Sen. Stephanie Chang

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to clarify how civil traffic infractions are handled in court, specifically preventing them from being treated as lesser included offenses of criminal charges. It establishes specific fine ranges for various violations, such as speeding and equipment failures, while also setting a maximum cost limit of $100 for court expenses. The legislation allows judges to order treatment or education programs for offenders and requires courts to publish schedules of fines that must account for indigent defendants. Additionally, it mandates that courts waive fines and costs if a driver repairs defective safety equipment before their court date.

Maddy summarySB 762 requires Michigan's Public Service Commission to publish annual reports starting July 1, 2027, detailing water and energy usage by data centers. Specifically, it mandates that public water supplies submit each data center's annual water usage by June 1, and the commission must report total energy usage (in gigawatts per year) for each data center. This directly affects data centers (facilities housing centralized data storage and processing equipment) and public water supplies across Michigan. The bill creates no new regulations but establishes a reporting mechanism for transparency on resource consumption.

Maddy summarySB 763 prevents water users with permits under Michigan's water withdrawal rules from charging the public for costs related to infrastructure upgrades needed when they increase their water withdrawal capacity. It applies specifically to permit holders who seek to exceed their previously reported withdrawal limits and require new infrastructure (like pipes or treatment systems) to accommodate the increase. The bill ensures these infrastructure costs remain the responsibility of the permit holder, not the public, when expanding water use. This policy change directly affects commercial, industrial, or municipal water users holding permits under Section 32723 of Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Maddy summarySB 1075 amends Michigan's food law to allow licensed retail food establishments to sell shell eggs through a consignment arrangement, provided the eggs come from producers with fewer than 3,000 hens and are sold directly to the store. Under this new provision, the eggs must be kept separate from other inventory, labeled with the specific farm name and contact details, and sold only in clean containers that do not feature third-party brand names. The bill also clarifies that these consignment eggs cannot be sold online or by mail order and must be packaged with a label stating they were not inspected by the state department. This legislation primarily affects small-scale egg producers and licensed grocery stores or markets that wish to offer farm-fresh eggs without going through a traditional distributor.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 78 revises the procedures and eligibility requirements for setting aside, or expunging, certain criminal convictions in Michigan. The bill defines how multiple, contemporaneous offenses can be treated as a single conviction for expungement, with exclusions for specific serious crimes. It also adjusts which types of convictions are ineligible for expungement, creating an exception for first-time operating while intoxicated offenses under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill modifies the required waiting periods for applying to set aside convictions, ranging from 3 to 7 years, and requires applicants to have no pending charges or new convictions during these periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring the life and public service of R. Robert Geake, a former Michigan legislator who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The text details his extensive career, including his legislative work on committees focused on education, mental health, and children's welfare, as well as his later roles as an investigator and chair of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman and the Legislative Retirement System Board. The resolution formally expresses the Legislature's tribute to his dedication and instructs that copies of the document be sent to his family.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Energy Pricing Protection Act, prohibits businesses from charging excessively high prices for gasoline, propane, and home heating oil during market disruptions. It defines a market disruption as events like natural disasters, strikes, or emergencies and sets a 20% price increase threshold as the limit for what is considered unjustified, unless sellers can prove higher costs or prior discounts caused the rise. The law applies to anyone selling these essential energy products but excludes utilities regulated by state or federal commissions. Enforcement is handled by state and local prosecutors, who can issue written demands for documents and testimony and file court actions against violators, with investigative details kept confidential until a formal charge is made.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Hotel and Lodging Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising room rates by more than 20% during a declared state of emergency unless they can prove the increase is due to higher costs or pre-existing contracts. The law applies to hotels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and short-term rentals like Airbnb, but excludes large resort-managed units. It allows prosecutors to investigate violations by issuing legal demands for documents and testimony, with courts empowered to enforce compliance if the investigation is deemed proper.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Commodities and Emergency Services and Supplies Pricing Protection Act to stop businesses from raising prices unfairly during a declared state of emergency. It specifically targets sales of building materials, food, emergency supplies, medical items, and general goods, defining an illegal price hike as an increase of more than 20% compared to pre-emergency rates unless the seller can prove higher costs. The law prohibits charging or offering these items at excessively high prices and grants prosecutors the power to investigate violations by demanding documents and testimony from suspected violators.