Rep. Tyrone Carter

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6319 amends the state's Mental Health Code to expand the legal definition of a "mental health professional" to include physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists. This change allows these three groups of healthcare providers to perform specific clinical functions previously reserved for physicians or psychiatrists, such as conducting physical examinations for involuntary treatment petitions and authorizing the use of physical restraints or seclusion in mental health facilities. The bill also updates related definitions and procedural requirements throughout the code to ensure these new professionals are recognized in contexts involving patient rights, court hearings, and facility safety protocols.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6318 amends the state election law to explicitly prohibit denying or abridging any citizen's right to vote based on their sex. The bill adds a new section, 492c, to the Michigan Election Code to establish this specific protection. This provision directly affects all voters in the state by ensuring that gender cannot be used as a basis for restricting voting access.

Maddy summaryThis Michigan bill amends the state's vehicle code to clarify that traffic violations designated as civil infractions cannot be treated as lesser included offenses of criminal charges. It establishes specific fine ranges for various driving and vehicle equipment violations, including a new provision that requires courts to waive fines and costs if a driver cited for an illegible registration plate provides proof of having obtained and installed a compliant plate before their court date. The legislation also mandates a $40 justice system assessment for most civil infractions and allows judges to order additional educational or rehabilitation programs alongside monetary penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 6228 amends the Michigan Tax Increment Financing Act to exclude property taxes levied for history museum authorities from the pool of tax increment revenues that local development authorities can capture. This change directly affects downtown development, local development finance, and other TIF authorities by preventing them from using captured property value growth to fund projects in areas where a history museum authority has already established its own tax base. The bill applies this exclusion across multiple sections of the act governing different types of development zones, ensuring that these specific museum-related taxes are not diverted to other municipal economic development efforts.

Maddy summaryMichigan House Bill 6226 creates a new legal framework for counties to establish history museum authorities, which are public bodies designed to fund and support historical museums. These authorities can levy a property tax of up to 0.2 mills for a maximum period of ten years, but only if approved by a majority vote of county residents in an election held on or after January 1, 2027. The collected funds must be used exclusively to support history museum services provided by qualified nonprofit organizations and may also provide grants to local historical museums. If the tax is approved, the funding provider is required to offer free admission to the primary museum for county residents, along with specific programming for schools and senior citizens.

Maddy summaryHB 4824 updates Michigan's legal definition of "brand" within liquor regulations. This change directly affects liquor producers and sellers who market products under specific brand names, clarifying how brands are recognized under state law. The bill modifies Section 105 of the 1998 Liquor Code (MCL 436.1105) and adds a new Section 604 to establish clearer rules for brand identification. These changes aim to streamline compliance for businesses without altering existing licensing or sales requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5232 changes Michigan's military leave law to require local governments (cities, towns, counties) to provide paid leave for certain law enforcement and fire department employees who serve in active military duty. It mandates that local units of government must cover the pay difference between an employee's civilian salary and military pay during their leave, ensuring they don't lose income. The bill specifically adds mandatory paid leave for these public safety workers, while still allowing local governments flexibility to create similar programs for other employees. This amendment updates existing law (MCL 32.273a) to reflect new requirements for first responders.

Maddy summaryHB 5233, the "Military Leave for First Responders Act," requires fire departments and law enforcement agencies in Michigan to provide at least 26 days of paid leave annually for employees serving in military reserve components. It directly affects fire department and law enforcement agency members who are enlisted in reserve units, covering both active duty deployment and training. The law mandates employers pay these members their regular wage during leave and maintain all contractually required benefits. It also specifies advance notice requirements for leave requests (14 days for 10-20 days off, as soon as possible for longer periods) and includes a provision for paid leave to attend pre-induction military exams.

Maddy summaryHB 4042 exempts food vendors at temporary outdoor events like festivals, fairs, and community celebrations (e.g., chili cook-offs or cultural festivals) from standard food safety regulations that apply to permanent food service establishments. Specifically, it removes the requirement for these vendors to comply with the Michigan Food Code, food safety audits, and sanitation assessments during their temporary operations. This change directly affects food concession operators at events defined as "festivals" or "fairs" under the bill, including those held by local organizations or agricultural societies. The exemption applies only to the temporary nature of these events, not to permanent food service locations like restaurants or grocery stores. This is a technical amendment to existing law, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Michigan to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement among states to award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes nationwide. The legislation declares that the one-person, one-vote principle requires the candidate with the highest national total to become President and outlines how Michigan's chief election official would count votes and designate the winner once the compact is active. The agreement only takes effect when states participating in it collectively hold a majority of the Electoral College votes, ensuring the current system remains in place until that threshold is met. If the compact becomes active, Michigan's laws regarding elector appointment will follow the compact's rules rather than conflicting state statutes.