Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summarySB 352 removes a $150 filing fee requirement for cases where the Attorney General enforces the Telephone Solicitation Act (specifically actions under section 33 of that law). This change directly affects the Attorney General’s office when pursuing violations of Michigan’s telephone solicitation rules. The bill amends Michigan’s court fee statute (MCL 600.2529) to exclude these enforcement actions from standard civil filing fees. As a result, the Attorney General would no longer need to pay this $150 fee when initiating such cases in court.

Maddy summarySB 351 would create a new law governing telephone marketing calls and solicitations. It has been introduced by Senator Mary Cavanagh and referred to the Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee. The bill's specific provisions (such as required disclosures, opt-out mechanisms, or enforcement details) are not described in the provided context. As a procedural bill establishing a new regulatory framework, it directly affects businesses making phone solicitations and consumers receiving such calls. Details about its concrete policy changes remain unavailable based on the current information.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 92) urges the U.S. Congress to restore oversight mechanisms for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It directly addresses federal immigration enforcement agencies and aims to improve accountability following recent incidents involving ICE officers and reduced oversight capacity. The resolution specifically calls for reinstating agencies like the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which were weakened under the Trump Administration, leading to unaddressed complaints about officer conduct. It emphasizes that restoring these oversight tools is necessary to ensure immigration enforcement follows laws, respects civil rights, and maintains community trust. As a resolution, it does not create new law but expresses the Michigan Senate's position to Congress.

Maddy summarySB 705 amends Michigan's prostitution laws (MCL 750.448-451, 454, 462) to adjust penalties for repeat offenses, require mandatory reporting of minors involved in prostitution, and establish diversion programs. It increases penalties to misdemeanors (up to 93 days/$500) for first offenses, felonies (up to 5 years/$4,000) for two or more prior convictions, and adds a presumption of coercion for minors (under 18) involved in prostitution - requiring prosecutors to prove otherwise. The bill mandates law enforcement to report minors to health services within 24 hours and requires investigations into potential human trafficking. It directly affects individuals engaging in prostitution, property owners leasing for such purposes, and law enforcement handling cases involving minors.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Michigan. It formally recognizes the ongoing efforts of law enforcement, advocacy groups, and service providers working to combat human trafficking and support survivors, while emphasizing the importance of public awareness in identifying and preventing trafficking. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment to advance prevention awareness.

Maddy summarySB 764, the "Open Caption Accessibility Act," requires movie theaters with 8 or more screens to provide open captioning for at least two weekly showings of each film that plays five or more times per week (Friday-Thursday). Open captioning means captions displayed on screen that cannot be turned off, directly benefiting deaf and hard-of-hearing moviegoers. Theaters must advertise captioned showings similarly to other screenings, post public notices about requesting captioned showings, and maintain records for the Attorney General’s office. This law applies to all qualifying theaters operating in Michigan, with enforcement through the Department of Attorney General.

Maddy summarySB 25 allows owners of motor vehicle repair facilities in Michigan to operate additional locations under the same registration. It creates a new "auxiliary facility" category (defined in Section 14(3)) that permits a single facility owner to run multiple locations without separate registrations, as long as they meet specific requirements. This directly affects small business owners in the auto repair industry seeking to expand their operations. The bill amends key sections of Michigan's Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act to implement this change, streamlining registration for multi-location repair businesses.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 136 primarily eliminates the requirement for healthcare providers to notify patients about dense breast tissue after mammography. This change directly impacts patients undergoing mammograms and the medical facilities that perform these screenings in Michigan. The bill also enacts broader amendments concerning the use of radiation machines for mammography procedures. These modifications are made by amending and repealing specific sections within the existing Public Health Code.

Maddy summarySB 95 (the "hospital price transparency act") prohibits hospitals from attempting to collect debts for services provided when they were not complying with state price transparency laws. It specifically bans hospitals from using debt collectors, suing patients, or reporting debts to credit bureaus for care received during non-compliance periods. The bill directly affects hospitals that fail to publicly list prices for services (like "chargemaster" rates) and patients who received care during those violations. Key provisions define "collection actions" and clarify that hospitals cannot pursue payment for non-compliant billing periods, offering patients remedies if hospitals attempt collection anyway.

Maddy summarySB 761 requires permits for large-scale water withdrawals in Michigan, affecting entities like municipalities, utilities, or industries planning new or expanded water use exceeding 1 million gallons per day (or 2 million gallons for certain systems). It mandates applicants to submit detailed plans, pay a $2,000 fee, and demonstrate compliance with conservation measures, watershed protection, and environmental impact standards before permits are granted. The bill includes a 45-day public comment period, a 120-day review timeline for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and conditions that water must be returned to its source watershed and cause no adverse resource impacts. This amendment updates Michigan’s water withdrawal rules under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, focusing on sustainable management of water resources.