Sen. Ed McBroom

Maddy summarySB 527 updates Michigan's foreclosure process to allow virtual public sales of mortgaged property. It requires that if a foreclosure sale is held online, the party conducting the sale must post details on the county’s website and use other methods to notify the public. This directly affects homeowners facing foreclosure, mortgage lenders, and county officials managing sales, ensuring broader public awareness of virtual auctions. The bill adds specific language to notice requirements (under Sec. 3212) to clarify online sale procedures and maintain transparency. It does not change the core foreclosure process but modernizes how sales are advertised and conducted.

Maddy summarySB 105 requires health plans and nonprofit dental corporations providing dental benefits to offer payment methods that deliver 100% of the payable amount to dentists without charging the dentist a fee to access payment (excluding fees from the dentist's financial institution). Dentists who choose to opt out of a payment method must maintain that choice until they opt back in or sign a new contract. This bill directly affects dentists and dental benefit providers in Michigan, applying to policies delivered, issued, or renewed after the law's effective date. It mandates specific reimbursement structures to reduce financial barriers for dental providers.

Maddy summarySB 456 amends Michigan's "Mozelle senior or vulnerable adult medical alert act" to require law enforcement agencies to activate a text-message alert system for missing seniors or vulnerable adults. After filing a report under Section 3, agencies must notify the State Police to trigger a system that sends location-specific alerts via wireless devices through the existing emergency alert network. This directly affects vulnerable individuals and their families by enabling rapid public notification through texts, broadcasters, and newspapers. The bill mandates that alerts include descriptions and relevant details to aid in locating missing persons, while ensuring the system operates only after a completed report and per State Police policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan state law to require the Department of Treasury to pay interest on tax refunds that are delayed beyond specific timeframes. It directly affects taxpayers who have filed complete and timely income tax returns and are awaiting refunds. Under the new rules, refunds for Michigan income taxes will automatically earn interest if they are not processed within 30 or 60 days of the department receiving the return, depending on when the return was filed. The bill also establishes a penalty of $100 for refunds delayed more than 90 days and sets a fixed 3% annual interest rate for a temporary period before switching to a variable rate tied to the prime rate. These provisions apply only to straightforward refunds without errors, audits, or suspected fraud, ensuring the state compensates citizens for administrative delays.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 78 revises the procedures and eligibility requirements for setting aside, or expunging, certain criminal convictions in Michigan. The bill defines how multiple, contemporaneous offenses can be treated as a single conviction for expungement, with exclusions for specific serious crimes. It also adjusts which types of convictions are ineligible for expungement, creating an exception for first-time operating while intoxicated offenses under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill modifies the required waiting periods for applying to set aside convictions, ranging from 3 to 7 years, and requires applicants to have no pending charges or new convictions during these periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution honoring the life and public service of R. Robert Geake, a former Michigan legislator who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The text details his extensive career, including his legislative work on committees focused on education, mental health, and children's welfare, as well as his later roles as an investigator and chair of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman and the Legislative Retirement System Board. The resolution formally expresses the Legislature's tribute to his dedication and instructs that copies of the document be sent to his family.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric and natural gas utilities in Michigan to annually report specific financial details to the Public Service Commission. The report must include contributions made to political action committees, political parties, and lobbying organizations, as well as any donations to specific tax-exempt groups. Utilities must also disclose spending by their parent companies or affiliates and make these reports publicly available on the commission's website. The legislation aims to increase transparency regarding how utility companies spend money on political and advocacy activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's skilled trades regulation act to create a preliminary determination process for individuals with criminal convictions who are seeking professional licenses. Under the new rules, applicants can submit a request to the department to get an early assessment of whether their past court judgments would likely lead to a license denial based on good moral character requirements. The department must provide this written decision within 60 days and cannot require the applicant to complete education or training before making this initial review. Additionally, the bill requires the department to publish an annual report detailing the number of license denials and the specific criminal offenses that led to those decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's Public Health Code to create a preliminary determination process for individuals seeking professional licensure or registration who have criminal court judgments. It allows applicants to request a written decision from the Department of Health and Human Services on whether their criminal history would likely result in a license denial based on good moral character requirements. The process requires applicants to submit a specific form, a nonrefundable fee, and details of their criminal proceedings, with the department required to provide a response within 60 days. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a negative preliminary determination does not bar a future license application and mandates that the department publish lists of disciplined individuals to inform the public and relevant agencies.