Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's corrections code to formally recognize and incorporate "productivity credits" into the calculation of time served for prisoners. It directly affects inmates in state correctional facilities by allowing them to earn credit toward their minimum sentence requirements through work or other productive activities. The amendment modifies existing sections of the law to ensure these credits are properly considered when determining eligibility for parole, aligning the system with recent legislative changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new productivity time credit system for prisoners in Michigan who are sentenced on or after its effective date, allowing them to reduce their minimum and maximum sentences by participating in educational or vocational programs. Eligible inmates can earn up to 20 days of credit per month for enrollment in recommended programs or 10 to 20 days for voluntary programs, with additional bonuses of 90 to 120 days awarded upon successfully completing these courses. However, the department of corrections cannot award credits to individuals classified as very high risk, those assigned to maximum security housing, or those convicted of specific serious offenses such as life without parole or certain violent crimes. Credits are also forfeited if a prisoner commits major misconduct, and the total number of credits a person can earn is capped at 20% of their minimum sentence.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the timeline for filing legal claims related to groundwater contamination and environmental cleanup costs under Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. It establishes specific deadlines for lawsuits seeking response costs or natural resource damages, generally requiring claims to be filed within six years of starting cleanup work or three years after cleanup finishes. The legislation also sets a fixed cutoff date of July 1, 1994, for claims involving incidents that occurred before that time, while clarifying that this rule applies retroactively to ensure consistency with the original law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Michigan-Ireland trade commission within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to strengthen economic ties between the two regions. The commission will be composed of seven members appointed by the governor, including representatives from higher education, the chamber of commerce, Irish-American communities, and legislators who have expertise in Irish affairs or trade relations. Its primary duties include advancing bilateral trade and investment, promoting business and academic exchanges, and encouraging mutual infrastructure support, while operating under state laws regarding open meetings and public records. The commission will be funded through a dedicated state treasury account that accepts donations, grants, and bequests to cover its administrative costs and operational needs. Members serve two-year terms without compensation but may receive reimbursement for necessary expenses, and the group must submit annual reports to the governor and legislature by February 1st.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 607 amends Michigan's Administrative Procedures Act to clarify what counts as a formal "rule" by explicitly excluding cleanup criteria and target detection limits set by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. This change ensures that specific environmental standards used to determine when a site is clean enough for reuse are not subject to the same rulemaking procedures as other agency regulations. The bill directly affects the state environmental agency by removing these technical environmental thresholds from the definition of a rule, while leaving the rest of the act's definitions largely unchanged.

Maddy summarySB 863 updates Michigan's sentencing laws to incorporate productivity credits for prisoners, allowing time earned through work programs to reduce their sentences. The bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure that credits previously established by other legislation are formally recognized when calculating release dates for inmates. This change directly affects incarcerated individuals who have participated in prison work or educational programs, potentially shortening the time they must serve before becoming eligible for parole. By aligning the statute with existing credit systems, the measure aims to provide a clearer legal framework for sentence reductions based on inmate productivity.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Public Health Code to strengthen the regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks, for properties not connected to public sewer lines. It establishes new definitions for various waste treatment methods and grants the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, along with local health departments, the authority to inspect, evaluate, and enforce compliance with these systems. The legislation also clarifies that connecting to a public sewer system is a public interest goal and outlines specific enforcement tools, including violation notices and warrant procedures, to ensure these systems do not threaten public health or water quality.

Maddy summarySB 1086 adds a new section to Michigan's firearm laws that creates a specific list of individuals who are exempt from the state's prohibition on selling firearms. This exemption applies to retired law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and parole or probation officers who retired in good standing. The bill defines these specific groups in detail and expands the existing legal framework to allow them to sell firearms without a standard license.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Department of Education to create and distribute a model firearm safety program for students in grades 6 through 12 by June 1, 2025. The curriculum must cover topics such as proper handling, maintenance, storage, and hunting practices, totaling at least 10 hours of instruction led by certified hunter education instructors. While schools can offer this as an optional class or integrate it into existing courses, firearms and ammunition are strictly prohibited from being brought onto school property during these sessions. Additionally, the bill ensures that any student or their parent can request an exemption from the course without penalty or loss of academic credit. Finally, completing this instruction satisfies the state's hunter safety course requirement for obtaining a hunting license.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new section to Michigan's election law that imposes civil fines on individuals who knowingly make false statements about election details, voter eligibility, or voting penalties. The law specifically targets misinformation intended to stop people from voting and sets a maximum penalty of $1,000 for each violation. It also holds employers of election workers accountable with fines up to $10,000 unless they can prove they were unaware of the worker's intent to spread misinformation. Local governments are given a legal presumption that they did not know about such violations before they occurred.