Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 6) formally condemns the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and specifically denounces President Trump's 2025 pardons of 1,500 individuals involved in the riots, including those convicted of assaulting police officers. It highlights the 140+ law enforcement injuries sustained during the attack and cites police unions' criticism of the pardons as undermining accountability. The resolution serves as a symbolic statement expressing disapproval to federal leaders, not a policy change. It directly addresses the federal executive branch's use of pardon power regarding Capitol riot participants.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 5) symbolically recognizes January 2025 as "Muslim American Heritage Month" in Michigan. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies; instead, it formally acknowledges the contributions of Michigan's Muslim American community (approximately 273,734 residents) to the state's cultural, economic, and social life. The resolution highlights their diverse heritage and roles in fields like STEM, business, and community leadership, particularly in cities like Dearborn and Detroit. It encourages Michiganders to learn about and celebrate this community's history and achievements. The resolution was introduced and adopted by the Senate on January 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 3) authorizes the Senate Majority Leader to take legal action against the House of Representatives to compel it to present nine specific bills to the Governor. The bills - passed by both chambers during the 2023-2024 legislative session - were returned to the House on December 20, 2024, but the House has refused to present them to the Governor despite a constitutional requirement under Michigan’s Article IV, Section 33. The Senate seeks to enforce this duty through court action, targeting House Bills 4177 and 4665-4667 (2023) and 4900-4901, 5817-5818, and 6058 (2024). The resolution focuses solely on procedural compliance, not policy content.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on a person's source of income. It directly affects landlords, real estate brokers, and anyone involved in property transactions by banning them from refusing to rent or sell homes to individuals using government assistance, veterans benefits, Social Security, or other legal income sources. The law clarifies that these protections apply to all forms of discrimination, including refusing to negotiate, making false claims about property availability, or publishing advertisements that exclude people based on how they pay rent. By adding "source of income" to the list of protected categories, the legislation ensures that housing opportunities cannot be denied solely because a tenant relies on subsidies or retirement funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's penal code to strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking during legal proceedings. It allows courts to admit expert testimony explaining how trafficking victims may behave differently than expected and clarifies that a victim's testimony does not require corroboration. Additionally, the law ensures that victims cannot be forced to testify or produce documents if doing so might incriminate them, with the strict rule that any truthful information they provide cannot be used against them in a criminal case except to challenge their credibility or prove they lied.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Code of Criminal Procedure to allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant's prior acts of domestic violence or sexual assault in current trials for those same crimes. To ensure fairness, the law requires prosecutors to disclose this prior evidence to the defense at least 15 days before the trial begins. The bill also sets a general rule that evidence of acts older than 10 years is inadmissible unless specific conditions are met, such as the prior act being reported to police within five years or resulting in a DNA match. These changes apply to cases where the defendant is accused of offenses involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or specific violations of the Michigan penal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to allow hearsay testimony in specific human trafficking and prostitution cases. It permits the admission of statements made to law enforcement that describe threats of physical injury, provided the statement was made recently and under circumstances indicating its trustworthiness. Prosecutors must disclose these statements to the defense at least 15 days before trial to ensure fair access to evidence. The changes apply only to cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or the specified sex crimes, leaving other legal proceedings unaffected.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the age requirements for children and adults with developmental disabilities to be eligible for courtroom support dogs during legal proceedings in Michigan. It specifically allows individuals under 18 with developmental disabilities to have a trained support dog sit with them while testifying, whereas the previous rule restricted this benefit to those under 16. The legislation applies to various criminal cases involving vulnerable witnesses, including child protection and assaultive crimes, and maintains existing rules that require advance notice for using a support dog during a trial. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the prosecutor's office assumes full responsibility for the dog while it is present in the courtroom.

Maddy summarySB 206 amends Michigan's landlord-tenant law to explicitly include various forms of financial assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers and emergency rental aid, as a protected "source of income" under the state's fair housing laws. This change prohibits landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants based on the specific programs or benefits they use to pay rent, provided the income is not derived illegally. The bill defines "source of income" broadly to cover federal, state, and local subsidy programs, ensuring that individuals relying on these funds have the same housing opportunities as those with other income sources. By clarifying these definitions within the existing legal framework, the legislation aims to prevent unfair treatment of tenants who depend on government or nonprofit assistance to secure housing.