Sen. Kevin Hertel

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1136 amends state law to cap the amount public employers can spend on employee health insurance, introducing new fixed dollar limits for single, couple, and family coverage starting in 2027. The bill also reverses a previous provision that allowed employers to pay no more than 80% of total medical costs, instead mandating that they pay at least 80% of those expenses beginning in the same year. These new financial caps are adjusted annually based on changes in Michigan health insurance rates or a minimum 3% increase, whichever is higher. Existing collective bargaining agreements that conflict with these limits are exempt until their current terms expire or are renegotiated.

Maddy summarySB 1047 creates a new rate class for large energy users, specifically targeting data centers, to ensure they do not shift costs to residential and small business customers. The bill requires these facilities to sign long-term contracts with electric utilities that include a minimum monthly charge based on their potential usage, even if they consume less power. Additionally, the legislation mandates that large energy users pay for all costs they cause, such as new power lines and generation, and must provide collateral or a letter of credit to guarantee these payments. To further protect the grid, the bill also requires these facilities to participate in demand response programs, source 90% of their electricity from clean energy, and pay a significant application fee.

Maddy summarySB 1051 amends the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act to explicitly include the Data Center Community Benefit Act as a governing standard for local zoning ordinances, ensuring that zoning decisions for data centers must comply with community benefit requirements. The bill also clarifies that counties and townships cannot regulate the drilling or operation of oil and gas wells, while modifying rules for mining valuable natural resources by placing the initial burden of proof on those challenging a zoning decision. Additionally, it protects renewable energy projects that received special land use approval after January 1, 2021, from having their approvals revoked if substantial construction or specific financial expenditures have occurred. This legislation is tied to SB 1050, meaning it will only take effect if that companion bill is also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires data centers in Michigan to sign community benefit agreements before they can begin construction or operation. These agreements are legal contracts between the data center owner or operator and local governments or community stakeholders that mandate the provision of specific resources to benefit the local area. Local governments must review and approve these agreements within 90 days, and they can deny necessary permits if such an agreement has not been finalized. The legislation aims to ensure that data center projects provide tangible benefits to public health, safety, and general welfare in the communities where they are built.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's water laws to streamline the registration process for large-scale water withdrawals while introducing new requirements for water conservation and reporting. It primarily affects property owners, agricultural operators, and industrial facilities that plan to extract significant amounts of water, requiring them to register their intended capacity before beginning operations. The legislation mandates that the state develop and post generic water conservation measures for different sectors, with specific rules for agriculture and data centers, and requires facilities permitted under new provisions to submit annual reports on wastewater usage and pollutant levels. Additionally, the bill clarifies exemptions for smaller residential wells and test wells, while establishing a timeline for property owners to develop their water capacity after registration or face invalidation of their application.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in Michigan to include specific labor conditions in contracts for building or maintaining data centers. Under the new rules, these projects must use registered apprenticeship programs, pay workers at least the prevailing local wage and fringe benefit rates, and utilize project labor agreements or collective bargaining agreements. The legislation defines data centers as facilities housing equipment for data storage and processing and aims to ensure fair labor standards for construction work without speculating on future economic impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Data Center Nondisclosure Agreement Prohibition Act, prevents public employees and officers in Michigan from signing nondisclosure agreements related to data center projects. It defines a data center as a facility with significant power demand and restricts these officials from using confidentiality claims to hide information from the public. The law applies to agreements entered into, amended, or renewed after its effective date, though it allows exceptions for legally privileged information or settlement documents. Violations of this rule could result in a civil fine of up to $1,000, which can be pursued by county prosecutors or the attorney general.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1132 creates a dedicated Camp Grayling improvement fund within the state treasury to finance upgrades and maintenance for the military training facility. The fund is financed by collecting fees, rents, and other revenue generated from the operation or leasing of the base, as well as any gifts or grants specifically designated for its improvement. These funds may be used for capital projects, environmental remediation including PFAS cleanup, infrastructure upgrades, and support for local defense industries. To ensure transparency, the department of military and veterans affairs must submit an annual report to state legislators detailing all deposits, expenditures, and active projects, while retaining legal protections that classify these activities as governmental functions rather than commercial ones.

Maddy summarySB 301 establishes a corporate income tax credit for employers who offer paid leave to employees donating organs. Beginning in 2026, eligible employers can claim a credit equal to 100% of the wages paid to an employee during up to 12 weeks of organ donation leave. To qualify, this leave must be separate from other paid leave benefits and compensate the employee at their full normal wage. The credit is non-refundable but can be carried forward for up to three years to offset future tax liabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act (1982 PA 250) by modifying specific sections of the law. However, the provided context does not detail the specific changes made to sections 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, or 12, so the concrete policy modifications or who is directly affected cannot be described. The summary requires the actual text of the amendments to explain key mechanisms, which is not included in the given information. Without these details, a factual summary of what the bill does cannot be provided.