Sen. Jim Runestad

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Michigan's state budget bills to be passed into law by a specific annual deadline. If the budget isn't enacted by that date, both state legislators and the governor would lose their pay until the budget is approved. The amendment modifies three sections of the state constitution to establish this deadline and link compensation to budget passage. It specifically targets the general appropriation bills that fund state operations, not other legislation. The deadline is defined by existing law (MCL 18.1365) as the date set for budget enactment each year.

Maddy summarySB 500 amends Michigan's civil procedure law to create a defense for individuals who cause property damage or personal injury (including death) while acting in self-defense against conduct that constitutes a riot. It directly affects people who might face civil lawsuits after reacting to riotous behavior, such as breaking a window to stop a rioter. The bill states that individuals cannot be held liable in civil court if their actions arose from another person's riot conduct, as defined by Michigan law (MCL 752.541). This provision applies specifically to civil lawsuits over property damage or injury, not criminal charges. The bill does not change criminal penalties or create new obligations for law enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 482 creates the "Michigan Medical Treatment Decisions Act," establishing a clear process for who can make medical decisions for adults (18+) unable to do so themselves. It sets a priority order for decision-makers: spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, or a designated "surrogate" (a concerned relative/friend), with physicians as a last resort if no one else is available. The law requires decision-makers to follow the patient’s known wishes or best interests, but explicitly prohibits authorizing life-sustaining treatment withdrawal, sterilization, pregnancy termination, or specific facility admissions. This directly affects patients in medical crises and the family/friends designated to act on their behalf.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require all public university governing boards in Michigan to hold open meetings accessible to the public. It directly affects the governing boards of Michigan's public universities, including institutions like the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. The key provision mandates that these board meetings be open to the public as required by law, increasing transparency. The amendment also updates the constitutional list of public universities to include current institutional names. (Note: The bill's title and text contain minor inconsistencies in university names, but the core requirement is clear.)

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits campaign contributions to judges' committees from parties involved in pending court cases before that judge. It also blocks political committees primarily funded by limited liability companies (LLCs) if the LLC or its officers are involved in pending cases. Committees must disclose LLC funding sources and provide written statements with contributions, with violations carrying misdemeanor penalties. The law directly affects current judges, their committees, and political committees seeking to contribute to judicial campaigns.

Maddy summarySB 468 prohibits Michigan jurisdictions from acquiring or using electronic voting systems after January 1, 2026, if those systems contain parts or equipment from entities providing "covered communications equipment" listed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under federal law. This directly affects local election officials and voting system vendors purchasing new equipment for state elections. The key mechanism requires voting systems to avoid components from vendors designated by the FCC as security risks, referencing the FCC’s official list. Existing systems and voting requirements (like paper ballots and accessibility features) remain unchanged under this bill.

Maddy summarySB 445 requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to publish aggregate data every 90 days on its website about non-U.S. citizen prisoners. The report must include each prisoner's immigration status, their specific convictions, and their home country (defined as birthplace). This applies only to prisoners under the department's jurisdiction who are not U.S. citizens. The bill mandates this reporting starting six months after it takes effect, focusing on transparency around this specific population's data.

Maddy summarySB 444 requires all public employers (state/local government entities) and contractors working on public contracts to verify new employees' work authorization through the federal E-verify system. It directly affects state/local government departments, contractors, and subcontractors who hire 10+ employees annually, mandating they use E-verify or Form I-9 to confirm employees are U.S. citizens or authorized to work. Violations can result in civil fines ($100-$1,000 per violation) or a one-year ban on contracting with public bodies. The law also requires contractors to verify subcontractor employees and imposes penalties for knowingly false statements. This applies to all public contracts within Michigan, taking effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 427 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to strengthen enforcement by allowing any person, the Attorney General, or local prosecutors to sue public bodies that violate the law. It specifies where lawsuits must be filed (circuit court for local bodies, circuit court or Ingham County for state bodies) and requires courts to award actual attorney fees and court costs to winning plaintiffs if violations were intentional, repeated, harmed the public, or involved significant public interest. The bill also sets a 180-day deadline to file such lawsuits after a violation occurs. These changes aim to make it easier for citizens to hold public bodies accountable for noncompliance with open meeting requirements.

Maddy summarySB 412 allows nursing home residents to request and install cameras or recording devices in their rooms for personal monitoring, provided they submit a written request on a specific form. Nursing homes must permit this if the resident or their representative (with proper consent procedures) requests it. For residents unable to consent, their representative must obtain a professional assessment, explain monitoring details, and document the resident’s agreement. Roommates must also provide written consent if sharing a room. The bill prohibits nonconsensual recording of private communications or still photos.