Sen. John Cherry

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Youth Tobacco Act to strengthen penalties for minors who purchase, possess, or use tobacco, vapor, or alternative nicotine products in public places. It specifically prohibits minors from using false identification to obtain these items and outlines a tiered system of consequences, including fines, mandatory health assessments, and increasing amounts of community service for repeat offenses. The law includes exceptions for minors participating in authorized law enforcement operations or employment-related activities, and it requires the bill to be enacted alongside two other related measures to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Age of Majority Act to clarify that the age of 18 applies to all legal purposes, except for specific areas like child support and tobacco regulations. It explicitly states that laws requiring individuals aged 18 to 20 to be treated differently than those 21 or older are no longer valid, with the notable exception of the Nicotine and Tobacco Act which maintains a minimum age of 21 for purchasing tobacco products. The legislation also removes previous legal distinctions for 18-to-20-year-olds in various other state statutes, effectively aligning their rights and responsibilities with those of adults aged 21 and older in most contexts.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Open Meetings Act to clarify and expand the specific situations in which public bodies can hold closed sessions. It directly affects government agencies, school districts, and other public organizations by defining new grounds for meeting privately, such as discussing security threats to students, interviewing job candidates, or negotiating collective bargaining agreements. The legislation also adds protections for higher education institutions by allowing private discussions during the search for a university president, provided a diverse search committee is used and the final vote remains public. Additionally, the bill explicitly prohibits the independent citizens redistricting commission from meeting in closed sessions for any reason. Overall, the changes aim to balance the need for confidentiality in sensitive matters with the public's right to know how government decisions are made.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure by removing a reference to a specific section of the state's occupational safety and health act. The change is necessary because that referenced safety law has been repealed, and the criminal procedure code must reflect this legal reality. The amendment directly affects the statutory text used by courts and prosecutors when applying sentencing guidelines. No new penalties or procedures are created; the bill simply corrects an outdated citation within the existing legal framework.

Maddy summarySB 830 amends the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act to update definitions and administrative procedures related to workplace safety. The bill clarifies terms such as "agricultural operations," "construction operations," and "friable asbestos," while also establishing specific rules for identifying authorized employee representatives in safety proceedings. It requires the Department of Labor and the Department of Public Health to report annually to the legislature on how they coordinate their overlapping enforcement responsibilities. Additionally, the legislation repeals a previous section of the act to remove outdated provisions from the state's health and safety code.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's skilled trades regulations to clarify the roles of electricians and strengthen oversight on job sites. It establishes that electrical contractors and master electricians share joint responsibility for supervising all electrical work to ensure code compliance. Additionally, the legislation sets specific requirements for issuing journeyman licenses, including experience thresholds and provisions for military veterans. These changes aim to formalize supervision structures and licensing criteria for individuals working in the electrical trade.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for Michigan cities, townships, and counties to create stormwater management utilities and charge fees to property owners. To implement these fees, local governments must first develop a five-year management plan that details how fees will be calculated and includes a public hearing for community input. The law also outlines how property owners can request fee reductions or appeal their charges if they disagree with the amount assessed. Ultimately, the legislation provides the authority and procedural steps for local units of government to fund stormwater infrastructure through a dedicated utility system.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the fees county treasurers charge for providing transcripts, abstracts, and copies of property tax records. It establishes specific rates for paper documents, such as 25 cents per year for tax abstracts and a minimum charge of 50 cents for any request. The legislation also sets a maximum fee of 30 cents per parcel record, capped at $2,000 total, for electronic copies of real property data like owner names, assessed values, and tax bills. Additionally, it allows large charter counties with over 2 million people to set their own fees as long as the cost does not exceed the actual expense of providing the service.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Children's Trust Fund in Michigan to increase the percentage of the fund's value that can be spent annually on child-related programs. It establishes a new spending rule where the amount available for disbursement is based on a rolling 12-quarter average of the fund's total value, including investment gains and losses. The legislation sets specific spending rates of 4.25% or 5% depending on the fund's size, with a future increase to 8% starting in fiscal year 2025. Additionally, the bill grants the state treasurer expanded investment authority similar to that of the public employee retirement system and requires detailed annual reports on how investment earnings are used.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Children Trust Michigan state board to conduct meetings remotely under the state's Open Meetings Act. It permits the board to use video or telephone conferencing to accommodate members who are absent due to specific reasons, such as military duty or local emergencies, without requiring a physical gathering. The legislation mandates that these virtual meetings maintain two-way communication for all participants and requires the board to post advance notices and agendas on its website with clear instructions for public access. Additionally, the bill specifies that members attending electronically count as present for quorum purposes and that no registration is needed for public participation beyond what is necessary for the comment period.