Sen. Mallory McMorrow

Maddy summarySB 944 updates the rules for public school academies in Michigan that hire outside companies to manage their operations. The bill requires these management companies to share detailed financial reports and specific salary information for high-paid staff with the academy's board of directors. Additionally, the law mandates that academies post this financial and personnel data on their websites for public viewing within 30 days of receiving it. This legislation aims to increase transparency regarding how public funds are used and how management contracts are structured.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Strategic Advisory Board to create and update a ten-year economic development plan for Michigan, covering rural, suburban, and urban areas. The plan must include specific goals such as promoting natural resource industries, ensuring affordable housing, protecting the environment, and improving education and infrastructure. Additionally, the bill requires the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to update this strategic plan annually by September 30.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's environmental laws to clarify how the state handles the cleanup of contaminated sites, specifically allowing for more flexibility when full restoration to drinking water standards is not technically possible. It requires that cleanup efforts generally meet safety standards and stop the spread of pollution, but it permits the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to approve alternative solutions if achieving strict standards is impractical, too costly, or would cause more harm than good. The legislation also introduces specific conditions under which a site can be closed without meeting certain chemical limits, such as when natural processes will reduce contamination over time or when strict cleanup would have negative environmental impacts. These changes directly affect property owners, developers, and environmental agencies by defining the rules and exceptions they must follow when remediating hazardous waste sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's environmental cleanup laws by clarifying definitions for terms like agricultural property and hazardous substance background levels. It requires property owners to conduct specific environmental assessments before buying or occupying land and establishes new standards for determining when soil contamination is safe for residential use. The legislation also adds new sections to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act while repealing an outdated provision. These changes aim to streamline the process for cleaning up contaminated sites and provide clearer guidelines for developers and landowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's rules for filing claims against the state in cases involving criminal sexual conduct. It creates an exception to the standard requirement that individuals must file a written notice within one year of an incident. Specifically, victims of criminal sexual conduct are exempt from the usual deadline and filing procedures outlined in the state's judicial code. The law applies retroactively to cases already in progress and depends on the passage of a related House bill to become effective.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Technical Advisory Committee within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to oversee onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks. The committee will consist of 21 members representing local health departments, engineers, scientists, manufacturers, installers, and other stakeholders to provide expert advice on standards, testing, and regulations. Its primary role is to develop recommended guidance for system design, maintenance, and the registration of evaluators and practitioners who manage these systems. By establishing this advisory group, the bill aims to improve the consistency and quality of wastewater management across the state through structured expert input.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan public school districts to publish detailed financial information on their websites to improve transparency and allow the public to track how school funds are used. Under the new rules, districts must post their annual budgets, expense charts broken down by category such as salaries and instruction, and links to collective bargaining agreements and audit reports. The legislation also mandates that districts disclose specific details regarding high-paid employees, credit card usage, out-of-state travel, and spending on lobbying services. Additionally, the bill clarifies that up to 20% of certain state aid funds can be used for debt service or capital projects and permits districts to contract with third parties for noninstructional services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state of Michigan to adjust annual reimbursements for child care providers under the Child Development and Care Program to account for inflation. The adjustments will be calculated using the Detroit Consumer Price Index, a specific measure of local cost changes. This change directly affects families and businesses that operate child care facilities within the state by ensuring their funding keeps pace with rising costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Strategic Advisory Board within the Michigan Strategic Fund to help develop and update strategic and operational plans for economic development. The board will consist of numerous voting members representing various state departments, business organizations, regional alliances, and universities, along with nonvoting experts in economics and site selection. Appointed by the governor, these members will work together to create a comprehensive plan that guides the fund's activities. The legislation establishes the board's composition, appointment procedures, term lengths, and the authority to remove members for cause.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's child care licensing laws to strengthen safety standards and oversight for organizations caring for children. It requires the state to create advisory committees made up of parents and affected organizations to help develop and review rules regarding staff qualifications, facility safety, and operational conduct. A key provision mandates that inspections for health and fire safety be conducted by state staff, fire services, or local authorities, with specific exemptions for schools that already meet existing fire codes. Additionally, the bill ensures that rules are reviewed at least every five years and gives operators up to 90 days to comply with new regulations unless there is an immediate health or safety risk.