Sen. Stephanie Chang

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 summarySR 65 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 2025 as "Hunger Action Month" in Michigan. It recognizes the annual nationwide effort led by Feeding America to raise awareness about food insecurity and support local food banks. The resolution highlights Michigan's ongoing challenges, including 1.5 million residents facing food insecurity and 19% childhood food insecurity rates, without creating new policies or funding. This procedural resolution serves to acknowledge community efforts and the need for food assistance, rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summarySB 522 amends Michigan law to explicitly include human trafficking violations as a grounds for terminating parental rights. The bill adds human trafficking to the list of abusive conduct under existing subsection (k), which allows courts to terminate rights when a parent's actions (including abuse) create a reasonable likelihood of future harm to the child. This change directly affects parents who commit human trafficking against their children, providing courts with a specific legal basis to pursue termination in such cases. The amendment does not alter other existing grounds for termination but clarifies that human trafficking violations qualify as grounds under the same standard as other forms of abuse.

Maddy summarySB 523 amends Michigan's Child Protection Law to explicitly include human trafficking violations as a qualifying form of abuse that allows the state Department of Health and Human Services to seek court intervention for children. The bill adds human trafficking (as defined in Michigan law) to the list of serious harms - alongside physical abuse, sexual assault, and neglect - that trigger the department's duty to petition a court for authority over a juvenile. This change directly affects parents, guardians, or adults living in a child's home who commit human trafficking or place a child at risk through such activity. The key mechanism expands the grounds for state action, ensuring human trafficking is treated with the same seriousness as other severe child abuse under existing legal standards.

Maddy summarySB 519 requires Michigan's Public Service Commission to create rules enabling community solar programs. It mandates that at least 30% of electricity from each facility must serve low-income households or organizations, ensures subscribers can transfer their solar credits when moving within the same utility area, and prevents utilities from changing a customer's rate class for joining solar programs. The bill also establishes bill credit rates based on utility rates (excluding distribution costs) to ensure all customer groups can access community solar. These rules directly affect electric providers, low-income households, and all Michigan residents who may subscribe to community solar facilities.

Maddy summarySB 518 establishes a framework for community solar facilities in Michigan, allowing multiple subscribers to share electricity generated from a single solar installation. The bill requires facilities to have at least 3 subscribers, limit capacity to 5 megawatts, and ensure 60% of capacity is subscribed by small users (40 kW or less). It defines "bill credits" that subscribers receive to offset their electricity bills based on their proportional share of the solar facility’s output. This directly affects residential and small business subscribers - particularly low-income households meeting HUD or poverty line criteria - and electric providers managing these programs.

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.

Maddy summarySB 364 updates Michigan's criminal procedure code to clarify jurisdiction rules for prosecuting identity theft cases. It specifies that identity theft violations under the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) and related laws can be prosecuted in three locations: where the crime occurred, where stolen data was used, or where the victim lives. The bill also ensures that if multiple identity theft violations are charged, any jurisdiction can handle all charges together, preventing fragmented prosecutions. This change directly affects prosecutors and courts handling identity theft cases under the listed statutes.

Maddy summarySB 361 amends Michigan's Deferred Presentment Service Transactions Act (2005 PA 244) to establish a statewide, real-time database for licensees providing deferred presentment services (like payday loans). The database requires licensees to verify customer transaction history, track compliance with federal regulations, and monitor violations - directly affecting businesses offering these services. Key provisions mandate the database provider (either state-operated or contracted) to prevent fraud, comply with the Identity Theft Protection Act, securely handle customer data, and automatically close transactions after specific timeframes. The bill also includes safeguards for consumers injured by third-party provider violations and requires detailed reporting on transaction closures.

Maddy summarySB 363 amends Michigan's criminal liability standards in Section 9 of the Revised Statutes (MCL 8.9) to clarify when a defendant must prove a specific mental state (like intent or knowledge) for a crime. The key provision updates the statute to explicitly exclude the Identity Theft Protection Act (2004 PA 452) from these new liability rules, ensuring existing standards for identity theft cases remain unchanged. This bill affects all criminal prosecutions under Michigan law except those specifically covered by the Identity Theft Protection Act. The change is procedural, updating statutory references without altering penalties or creating new requirements for identity theft offenses.