Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's environmental cleanup laws by clarifying definitions for terms like agricultural property and hazardous substance background levels. It requires property owners to conduct specific environmental assessments before buying or occupying land and establishes new standards for determining when soil contamination is safe for residential use. The legislation also adds new sections to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act while repealing an outdated provision. These changes aim to streamline the process for cleaning up contaminated sites and provide clearer guidelines for developers and landowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $50 million in state funds for the 2024-2025 school year to support student teachers participating in Michigan's Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program. The money is distributed to eligible educator preparation programs, which then provide payments of up to $9,600 per semester to student teachers working in public schools or qualifying preschools. To qualify, student teachers must be enrolled in a certification program, actively completing required coursework, and not already employed as a teacher of record in the district where they are placed. The bill also establishes a priority system where student teachers receiving Pell Grants are funded first if the available money is insufficient to cover all applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Technical Advisory Committee within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to oversee onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks. The committee will consist of 21 members representing local health departments, engineers, scientists, manufacturers, installers, and other stakeholders to provide expert advice on standards, testing, and regulations. Its primary role is to develop recommended guidance for system design, maintenance, and the registration of evaluators and practitioners who manage these systems. By establishing this advisory group, the bill aims to improve the consistency and quality of wastewater management across the state through structured expert input.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Department of Corrections to assist prisoners in obtaining identification documents, such as those needed for a driver's license, and to provide written information about voter registration and election processes while they are incarcerated. The legislation mandates that the department help eligible inmates secure these resources before their release on parole or discharge, and it allows the Secretary of State to access prisoner data electronically to verify identities for license applications. Additionally, the bill creates a new "reentry success fund" to finance these reentry activities and updates procedures for how the parole board considers victim statements and conducts interviews prior to granting parole.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Personal Data Privacy Act in Michigan to protect consumers by regulating how businesses collect, process, sell, and share their personal information. It requires companies to provide clear notices about data practices, bans deceptive user interface designs known as dark patterns, and mandates a universal opt-out mechanism for consumers to control their data. The law also creates a registration system for data brokers and defines specific protections for sensitive categories such as children, biometric data, and health information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan public school districts to publish detailed financial information on their websites to improve transparency and allow the public to track how school funds are used. Under the new rules, districts must post their annual budgets, expense charts broken down by category such as salaries and instruction, and links to collective bargaining agreements and audit reports. The legislation also mandates that districts disclose specific details regarding high-paid employees, credit card usage, out-of-state travel, and spending on lobbying services. Additionally, the bill clarifies that up to 20% of certain state aid funds can be used for debt service or capital projects and permits districts to contract with third parties for noninstructional services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state of Michigan to adjust annual reimbursements for child care providers under the Child Development and Care Program to account for inflation. The adjustments will be calculated using the Detroit Consumer Price Index, a specific measure of local cost changes. This change directly affects families and businesses that operate child care facilities within the state by ensuring their funding keeps pace with rising costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires prosecutors to provide crime victims with written notice when a defendant becomes eligible to earn productivity credits that could reduce their prison sentence. The legislation applies to both adult and juvenile offenders and mandates that victims be informed of their right to submit impact statements detailing the harm suffered and their sentencing recommendations. These notices must be delivered promptly and include specific details about the upcoming sentencing hearing, the nature of the crimes, and how the victim's input will be used in preparing reports for the court. By clarifying these notification requirements, the bill aims to ensure victims are kept informed of significant developments in their cases without altering the underlying rules for earning sentence credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Strategic Advisory Board within the Michigan Strategic Fund to help develop and update strategic and operational plans for economic development. The board will consist of numerous voting members representing various state departments, business organizations, regional alliances, and universities, along with nonvoting experts in economics and site selection. Appointed by the governor, these members will work together to create a comprehensive plan that guides the fund's activities. The legislation establishes the board's composition, appointment procedures, term lengths, and the authority to remove members for cause.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's child care licensing laws to strengthen safety standards and oversight for organizations caring for children. It requires the state to create advisory committees made up of parents and affected organizations to help develop and review rules regarding staff qualifications, facility safety, and operational conduct. A key provision mandates that inspections for health and fire safety be conducted by state staff, fire services, or local authorities, with specific exemptions for schools that already meet existing fire codes. Additionally, the bill ensures that rules are reviewed at least every five years and gives operators up to 90 days to comply with new regulations unless there is an immediate health or safety risk.