Rep. Kevin Coleman

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's sales tax law to change how a specific portion of sales tax revenue is distributed to the public safety and violence prevention fund. Starting in October 2023, the state will deposit 1.5% of the collections from the standard 4% sales tax into this new fund on a monthly basis. The legislation also outlines existing rules for distributing other sales tax revenues to schools, transportation projects, aviation, and health initiatives. By specifying these allocation percentages and timelines, the bill ensures that designated funds are collected and transferred to their intended programs without altering the overall tax rate.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's drainage laws to increase the annual spending limits for inspecting and repairing county and intercounty drains. It allows officials to spend up to $10,000 per mile of drain each year without needing a special vote from local governments, with this amount automatically adjusted annually for inflation. If repair costs exceed this limit, the bill requires approval from the affected local townships or cities before additional funds can be used. The legislation also clarifies how surplus funds are managed and ensures that property owners are notified before assessments are levied for major repairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new legal framework for history museum authorities in Michigan, specifically allowing counties to create these public corporate bodies to support historical museums located in cities with populations over 500,000. The legislation outlines the procedures for forming an authority, including the requirement for a majority vote by county commissioners and public notice, while defining the board's composition and powers to enter into contracts and manage operations. A key provision grants these authorities the ability to levy a property tax of up to 0.4 mill for a maximum of 20 years, but only if approved by a majority of voters in the county. The funds raised through this tax must be used exclusively to support nonprofit entities that provide services to the designated history museums, and the bill also mandates that board meetings be open to the public and records be accessible.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund in Michigan to manage money from specific sources, including sales tax revenues and donations. The fund will distribute money to cities, villages, and townships to support public safety initiatives, with a portion of the funds going to a grant program for community violence intervention and another part to a crime victim's rights fund. A key provision ties future funding to crime reduction goals, where local governments that fail to meet specific violent crime decrease targets will see their distributions reduced. The state treasurer is responsible for managing the fund and ensuring that unspent money at the end of each fiscal year remains available for future distribution rather than being returned to the general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases disposal fees for nonhazardous solid waste and coal ash in Michigan landfills, with higher rates for general waste and lower rates for specific industrial byproducts. Landfill owners and operators must collect these new surcharges from waste generators and pay them quarterly to the state, while captive facilities face fixed annual fees based on their waste volume. The collected funds are distributed among several state accounts, including a new host communities grant fund that provides direct financial support to the cities and townships where these landfills are located. Additionally, the bill establishes a mechanism to adjust these fees every five years based on inflation to maintain their real value over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's Drain Code to streamline the process for changing drainage district boundaries after a county or intercounty drain has been built. It allows landowners, groups of freeholders, or municipalities to petition the drain commissioner to add or remove counties from a district if such changes are needed for public health or welfare. Upon receiving a petition, the drain commissioner must notify relevant officials and convene a drainage board meeting where affected parties can present evidence before a decision is made. If the board approves the change, it determines how construction costs are shared among the counties involved and issues an official order to adjust the district lines. The legislation also clarifies the roles of surveyors and engineers in reviewing boundaries and revising them to include all lands that benefit from the drain.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's recreational trespassing law to clarify when property owners can legally restrict access for activities like hiking, hunting, and trapping. It establishes that entry is prohibited on fenced, enclosed, or posted properties, while maintaining that farm properties and connected wooded areas are always restricted regardless of signage. The legislation also preserves specific exceptions, such as allowing fishermen to cross banks to avoid hazards and permitting individuals to enter to retrieve a lost hunting dog. By defining these rules and the requirements for posting signs, the bill aims to provide clearer guidance on the responsibilities of property owners and the rights of recreational users.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's probate laws to improve how courts handle guardianships and conservatorships for individuals who cannot manage their own affairs. It introduces a new process allowing judges to appoint a temporary guardian for up to six months when immediate action is needed to protect a person's welfare, even if formal notice to all interested parties has not yet been given. The legislation also clarifies the procedures for removing or replacing conservators and allows interested parties to request specific court orders, such as requiring financial reports or adjusting bond amounts. These changes are designed to streamline oversight and ensure quicker responses to situations where a guardian or conservator is not effectively performing their duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's legal process for appointing guardians or conservators for individuals who may be incapacitated. It requires courts to inform petitioners about less restrictive alternatives before filing and mandates the appointment of a legal representative for the individual unless they already have one. The legislation also establishes stricter rules for medical evaluations, ensuring that detailed reports on an individual's condition and capacity are shared with relevant parties while keeping the full report confidential from the public record. Additionally, the bill guarantees the right to an independent medical evaluation and outlines specific content requirements for professional assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities to clarify how long certain property interests within trusts can remain unvested. It specifically adjusts the rules for trusts created before the current law, determining when these interests are considered to have started for legal timing purposes. The legislation also explicitly excludes various non-donative transfers, such as divorce settlements and premarital agreements, from these new timing calculations. Additionally, it modifies the time limit for specific powers under the Personal Property Trust Perpetuities Act, extending the review period from 90 years to 360 years for certain second-tier powers. These changes directly affect estate planners, trustees, and beneficiaries by altering how long property can be held in trust without being distributed to heirs.