Sen. John Damoose

Maddy summarySB 589 requires Michigan public school districts and intermediate school districts to allow homeschooled or nonpublic school students to participate in extracurricular activities offered by those schools. It directly affects eligible children who live in the district, are homeschooled or attend nonpublic school, and meet standard participation requirements. The bill mandates that school boards cannot block such participation and must ensure their district isn’t part of any athletic conference or association with exclusionary policies. Covered activities include sports, theater, band/orchestra, and debate teams, with the goal of expanding access for nonpublic school students.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Michigan's state budget bills to be passed into law by a specific annual deadline. If the budget isn't enacted by that date, both state legislators and the governor would lose their pay until the budget is approved. The amendment modifies three sections of the state constitution to establish this deadline and link compensation to budget passage. It specifically targets the general appropriation bills that fund state operations, not other legislation. The deadline is defined by existing law (MCL 18.1365) as the date set for budget enactment each year.

Maddy summarySR 65 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 2025 as "Hunger Action Month" in Michigan. It recognizes the annual nationwide effort led by Feeding America to raise awareness about food insecurity and support local food banks. The resolution highlights Michigan's ongoing challenges, including 1.5 million residents facing food insecurity and 19% childhood food insecurity rates, without creating new policies or funding. This procedural resolution serves to acknowledge community efforts and the need for food assistance, rather than implementing concrete changes.

Maddy summarySB 522 amends Michigan law to explicitly include human trafficking violations as a grounds for terminating parental rights. The bill adds human trafficking to the list of abusive conduct under existing subsection (k), which allows courts to terminate rights when a parent's actions (including abuse) create a reasonable likelihood of future harm to the child. This change directly affects parents who commit human trafficking against their children, providing courts with a specific legal basis to pursue termination in such cases. The amendment does not alter other existing grounds for termination but clarifies that human trafficking violations qualify as grounds under the same standard as other forms of abuse.

Maddy summarySB 523 amends Michigan's Child Protection Law to explicitly include human trafficking violations as a qualifying form of abuse that allows the state Department of Health and Human Services to seek court intervention for children. The bill adds human trafficking (as defined in Michigan law) to the list of serious harms - alongside physical abuse, sexual assault, and neglect - that trigger the department's duty to petition a court for authority over a juvenile. This change directly affects parents, guardians, or adults living in a child's home who commit human trafficking or place a child at risk through such activity. The key mechanism expands the grounds for state action, ensuring human trafficking is treated with the same seriousness as other severe child abuse under existing legal standards.

Maddy summarySB 524 amends Michigan's prostitution-related laws to increase penalties for repeat offenses and create a new diversion program for first-time offenders. It adds a mandatory human trafficking awareness program for first-time offenders instead of immediate conviction, and establishes a legal presumption that minors under 18 involved in prostitution were coerced by traffickers. The bill directly affects individuals accused of solicitation, operating brothels, or aiding prostitution, with enhanced penalties for those with prior convictions. Key provisions include stricter sentencing tiers based on prior offenses and mandatory reporting of minors to human services for trafficking investigations.

Maddy summarySB 514 creates a corporate income tax credit for beverage distributors who charge deposits on returnable containers. It allows eligible distributors to claim a $0.005 credit per container sold starting in 2026, with annual adjustments based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index beginning in 2027. Distributors must attach a specific report to their tax return to claim the credit, and any unused credit amount is refundable. The bill directly affects beverage distributors who originate container deposits and depends on the passage of companion bill SB 512 to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 471 creates a dedicated $13 million behavioral threat assessment and management program fund within Michigan's Department of Treasury for the 2025 fiscal year. The fund, administered by the Treasury Department, will finance developing, implementing, and maintaining school safety programs to assess student behavioral threats. It requires all funds to remain in the program (not lapse to the general fund) and be used exclusively for these school safety purposes. The bill directly affects Michigan public schools by providing targeted funding for this specific safety initiative, with the program expected to be fully operational by September 2026.

Maddy summarySB 470 requires Michigan's Department of Education to create and implement a statewide Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Program within 180 days. The program mandates schools to identify, assess, and manage potential threats through standardized risk-level models, secure data storage, and a centralized digital portal that integrates school, mental health, and law enforcement data. It directly affects all Michigan public school districts, intermediate districts, public school academies, and nonpublic schools by requiring them to use this system for student safety planning. Key provisions include secure access controls, annual training for staff, quarterly audits, and ensuring all data remains protected as education records under federal and state laws.

Maddy summarySB 159 empowers the Attorney General to investigate deceptive practices by online ticket sellers, such as hidden fees, false seat availability, or misleading pricing for event tickets. It creates a new legal framework allowing the AG to impose fines and remedies for violations, directly affecting businesses selling event tickets online. Key provisions establish clear procedures for investigations and specify penalty amounts for noncompliance. The law aims to protect consumers from unfair ticket sales tactics without specifying exact financial thresholds or enforcement timelines.