Sen. Mary Cavanagh

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1130 requires home insurance companies to offer a fortified roof endorsement to policyholders whose roofs need replacement due to covered damage. If an insured purchases this endorsement and later suffers roof damage from a tornado, hail, or other catastrophic windstorm, the insurer must cover the reasonable additional cost of upgrading the new roof to meet specific fortified standards for that geographic area. This requirement applies to homeowner policies issued or renewed after December 31, 2027, and insurers must submit their endorsement forms and rates for state approval by April 1, 2027. The bill defines "fortified" as a trademark owned by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety and only takes effect if two related House bills are also enacted.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1129 requires home insurance companies to offer premium discounts or other cost reductions to policyholders who build or retrofit their properties to meet specific fortified roof standards. To qualify for these savings, a property must be inspected and certified by an evaluator from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), and the homeowner must present this certification to their insurer. The bill applies only to insurance policies issued or renewed after December 31, 2027, and it does not prevent insurers from offering additional discounts under existing laws.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1128 establishes the "Strengthen MI Homes" program to provide grants for retrofitting owner-occupied, single-family homes to meet fortified roof standards that resist weather-related perils such as tornadoes and hail. To qualify, homeowners must have a homestead exemption, obtain an evaluation from a certified inspector, and hire a licensed contractor who meets specific insurance and training requirements. The bill creates the Strengthen MI Home Fund within the Department of Treasury to finance these grants and administrative costs, though the program only operates if the legislature appropriates sufficient funding. Grant payments are released directly to contractors only after a final inspection confirms the home meets the required safety standards, and participants must maintain active property insurance to receive benefits.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1138 significantly increases the dollar limits for property that debtors can protect from creditors during federal bankruptcy proceedings. The bill raises specific exemption caps, such as increasing the homestead exemption to $125,000 for most individuals and $200,000 for those who are disabled or over age 65, while also boosting limits for household goods, motor vehicles, and business tools. Additionally, it expands protections for retirement accounts by clarifying that IRAs and qualified pension plans are generally exempt, with specific exclusions for recent contributions or amounts subject to court orders for child support and divorce. The legislation establishes a mechanism for the state treasurer to adjust these dollar amounts every three years based on consumer price and home value indices to keep pace with inflation.

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 summaryThis bill prohibits insurance companies in Michigan from using price optimization techniques when setting rates. It defines price optimization as adjusting premiums based on factors unrelated to risk, such as a customer's willingness to pay or their likelihood of switching providers. The law also bans insurers from penalizing customers for shopping around, canceling policies early, or complaining about their coverage. By outlawing these practices, the bill aims to ensure that insurance rates are determined solely by the risk of loss or expense rather than a consumer's financial behavior.

Maddy summarySB 373 prohibits landlords from charging tenants extra fees for using specific payment methods (like credit cards or checks) in rental agreements. It requires leases to include at least one payment option without additional charges. The bill directly affects tenants by preventing unfair fees and landlords by restricting lease terms. Key provisions ban clauses that waive tenant rights related to security deposits, habitability, or discrimination, and require written notice for certain rent increases. This amendment to Michigan's Truth in Renting Act (MCL 554.633) focuses on making rental agreements fairer through concrete, enforceable limits on fees and unfair terms.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1126 prohibits limited liability companies that own 100 or more single-family homes in the state from leasing those properties to residential tenants. The bill defines a single-family home broadly to include detached houses, semidetached structures, and units within buildings where all units are owned by one person or each unit is individually owned, such as condominiums. Any company that violates this restriction faces a civil fine of up to $100,000, which must be deposited into the state's community housing stability fund. The bill takes effect only if its companion measure, Senate Bill 1127, is also enacted into law.

Maddy summaryMichigan's SB 1127 creates the Community Housing Stability Fund within the state housing development authority, primarily funded by fines collected from business corporations and limited liability companies. The fund is dedicated to developing and coordinating resources to meet the housing needs of low-income, very low-income, and extremely low-income households. Key provisions require a biennial allocation plan that distributes money based on regional poverty levels, mandates that at least 30% of funds target extremely low-income groups including those experiencing homelessness, and requires assisted projects to set aside at least 20% of units for households earning no more than 60% of the area median income. The authority must hold public hearings before finalizing allocation plans and submit an annual report to the governor and legislature detailing expenditures and outcomes.

Maddy summaryMichigan Senate Bill 1125 prohibits private equity firms from leasing single-family homes to residential tenants if they own five or more such properties within a single municipality or ten or more across the state. The bill defines a private equity firm as a corporation that pools capital from investors and manages real estate assets for profit, while broadly defining single-family homes to include detached houses, semidetached buildings, and units in multi-unit structures like duplexes or condominiums. Violations of this leasing restriction are subject to civil fines of up to $100,000, which can be pursued by county prosecutors or the state attorney general. Any collected fines must be deposited into a community housing stability fund, and the bill only takes effect if its companion measure, Senate Bill 1127, is also enacted into law.