Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summarySB 373 prohibits landlords from charging tenants extra fees for using specific payment methods (like credit cards or checks) in rental agreements. It requires leases to include at least one payment option without additional charges. The bill directly affects tenants by preventing unfair fees and landlords by restricting lease terms. Key provisions ban clauses that waive tenant rights related to security deposits, habitability, or discrimination, and require written notice for certain rent increases. This amendment to Michigan's Truth in Renting Act (MCL 554.633) focuses on making rental agreements fairer through concrete, enforceable limits on fees and unfair terms.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1123 amends the state's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act to prohibit health facilities from discriminating against patients based on their disability when allocating or providing medical treatment. The bill specifically bans denying care due to stereotypes, assumptions that a patient is a burden, beliefs that disabled lives have lesser value, or reliance on assumed life expectancy metrics. It also requires facilities to provide reasonable accommodations and allow visitation by advocates of the patient's choice, unless safety concerns or legal restrictions apply. While the law applies during public health emergencies, it clarifies that facilities may still deny treatment for legitimate medical reasons, such as when a procedure is not clinically appropriate or when the patient does not consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's interim teaching certification process to establish stricter requirements for individuals seeking to teach without a full teaching certificate. It mandates that all candidates complete an approved alternative program with intensive training equivalent to at least 12 college credits, including coursework in child development, diverse learners, and classroom experience. A significant change is the prohibition of new interim certificates for special education teaching starting July 21, 2027, which requires applicants to complete an additional 32-credit specialized training program unless they already hold a full teaching certificate. The legislation also ensures that teachers holding these interim certificates receive intensive observation and coaching while they work toward earning a permanent Michigan teaching certificate.

Maddy summarySB 81 expands Michigan's Indigent Defense Commission's duties to include providing effective legal representation for indigent youth (those under 18 facing juvenile court cases). The bill amends the existing law to require the Commission to establish minimum standards for youth defense services, ensuring they meet constitutional requirements for "effective assistance of counsel." It specifically defines "youth" and clarifies that indigent criminal defense services for youth must begin at their initial court appearance. This change directly affects juvenile defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, ensuring they receive legally required representation under the same standards applied to adults.

Maddy summarySB 415 requires Michigan's medical assistance program to cover group prenatal care services beginning on the bill's effective date. This directly affects pregnant individuals enrolled in Michigan's medical assistance program (like Medicaid) by mandating coverage for a specific type of care. The bill defines "group prenatal care services" as evidence-based, group-based visits that include health assessments, social support, education, and peer interaction in a family-centered setting. These services aim to support pregnant people through shared experiences and structured care, extending into early childhood.

Maddy summarySB 293 amends Michigan’s animal welfare law (MCL 750.50) to clarify and strengthen standards for animal care. It defines "adequate care" as providing food, water, shelter, and veterinary attention to maintain an animal’s health, and prohibits neglect that jeopardizes health. The bill requires owners to reimburse shelters for care costs when animals are forfeited due to neglect, and adds specific rules like tethering dogs with a minimum 3x length leash. It directly affects pet owners, breeders, pet shops, and animal shelters by imposing penalties for violations and creating restitution mechanisms. The changes focus on concrete standards for care, abandonment, and transportation, without adding new categories of prohibited conduct.

Maddy summarySB 294 strengthens Michigan's animal cruelty laws by increasing penalties for harming companion animals (like pets and service animals) and adding new requirements for convicted individuals. It classifies offenses into three degrees (with first-degree punishable by up to 10 years in prison) and mandates courts to order restitution for animal care costs, including veterinary treatment and shelter. The bill also allows courts to prohibit convicted individuals from owning animals for a specified period or permanently. Exemptions cover lawful activities like hunting, farming, and veterinary care. This law directly affects people convicted of animal cruelty, particularly those targeting companion animals.

Maddy summarySB 585 requires conservators (appointed to manage the estates of protected individuals, such as minors without parental rights or adults under guardianship) to obtain a court-approved appraisal from a licensed professional before selling a protected individual's principal residence or real property. The appraisal must be conducted within six months of the sale, and the court must determine the sale is in the protected individual's best interest before approving it. This change applies specifically to sales of real property and adds a formal valuation requirement to existing conservator powers under Michigan law. The bill amends Section 5423 of the Estates and Protected Individuals Code to ensure objective property valuation in significant financial decisions.

Maddy summarySB 586 amends Michigan's guardianship law to require courts to document on the record why moving a person under guardianship (a "ward") from their current residence is necessary. It also mandates that guardians consult with the ward before making major decisions affecting them, such as changes to their living situation. The bill specifically updates sections 5306 and 5314 of Michigan's Estates and Protected Individuals Code to clarify these requirements. These changes directly affect guardians, wards under guardianship, and courts overseeing guardianship cases.

Maddy summarySB 456 amends Michigan's "Mozelle senior or vulnerable adult medical alert act" to require law enforcement agencies to activate a text-message alert system for missing seniors or vulnerable adults. After filing a report under Section 3, agencies must notify the State Police to trigger a system that sends location-specific alerts via wireless devices through the existing emergency alert network. This directly affects vulnerable individuals and their families by enabling rapid public notification through texts, broadcasters, and newspapers. The bill mandates that alerts include descriptions and relevant details to aid in locating missing persons, while ensuring the system operates only after a completed report and per State Police policies.