This bill updates the rules for Michigan's Agriculture Preservation Fund, which manages money to protect farmland and open space. It increases the annual budget for administrative costs from $1.4 million to $2.1 million and establishes a formula to adjust this amount each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that any funds remaining in the account after paying for administration and local grants can be used to purchase development rights or conservation easements if the balance exceeds $5 million. These changes aim to ensure the fund has adequate resources to support its ongoing mission of preserving agricultural land.
This bill establishes rules for businesses and individuals, known as relying parties, when they accept digital versions of driver's licenses and identification cards. It requires these entities to verify the digital ID using secure technology and obtain permission before collecting or keeping any personal data from the card. The law also prohibits relying parties from forcing users to unlock their phones, searching their devices, or demanding the digital ID as a mandatory requirement for completing a transaction. Additionally, it clarifies that showing a digital license does not give others the right to access other apps or data on the user's phone.
This bill creates a new productivity time credit system for prisoners in Michigan who are sentenced on or after its effective date, allowing them to reduce their minimum and maximum sentences by participating in educational or vocational programs. Eligible inmates can earn up to 20 days of credit per month for enrollment in recommended programs or 10 to 20 days for voluntary programs, with additional bonuses of 90 to 120 days awarded upon successfully completing these courses. However, the department of corrections cannot award credits to individuals classified as very high risk, those assigned to maximum security housing, or those convicted of specific serious offenses such as life without parole or certain violent crimes. Credits are also forfeited if a prisoner commits major misconduct, and the total number of credits a person can earn is capped at 20% of their minimum sentence.
This bill amends Michigan election law to expand the list of documents that qualify as valid identification for voting and voter registration. It directly affects voters and election officials by clarifying which specific IDs, such as driver's licenses, passports, military cards, and student IDs, are acceptable. The legislation explicitly excludes mobile versions of certain licenses and state ID cards from this list while also defining other key terms like "absent voter" and "educational institution." The bill does not take effect until three other related Senate bills are also passed into law.
This bill updates Michigan laws to formally define and authorize the issuance of mobile versions of enhanced driver's licenses and official state identification cards. It allows eligible U.S. citizens who reside in the state to use these digital credentials for entering the United States at land and sea ports, functioning similarly to their physical counterparts. The legislation requires applicants to provide proof of citizenship and identity while mandating that these mobile documents include specific security measures and exclude biometric data. Additionally, the bill clarifies existing definitions to distinguish between physical and mobile licenses, ensuring consistency across different types of identification issued by the state.
This bill allows eligible individuals in Michigan to receive medical assistance coverage for donor human milk for their infants under specific conditions. To qualify, a healthcare provider must first write a prescription, and the infant must either be born to a parent unable to produce milk or be born before the 34th week of pregnancy or weigh less than 1,800 grams at birth. The coverage is available for up to two years after the parent is discharged from the hospital following childbirth or two years after the birth itself. These provisions become effective on January 1, 2026.
This bill updates Michigan's penal code to clarify which crimes are considered part of racketeering activity, a serious charge involving a pattern of illegal behavior for financial gain. It achieves this by adding a specific reference to the state's Identity Theft Protection Act into the list of offenses that qualify as racketeering. The legislation also expands the definition to include crimes committed in other states or under federal law that are substantially similar to those already listed in the statute. Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure that identity theft and related financial frauds are consistently treated as part of organized criminal patterns when prosecuted under racketeering laws.
This bill removes the expiration date for a provision that allows the state to adjust legal notice publication fees based on inflation. It affects newspapers that publish required legal notices and the Department of Treasury, which is responsible for calculating these adjustments. Under the bill, fees will continue to be updated annually using the Consumer Price Index starting from March 1, 2026, ensuring the rates remain current without a fixed end date. The legislation also maintains existing rules that cap standard publication costs and prohibit newspapers from charging higher rates for political notices compared to similar commercial ads.
SB 1197 amends Michigan's Candidate for Office Financial Disclosure Act to update how candidates report their personal financial information. The bill clarifies definitions for terms like "gift," "earned income," and "liabilities," while establishing specific thresholds for reporting assets, unearned income, and debts. Candidates for state and federal offices in Michigan must file annual reports detailing their employment, spouse's occupation, business interests, and investments that meet certain monetary limits. The legislation also introduces inflation adjustments for asset valuations every four years and simplifies reporting requirements for candidates who are not elected.
This bill updates the timeline for filing legal claims related to groundwater contamination and environmental cleanup costs under Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. It establishes specific deadlines for lawsuits seeking response costs or natural resource damages, generally requiring claims to be filed within six years of starting cleanup work or three years after cleanup finishes. The legislation also sets a fixed cutoff date of July 1, 1994, for claims involving incidents that occurred before that time, while clarifying that this rule applies retroactively to ensure consistency with the original law.
This bill modifies Michigan's existing laws on governmental immunity to clarify when state agencies and their employees can be held liable for criminal sexual conduct. It establishes that officials and volunteers are generally protected from lawsuits for injuries or property damage caused while performing their duties, unless their actions involve gross negligence or specific exceptions like providing medical care. The legislation defines "gross negligence" as reckless behavior showing a substantial lack of concern for safety and creates specific rules for immunity regarding judges, legislators, and tactical operations. By adding a new section to the state tort liability act, the bill aims to provide clearer legal standards for holding public servants accountable in cases involving sexual misconduct while maintaining protections for routine government functions.
This bill updates Michigan's ethics laws by clarifying how the value of gifts and services is calculated for public employees and lobbyists. It establishes a specific method for determining fair market value based on the date of exchange and requires lobbyists to provide evidence of these values within nine days when requested. The legislation also refines the definition of a reportable gift, setting the threshold at over $25 in a month while explicitly excluding routine business loans, family contributions, and standard campaign donations.
