Sen. Dayna Polehanki

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 246 increases disposal fees for hazardous waste and adjusts limits on certain disposal wells and TENORM (radioactive materials) disposal. It directly affects waste disposal facilities and generators of hazardous waste by changing fee structures under Michigan's environmental code. Key provisions amend specific sections to raise fee limits, update disposal well regulations, and clarify TENORM handling requirements. The bill modifies multiple sections of Michigan's 1994 environmental protection law (PA 451) to modernize waste disposal oversight. (Passed on August 26, 2025, with 19 yeas, 15 nays.)

Maddy summarySB 247 imposes a fee of 0.417 cents per gallon on hazardous waste injected into "class I multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal wells" (special wells serving multiple generators). Owners/operators must pay this fee quarterly, adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index, and forward revenue to a community fund. Exemptions apply for certain cleanup waste, site cleanups, and specific waste types, requiring written certification from generators. The collected fees fund annual grants to cities and townships hosting these wells, distributed based on the percentage of fees collected from that area.

Maddy summarySB 493 creates a $65 million grant program for Michigan school districts to reduce K-3 class sizes, targeting high-need areas (Opportunity Index Band 4+). Districts must use at least 30% of their existing state aid funds to support these small classes, with average class sizes capped at 17 students (max 19 per class). The program prioritizes geographic diversity and specifically allocates funds to Muskegon Heights, Benton Harbor, Flint, and Wayne-Westland school districts for the 2025-2026 school year. Funds are a temporary two-year initiative, with unspent money carrying over to 2026-2027 to lower K-3 class sizes by 2030.

Maddy summarySB 494 appropriates $17.77 billion for Michigan public schools in fiscal year 2025 and $65 million for fiscal year 2026 from multiple state funds, including the state school aid fund and dedicated education reserves. It specifies how these funds must be allocated across education programs and requires unspent general fund money to transfer to a school aid stabilization fund. The bill does not create new programs but adjusts funding allocations for existing state education budgets. This legislation directly affects all public school districts receiving state education funding under Michigan's school aid system.

Maddy summarySB 477 sets a 10% annual cap on the portion of an electric utility's weather-adjusted retail sales that can be served by alternative energy suppliers, directly affecting Michigan utilities and their customers seeking to switch providers. The bill includes key exceptions: facilities already using alternative suppliers since 2008 (including expansions), iron ore mines/processing facilities in the Upper Peninsula under specific settlement agreements, and customers on a pre-2016 enrollment queue. It requires utilities to maintain a confidential queue for new customers and adjust the cap downward if usage remains below 10% for five years. The law aims to balance customer choice with grid stability for Michigan's electric utilities.

Maddy summarySB 453 requires Michigan public school districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies to include one unit of age- and grade-appropriate Black history instruction in their history curriculum starting in the 2027-2028 school year. This instruction must cover Black contributions to U.S. society, the history of Black communities in Michigan and the Midwest (including discriminatory policies), and civil rights advancements. The bill also mandates a similar unit of Indigenous People history instruction with identical content requirements. The superintendent of public instruction must develop guidelines with input from cultural centers and scholars, and all instruction must be inclusive and non-discriminatory for all students.

Maddy summarySB 454 creates a Cultural History Advisory Board within Michigan's Department of Education. The board, appointed by the superintendent of public instruction, must include 16 members representing specific cultural communities (Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic, Black, Middle Eastern/North African/Chaldean, Indigenous, Caribbean-American, Jewish-American, European-American) plus educators, school administrators, labor representatives, and higher education experts. The board must develop curriculum recommendations and professional development resources for K-12 schools on teaching the history of these cultural groups, with a deadline of two years after all members are appointed. This bill directly affects Michigan public schools by establishing a new body to guide inclusive history education resources.

Maddy summarySB 455 requires Michigan schools to provide cultural competency training for educators and school personnel who interact with students. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all educators must complete this training using resources developed by the state department by June 2027, covering topics like diversity, cultural identity, historical contributions of various groups (including Black, Indigenous, Latine, Hispanic, and others), and implicit bias. School personnel with student contact, but not educators, must also receive similar training - excluding the historical topics. The bill mandates that training materials align with state social studies standards and be developed with expert input.

Maddy summarySB 464 allows licensed tobacco sellers to sell nicotine or tobacco products at events like fairs, festivals, or farmers' markets under specific conditions. It directly affects licensed tobacco businesses by permitting sales at unlicensed locations, provided they prominently display their license certificate and a required health warning sign within 6 feet of each sale point. The bill requires compliance with all existing tobacco laws and imposes fines for violations (up to $2,500 for missing the warning sign). This bill is contingent on the passage of SB 463, SB 465, and SB 466.