Sen. Sarah Anthony

Maddy summarySB 406 modifies the Michigan Reconnect Grant Act to update eligibility rules and establish a new short-term training program for adult learners. The bill maintains the existing requirement that grant recipients be at least 25 years old, though it allows for a temporary reduction to age 21 if funding permits, with this lower age limit expiring after the 2032 fiscal year. Additionally, the legislation creates a new skills scholarship program offering one-time grants of up to $1,500 for individuals to attend approved short-term occupational training programs. To receive these funds, applicants must meet the same age, residency, and education requirements as the standard reconnect grant and apply for all available financial aid. The bill also directs the state department to manage applications, approve qualified training programs, and maintain a public list of available options.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's laws regarding embezzlement from vulnerable adults and their estates by clarifying that fraud committed while a person is alive and continued after their death counts as a single continuous offense. It establishes specific penalties based on the value of the stolen property, ranging from misdemeanors for amounts under $1,000 to felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison for amounts exceeding $100,000. The legislation also allows courts to combine the value of multiple thefts occurring within a 12-month period or against a single individual to determine the appropriate charge severity. Additionally, the bill requires prosecutors to explicitly list prior convictions when seeking enhanced sentences and protects financial institutions and their employees from liability when acting within the normal course of business.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows counties or groups of counties in Michigan to establish multidisciplinary teams dedicated to protecting vulnerable adults, defined as individuals over 18 who require supervision due to age, disability, or illness. These teams would be composed of representatives from various sectors, including law enforcement, adult protective services, healthcare providers, legal aid, and finance experts, to coordinate efforts against abuse and neglect. The legislation grants these teams the authority to share confidential information among themselves and specific government agencies while exempting their records and meetings from public disclosure laws. Ultimately, the teams aim to prevent exploitation, coordinate care services, and develop programs to detect and stop the abuse of vulnerable adults in the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal tool called an elder and vulnerable adult personal protection order for Michigan residents aged 60 or older, as well as for vulnerable adults and those with developmental disabilities. The order allows courts to stop specific harmful behaviors, such as entering a person's home, threatening violence, abusing their pets, or financially exploiting their assets. It also includes provisions to transfer related cases to probate courts if the person is under guardianship and requires fiduciaries to notify the court if such an order is issued against them.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's definition of racketeering to explicitly include embezzlement committed against vulnerable adults. By adding this specific crime to the list of offenses that constitute racketeering, the legislation ensures that individuals who steal from elderly or disabled persons can be prosecuted under broader organized crime statutes. The change directly affects prosecutors and defendants by expanding the legal tools available to address financial exploitation of those who cannot protect themselves. No new penalties are created; rather, the bill clarifies that this type of theft falls under the existing framework for serious, repeated criminal activity.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's landlord-tenant laws to allow security deposits to be returned via electronic transfer instead of only by check or money order. It requires landlords to mail tenants an itemized list of claimed damages within 30 days of moving out, but permits them to send the refund directly to a bank account, mobile payment app, or internet payment service if they choose. If a landlord uses this electronic method, they must deposit the funds into the tenant's account within 10 days of mailing the notice. The bill also mandates that the damage notice include a specific, bolded statement informing tenants they must respond within seven days or forfeit the claimed amount.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services to screen children entering foster care for eligibility for state and federal benefits within 90 days and to apply for those benefits if it serves the child's best interests. Starting in October 2026, the state generally cannot use a child's earned income or benefits to pay for their foster care, though exceptions exist for special needs services or conserving funds for future needs. The department must act as a responsible manager of these funds, providing regular accounting to the child and their guardian ad litem, and offering financial literacy training to older youth. Additionally, the law mandates that any assets or income the child owns be transferred to them when they leave the system or turn 18.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state program to provide financial assistance to businesses that lose revenue due to unexpected street closures or road construction projects that run significantly longer than planned. To qualify for a grant, a business must prove a significant drop in profits over the previous three tax years, with each award capped at $15,000 per year. The Department of Transportation will manage the program, reviewing applications based on factors like the severity of traffic disruption and lack of pedestrian access, and must report annually on how funds are used. Money for these grants comes from a newly created fund in the state treasury, which can be funded by various sources and must be invested by the state treasurer.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Revised Judicature Act to update the fees that individuals must pay to file various civil cases in circuit courts. It specifically sets new dollar amounts for filing civil actions, appeals, jury trial demands, and motions, while also establishing fee exemptions for certain family law matters involving child custody or support. The legislation includes provisions for waiving these fees for indigent parties and outlines how collected funds will be distributed to state and county treasurers. Because the bill is tied to another piece of legislation, it will only become effective if that companion bill is also passed into law.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1041 proposes to repeal a 1913 law that regulated telephone lines and companies in Michigan. This bill would remove the legal framework that designated telephone services as common carriers and assigned regulatory duties to the Public Service Commission. The legislation includes a condition that it only becomes effective if a separate, related bill is also passed into law.