aiming to balance officer safety with property occupant rights. The proposed changes are not yet law.

Maddy summarySB 334 requires all Michigan law enforcement officers to complete mandatory training on responding to mental health crises. It amends Michigan's Mental Health Law (MCL 28.601-28.615) by adding new sections that establish this training requirement. The bill directly affects every law enforcement officer in the state, mandating specific protocols for de-escalating situations involving mental health challenges. This policy change shifts training standards from voluntary to required under state law.

Maddy summarySB 333 requires all Michigan law enforcement agencies to adopt and regularly update use-of-force policies by six months after the law takes effect. These policies must mandate that officers only use objectively reasonable force, prohibit continuous throat restraint as deadly force, and prioritize de-escalation techniques before resorting to physical or deadly force. Agencies must also publicly post their policies online or at physical locations and continuously review them to align with legal standards. The bill directly affects every law enforcement agency in Michigan, setting clear, enforceable standards for officer conduct during encounters.

Maddy summarySB 514 creates a corporate income tax credit for beverage distributors who charge deposits on returnable containers. It allows eligible distributors to claim a $0.005 credit per container sold starting in 2026, with annual adjustments based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index beginning in 2027. Distributors must attach a specific report to their tax return to claim the credit, and any unused credit amount is refundable. The bill directly affects beverage distributors who originate container deposits and depends on the passage of companion bill SB 512 to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 511 amends Michigan's gambling law to clarify and expand exceptions for small-scale social wagers. It allows informal betting among friends or groups (up to 100 people) where each person wagers no more than $25, the game is incidental to a social relationship, and organizers cannot profit beyond winning prizes like other participants. The bill explicitly prohibits such games from being promoted by businesses to attract customers or held in venues like bars. This change directly affects social groups hosting casual bets, ensuring these activities remain legal under specific, limited conditions.

Maddy summarySB 362 updates Michigan's definition of "racketeering" in the penal code to explicitly include "a felony violation of the identity theft protection act" (2004 PA 452). This means identity theft crimes now qualify as racketeering offenses, allowing prosecutors to pursue them under more severe racketeering statutes. The change directly affects individuals convicted of identity theft, as it expands the legal framework for charging such cases. The bill revises Section 159g of the penal code to add this specific reference, without creating new penalties or altering existing laws.