Sen. Thomas Albert

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring Nancy C. Cassis, a former Michigan legislator who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. It recognizes her career as a public servant and details her legislative achievements, including her work on tax policy and her receipt of various awards. The resolution formally expresses the legislature's condolences to her family and requests that copies of the document be sent to them as a tribute.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to Michigan public schools for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, specifically designating money for student mental health and school safety initiatives. The legislation allocates $25 million from the state school aid fund and $303 million from the general fund to districts and schools that opt in to these programs. These funds can be used to hire mental health staff, purchase safety infrastructure like cameras and door locks, provide threat assessment training, and implement technology platforms for crisis management and cyberbullying prevention. The bill also allows for emergency spending on immediate safety threats, subject to departmental approval, and requires that general fund allocations be spent before using money from the state school aid fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's hunting regulations to permit individuals to hunt antlered deer during the Liberty Hunt and Independence Hunt. It directly affects hunters who are eligible to participate in these specific events and hold a valid deer license. Under the new provision, anyone meeting these two requirements would be allowed to take antlered deer, whereas previous rules may have restricted this to antlerless deer only. The change is limited strictly to these two hunts and does not alter licensing requirements or eligibility criteria for participation.

Maddy summarySB 991 restores previous amendments to Michigan's minimum wage law that were previously repealed, reinstating specific wage schedules and overtime rules. The bill sets a new timeline for minimum wage increases, starting at $10.56 in 2024 and reaching $12.05 by 2030, with an additional annual adjustment based on inflation. A key provision allows these wage increases to be delayed if the state's unemployment rate is 8.5% or higher for the preceding year. Additionally, the legislation clarifies overtime requirements for employees in fire protection, law enforcement, and healthcare settings, while maintaining existing exemptions for certain job categories like executives and agricultural workers.

Maddy summarySB 992 amends Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act to restore specific provisions that were previously repealed, ensuring that employers with 50 or more employees must provide paid medical leave for personal health needs, domestic violence, and sexual assault. The bill redefines key terms such as "eligible employee" and "employer" to clarify who qualifies for these benefits and outlines strict rules against retaliating against workers who request or use this time off. By reinstating sections related to accrual, usage, and enforcement while removing others, the legislation aims to maintain consistent protections for workers across the state. This change directly impacts large businesses and their staff, requiring them to adhere to the restored standards for granting sick leave.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Michigan law enforcement agencies to establish programs that allow officers to assist federal immigration officials in enforcing immigration laws. To participate, agencies must sign an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security and designate officers for training to perform specific duties such as verifying the citizenship status of arrested individuals. The legislation also mandates that local jails transfer non-citizens who have been convicted of crimes or fined directly to federal custody after their state sentence is completed. Ultimately, the bill aims to integrate state and local police operations with federal immigration enforcement under a new "Jail Enforcement Model."

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state fund to support local law enforcement agencies in immigration enforcement activities. The fund, created within the state treasury, allows agencies to apply for grants to train officers and provide immigration assistance, with specific deadlines for applications and awards each year. Grant distribution prioritizes training a minimum number of officers per agency before considering additional funding based on the population served or offering small incentives to individual officers. The bill includes a provision stating it will only take effect if a companion bill, SB 968, is also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 27, 2024, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Michigan. The measure directly honors military service members, veterans, and first responders who face high risks of PTSI due to their dangerous work. It urges state agencies to continue educating the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of PTSI. The resolution also directs a copy of the text to the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the section of Michigan's Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act that established wind energy resource zones and related expedited siting procedures. By removing these provisions, the legislation effectively ends the special zoning exemptions and streamlined approval processes previously available for large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage facilities. The bill also amends the act's title and definitions but relies on a companion bill to take effect. Ultimately, this measure reverses specific policy changes that allowed for faster development of renewable energy projects by eliminating the designated wind zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's zoning enabling act to remove a specific provision that previously required local zoning ordinances to comply with Part 8 of the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act. By deleting this requirement, the legislation allows local governments to regulate land use for renewable energy projects without being bound by those specific state-level clean energy standards. The bill also includes other changes to zoning rules regarding oil and gas wells, mining operations, and the protection of renewable energy projects that received special approval after January 1, 2021. However, the entire measure is tied to another bill, SB 0898, meaning it will not take effect unless that companion legislation is also passed into law.