Sen. John Damoose

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Services within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The office would manage state funds and grants, track violence trends, and provide technical assistance to local nonprofit organizations working to reduce shootings and homicides. It would also set statewide goals for violence reduction, publish best practices, and coordinate all related prevention efforts across the state. The legislation does not take effect unless a companion bill, SB 1016, is also passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the definition of a homestead and adjusts how property tax credits are calculated for Michigan residents. It clarifies that unoccupied property leased to others is excluded from homestead status and sets specific acreage limits for agricultural land based on how long a claimant has lived there. Additionally, the legislation updates the rules for determining household resources by excluding certain business, rental, and operating losses from income calculations. These changes directly affect homeowners and renters who rely on property tax credits and aim to refine the criteria used to determine eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 1045 clarifies the definition of "owner" for Michigan's homestead property tax credit by explicitly including individuals who place their primary residence into a revocable trust or a qualified personal residence trust. This change ensures that people using these specific types of trusts to hold their homes can still qualify for the tax credit, which is designed to help offset property taxes for homeowners. The bill amends the state's income tax act to update this eligibility rule without altering other parts of the tax code or the credit amount itself.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 17, 2026, as Cherry Industry Day to honor Michigan's significant role in the national cherry industry. The measure highlights the state's status as the top cherry producer and celebrates the history and economic impact of the cherry harvest, particularly in the Grand Traverse region. By officially recognizing this date, the legislature aims to acknowledge the contributions of growers, processors, and merchants who support the local economy and promote cherries.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 909 modifies Michigan's Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act to clarify the rules for individuals seeking financial compensation after being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. The bill updates legal definitions for terms like 'new evidence' and 'plaintiff' while establishing specific requirements for filing a compensation claim, such as proving innocence through new evidence or a gubernatorial pardon. It also introduces a process to notify victims of the original crime about compensation applications and outlines how discovery and legal arguments will proceed during these cases.

Maddy summarySB 748 amends Michigan's Credit Reform Act to clarify that motor vehicle financing under the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act (MCL 492.101-492.137a) falls under the same consumer protection rules as other credit sales. It specifically updates Section 5 to allow precomputed interest for car loans (where interest is calculated upfront) if rebates for early payoff are calculated using the actuarial method. This directly affects car buyers, dealers, and lenders offering vehicle financing by standardizing how interest and rebates are handled. The bill aims to reduce confusion about consumer protections for auto loans without changing the underlying law.

Maddy summarySB 745 updates Michigan's Identity Theft Protection Act to explicitly include motor vehicle dealers and finance companies licensed under the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act as "financial institutions" under the law. This means these businesses will now be required to follow the same identity theft protections and breach notification rules as banks and credit unions when handling personal information. The bill does not change existing consumer protections but clarifies that auto finance businesses must comply with the same security standards as other financial entities. This ensures personal information from vehicle sales transactions receives consistent protection under the law.

Maddy summarySB 304 updates regulations for ferry services by amending two 1899 laws (sections in chapters IX and XVI of LA 437). It directly affects ferry operators and passengers by changing how ferry operations are governed. The bill requires voter approval via referendum before these regulatory changes take effect. This is a procedural update to existing law, not a new policy.

Maddy summarySB 986 amends Michigan's General Sales Tax Act to clarify how the 2% additional sales tax applies to residential utility bills for electricity, gas, and home heating fuels. The bill requires large utility providers with 100,000 or more customers to prorate usage calculations based on days after April 30, 1994, while smaller providers have the option to either prorate or apply the tax starting with the first bill covering usage after that date. This legislative change directly affects utility companies and their residential customers by standardizing the timing and calculation of sales tax on essential energy services. The amendment aims to ensure consistent application of the tax across different provider sizes while maintaining the exemption for residential use of these utilities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 987 amends Michigan's use tax law to maintain the exemption of electricity, natural gas, and home heating fuels from the additional 2% use tax for residential use. This change ensures that households continue to pay only the standard sales tax rate on these essential utilities rather than the higher rate. The bill directly affects Michigan residents by preserving the current tax treatment of residential energy consumption. Introduced by Senator Jonathan Lindsey on May 20, 2026, the legislation is currently under review by the Committee on Government Operations.