Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to create a formal process for child care providers to request a review and appeal of certain rule violations. The new procedure applies specifically to cases where the violation does not lead to the denial, revocation, or refusal to renew a license, or result in an injunction. The department must establish this written process within 90 days of the bill's effective date and make it publicly available on its website.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's civil laws to update how the legal clock starts for lawsuits involving hazardous substances like groundwater contamination. Under the new rule, a victim's right to file a claim begins when they discover the harm or when they should have reasonably known about it, rather than from the date the contamination initially occurred. This change directly affects individuals or businesses seeking damages for environmental injuries by aligning the start of the legal filing period with the discovery of the problem. The provision simplifies the process for plaintiffs by ensuring the statute of limitations reflects when the issue became known to them.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows specific military veterans and their families to apply for special Michigan license plates that identify their service or sacrifice. Eligible individuals include former prisoners of war, World War I veterans, Pearl Harbor survivors, Purple Heart recipients, and family members of active-duty soldiers, fallen service members, or those who lost a loved one while serving. To qualify, applicants must submit proof of their status to the Secretary of State, and the plates will feature unique designs such as "EX-POW," "WWI," "Pearl Harbor survivor," or "Gold Star Family" along with the vehicle owner's birthday expiration. The legislation also waives standard service fees for these applications and grants tax exemptions for the first plate issued to a prisoner of war, while requiring taxes on additional plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's criminal record expungement laws by clarifying how multiple crimes committed at the same time are counted and by adding new eligibility rules for certain offenses. It allows people who committed several non-violent crimes within a 24-hour period to have them treated as a single conviction for expungement purposes, while still barring expungement for serious crimes like those involving weapons, long prison sentences, or domestic violence. The legislation also introduces a specific process for first-time operating while intoxicated convictions, permitting expungement only if the individual completes court-ordered rehabilitation programs and does not apply for expungement without a formal request. Additionally, the bill sets a seven-year waiting period before someone can apply to expunge more than one felony conviction and ensures that traffic-related expungements do not automatically remove violations from driving records.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in Michigan to cover specific cancer drugs, including genetic therapies and immunotherapies like CAR-T cell therapy, even when used for purposes not originally approved by the FDA. Coverage is mandated for any FDA-approved drug used in cancer treatment if a physician orders it based on current medical evidence, the drug is part of a standard cancer regimen, and the patient provides informed consent for the off-label use. The law ensures that insurers must pay for the medication and its reasonable administration costs under these conditions, regardless of whether the specific cancer being treated matches the drug's initial FDA approval. This change directly affects patients seeking advanced cancer treatments and the insurance providers that must now include these therapies in their policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's bankruptcy exemption laws to increase the dollar limits on property that individuals can protect from creditors when filing for bankruptcy. The changes directly affect debtors by raising the value caps on essential items such as a home, vehicles, tools for work, and retirement accounts, while also adding new protections for household pets and computers. Specific adjustments include increasing the homestead exemption to $125,000 or $200,000 for seniors and disabled individuals, and raising the limit on motor vehicles to $15,000. Additionally, the legislation expands protections for retirement funds and clarifies rules regarding contributions made shortly before filing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals and government agencies in Michigan to select the specific type, dosage, and delivery method of free naloxone provided by the state's Department of Health and Human Services. The law applies only when the department distributes these overdose reversal drugs at no cost to help reduce opioid-related overdoses. While it grants recipients the choice of formulation and administration route, it includes a provision to maintain federal funding eligibility if those choices would jeopardize state grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers with sales floors larger than 2,500 square feet from placing co-branded alcoholic beverages next to youth-oriented snacks, cartoons, or similar items. For smaller stores, the law allows either the same prohibition or the option to post a specific age-restriction sign near those displays. The term "co-branded" refers to alcohol products that share logos or packaging with non-alcoholic drinks. Any fines for breaking these rules must be added to the state's liquor enforcement fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Michigan State Police retirement system to clarify definitions and rules for calculating retirement benefits. It specifically changes how "final average compensation" is calculated for officers who joined after June 10, 2012, by using the average salary from their last five years of service instead of the previous two-year period. The legislation also expands the list of eligible retirement plans that officers can use to roll over their pension funds and clarifies terms related to deferred retirement and leave time programs. These changes directly affect state law enforcement officers who are currently active, separating, or already retired under the state employees' retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in Michigan to cover group prenatal care services for pregnant individuals. The legislation defines these services as a series of visits held in a group setting that uses evidence-based models to include health assessments, social support, and educational activities. By mandating this coverage, the law ensures that insurers provide access to peer-to-peer support and family-centered care designed to help people through pregnancy and early childhood. The policy directly affects health insurers offering policies in the state and the pregnant individuals who would receive these covered services.