Sen. Jon Bumstead

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the memory of Joel Gougeon, a former Michigan State Senator who passed away, by formally recognizing his life and public service. The bill does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official tribute to Gougeon's career, military service, and community contributions. It directs copies of the resolution to the Gougeon family as a formal acknowledgment of his legacy. The measure was introduced by Senator Brinks and adopted by the full Senate membership.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates March 2026 as Agriculture Appreciation Month to recognize Michigan's significant agricultural contributions to the state's economy and workforce. The bill does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the industry's importance, noting that agriculture supports over 800,000 jobs and contributes more than $125 billion annually to Michigan. The resolution encourages citizens to celebrate the sector during March 2026, acknowledging the state's leadership in various agricultural products like tart cherries, blueberries, and hops.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that formally honors Bruce Patterson, a former Michigan state legislator who served in both the House of Representatives and Senate. It recognizes his public service career, which included leadership roles in committees on energy policy, environmental protection, and consumer rights, as well as his advocacy for nursing home care and water pollution control. The resolution expresses the Legislature's tribute to his memory and directs that copies be sent to his family.

Maddy summarySB 810 is a procedural bill that repeals 2025 PA 23, the "Comprehensive road funding tax act" (MCL 205.901-205.913). It directly affects the tax provisions previously established under that law, which would have imposed specific taxes to fund road maintenance. The bill does not create new taxes or policies but formally removes the existing tax framework. This repeal would eliminate the legal basis for those taxes if enacted. (2 sentences, as it is a procedural repeal bill.)

Maddy summarySB 773 adds Section 2940a to Michigan's Revised Judicature Act, providing legal immunity to racing facilities and racetracks from nuisance claims. It protects owners/operators from lawsuits by property owners who acquired land *after* the racetrack was built, regardless of later changes to the facility (as long as those changes are legal). The immunity applies to all claims filed after the law's effective date, even if the alleged harm occurred before the property was purchased. However, it does not exempt racetracks from compliance with environmental laws or health/safety regulations. This directly affects property owners near existing racetracks who bought land after the facility existed.

Maddy summarySB 513 amends Michigan's liquor law by changing the legal definition of "brand" under Section 105 of the 1998 Liquor Code (MCL 436.1105) and adds a new Section 604. This directly affects liquor businesses, distributors, and regulators by clarifying how "brand" is legally defined in licensing and regulatory contexts. The bill does not create new taxes or restrictions but adjusts terminology to align with current industry practices. It passed unanimously in the legislature on December 2, 2025, with no opposing votes. (Note: The bill is procedural, focusing solely on statutory definition, not new policy.)

Maddy summarySB 512 amends multiple sections of Michigan's liquor distribution laws (1998 PA 58), including provisions related to licensing, distribution channels, and retailer operations. It directly affects liquor distributors, retailers, and potentially consumers by modifying existing regulatory rules. The bill adds a new section (412) and updates specific sections (105, 303, 526, 607, 609b, 1025), though the context does not detail the exact policy changes. The bill passed the legislature on December 2, 2025, with 37 votes in favor.

Maddy summarySB 761 requires permits for large-scale water withdrawals in Michigan, affecting entities like municipalities, utilities, or industries planning new or expanded water use exceeding 1 million gallons per day (or 2 million gallons for certain systems). It mandates applicants to submit detailed plans, pay a $2,000 fee, and demonstrate compliance with conservation measures, watershed protection, and environmental impact standards before permits are granted. The bill includes a 45-day public comment period, a 120-day review timeline for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and conditions that water must be returned to its source watershed and cause no adverse resource impacts. This amendment updates Michigan’s water withdrawal rules under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, focusing on sustainable management of water resources.

Maddy summaryThis is a memorial resolution honoring Donald Koivisto, a former Michigan State Senator (1990-2002) and House Representative (1981-1986). The resolution expresses the legislature's tribute to his service, highlighting his dedication to the Upper Peninsula, farming community, and bipartisan collaboration. It was unanimously adopted by both chambers as a formal expression of respect for his legacy. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely commemorates his public service.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 358) amends Michigan's use tax distribution statute (MCL 205.111) to revise how tax revenue is allocated. It specifically changes the disposition of money collected from use taxes, though the exact distribution changes are not detailed in the provided context. The bill has progressed through committee stages with a substitute version (S-2) approved, moving toward third reading. As a procedural tax distribution amendment, it directly affects how state tax revenue is handled but does not specify new tax rates or new affected groups. The summary is limited by the lack of specific policy details in the provided context.