Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits landlords in Michigan from discriminating against tenants or prospective tenants based on their source of income, such as housing vouchers or subsidies. It forbids landlords from denying housing, setting different terms, or advertising preferences related to how a tenant pays rent. Additionally, the bill requires that any income threshold for renting must be calculated after subtracting the value of rent vouchers or subsidies. People who suffer financial loss due to a violation can sue for actual damages or up to 4.5 times the monthly rent, plus legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's unemployment insurance system by increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount and adjusting how payments are calculated for dependents starting in 2025. It directly affects unemployed individuals who file for benefits, raising the weekly payment cap to $446 in 2025, $530 in 2026, and $614 in 2027. The legislation also changes the calculation method for dependents, increasing the additional weekly allowance per dependent from $6 to $12.66 in 2025, with further increases planned for subsequent years. These changes are designed to provide higher financial support to eligible claimers while maintaining specific rules for verifying dependent status and preventing fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's search warrant procedures to require law enforcement officers to announce their identity and purpose and wait a reasonable amount of time before forcing entry into a home or building. Officers must wear uniforms or be clearly identifiable when breaking into a property, and they must include specific details about potential dangers, occupants, and disabilities in their warrant applications if they plan to skip the announcement step. Exceptions allowing entry without announcing identity are permitted only when there is an immediate threat to life, evidence suggests occupants know police are present, or announcing would hinder the investigation. The law also defines a "reasonable period of time" as the duration needed for an occupant to admit officers while accounting for the time it might take to destroy evidence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement officers in Michigan to complete specific training focused on mental health, de-escalation, and implicit bias. The legislation mandates that new officers finish this curriculum by July 1, 2025, while those already licensed must complete it by July 1, 2026. Key provisions include detailed training on verbal tactics, recognizing mental health indicators, and using behavioral health resources to divert individuals from the criminal justice system. Additionally, the bill directs the state commission to develop these standards and requires agencies to adopt written policies ensuring officers use de-escalation techniques whenever safe and reasonable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement agencies in Michigan to create and publicly share written policies on how officers should use force. The law mandates that these policies must include specific rules, such as using only objectively reasonable force, reserving deadly force for situations involving an immediate threat of death or serious injury, and prioritizing de-escalation techniques. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "deadly force" and "objectively reasonable" to guide policy creation and requires agencies to regularly review and update their policies to stay current with laws and court rulings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's penal code to explicitly prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of bump stocks. A bump stock is defined as a device that allows a semiautomatic firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull by using the weapon's recoil energy to reset the trigger automatically. Violating this new prohibition would result in a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The law includes exceptions for licensed federal manufacturers and certain self-defense spray devices, but it strictly targets the specific mechanism of the bump stock device.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens oversight for Michigan public school academies by requiring the organizations that authorize them to perform specific duties. The law mandates that authorizing bodies establish independent boards with local representation, ensure fair student admission processes, and monitor financial and academic performance. Additionally, it requires these bodies to submit regular reports on their oversight efforts and gives them the power to revoke contracts if academies fail to meet academic goals, legal standards, or fiscal requirements. The legislation also clarifies that authorizing bodies serve as fiscal agents and must ensure academy boards meet frequently and operate without interference from educational management companies.

Maddy summarySB 944 updates the rules for public school academies in Michigan that hire outside companies to manage their operations. The bill requires these management companies to share detailed financial reports and specific salary information for high-paid staff with the academy's board of directors. Additionally, the law mandates that academies post this financial and personnel data on their websites for public viewing within 30 days of receiving it. This legislation aims to increase transparency regarding how public funds are used and how management contracts are structured.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Strategic Advisory Board to create and update a ten-year economic development plan for Michigan, covering rural, suburban, and urban areas. The plan must include specific goals such as promoting natural resource industries, ensuring affordable housing, protecting the environment, and improving education and infrastructure. Additionally, the bill requires the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to update this strategic plan annually by September 30.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's environmental laws to clarify how the state handles the cleanup of contaminated sites, specifically allowing for more flexibility when full restoration to drinking water standards is not technically possible. It requires that cleanup efforts generally meet safety standards and stop the spread of pollution, but it permits the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to approve alternative solutions if achieving strict standards is impractical, too costly, or would cause more harm than good. The legislation also introduces specific conditions under which a site can be closed without meeting certain chemical limits, such as when natural processes will reduce contamination over time or when strict cleanup would have negative environmental impacts. These changes directly affect property owners, developers, and environmental agencies by defining the rules and exceptions they must follow when remediating hazardous waste sites.