Sen. Ed McBroom

Maddy summarySB 446 amends Michigan law to allow vehicles displaying municipal license plates to enter state parks and public boating access sites without needing a recreation passport. Currently, vehicles with municipal plates (issued by cities, not the state) must still pay the recreation passport fee for entry, but this bill removes that requirement. The change applies directly to Michigan residents who drive vehicles registered with city-issued plates, such as those in Detroit or other municipalities. The bill updates existing exemptions in Sections 74116 and 78119 of the Natural Resources Act to explicitly include municipal plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require all public university governing boards in Michigan to hold open meetings accessible to the public. It directly affects the governing boards of Michigan's public universities, including institutions like the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. The key provision mandates that these board meetings be open to the public as required by law, increasing transparency. The amendment also updates the constitutional list of public universities to include current institutional names. (Note: The bill's title and text contain minor inconsistencies in university names, but the core requirement is clear.)

Maddy summarySB 457 revises how political parties select members for Michigan's State Board of Education by requiring nominations from specific geographic regions. Starting in 2026, each party must nominate one candidate from designated regions (like Region 4 and Region 8) at their fall convention, with the regions rotating every 8 years to cover all 8 defined county regions across the state. This change aims to ensure the board reflects diverse regional perspectives in Michigan's education system. The bill directly affects political parties selecting board members and will reshape the board's regional representation starting with the 2026 nominations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits campaign contributions to judges' committees from parties involved in pending court cases before that judge. It also blocks political committees primarily funded by limited liability companies (LLCs) if the LLC or its officers are involved in pending cases. Committees must disclose LLC funding sources and provide written statements with contributions, with violations carrying misdemeanor penalties. The law directly affects current judges, their committees, and political committees seeking to contribute to judicial campaigns.

Maddy summarySB 468 prohibits Michigan jurisdictions from acquiring or using electronic voting systems after January 1, 2026, if those systems contain parts or equipment from entities providing "covered communications equipment" listed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under federal law. This directly affects local election officials and voting system vendors purchasing new equipment for state elections. The key mechanism requires voting systems to avoid components from vendors designated by the FCC as security risks, referencing the FCC’s official list. Existing systems and voting requirements (like paper ballots and accessibility features) remain unchanged under this bill.

Maddy summarySB 447 requires Michigan health insurers to cover specific treatments for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders (PANS/PANDAS), including antibiotics, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, and IVIG therapy. It mandates that coverage for these conditions cannot have higher copays, deductibles, or coinsurance than other treatments, must be authorized promptly for urgent cases, and cannot be denied based on prior treatments or different diagnoses. Insurers must follow evidence-based medical guidelines developed by a consortium of experts when reviewing coverage requests, and the bill specifies standardized ICD-10 coding for billing purposes. This law directly affects children diagnosed with these conditions and all health insurers operating in Michigan, ensuring consistent access to medically necessary care.

Maddy summarySB 445 requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to publish aggregate data every 90 days on its website about non-U.S. citizen prisoners. The report must include each prisoner's immigration status, their specific convictions, and their home country (defined as birthplace). This applies only to prisoners under the department's jurisdiction who are not U.S. citizens. The bill mandates this reporting starting six months after it takes effect, focusing on transparency around this specific population's data.

Maddy summarySB 288 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to explicitly prohibit the independent citizens redistricting commission from holding any closed sessions for any purpose. This change directly affects the redistricting commission, which draws legislative and congressional district maps. The bill adds a specific rule in the law stating the commission cannot meet privately, reinforcing transparency in the redistricting process. Existing closed session rules for other public bodies (like personnel matters or legal consultations) remain unchanged.

Maddy summarySB 427 amends Michigan's Open Meetings Act to strengthen enforcement by allowing any person, the Attorney General, or local prosecutors to sue public bodies that violate the law. It specifies where lawsuits must be filed (circuit court for local bodies, circuit court or Ingham County for state bodies) and requires courts to award actual attorney fees and court costs to winning plaintiffs if violations were intentional, repeated, harmed the public, or involved significant public interest. The bill also sets a 180-day deadline to file such lawsuits after a violation occurs. These changes aim to make it easier for citizens to hold public bodies accountable for noncompliance with open meeting requirements.

Maddy summarySB 422 amends Michigan's Campaign Finance Act (MCL 169.215) to clarify procedures for handling violations. It adds specific criteria for waiving late filing fees (e.g., medical emergencies or natural disasters) and establishes a formal complaint process requiring detailed certifications from complainants. The bill also mandates that if the Secretary of State is involved in a violation, the matter must be referred to the Attorney General for review. These changes apply directly to campaign committees, candidates, and the Secretary of State's office.