Posted on 12/09/2012 5:00:49 AM PST by cripplecreek
Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 58 to 52 in the House To prohibit employers from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. The bill also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof." All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Reps. Forlini, Goike, Horn, McBroom, Somerville and Zorn.
, Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate The Senate vote on the same "right-to-work" measure described above. All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Sens. Casperson, Green, Nofs and Rocca.
, Extend "right-to-work" to government and school employees: Passed 22 to 4 in the Senate To prohibit Michigan governments and schools from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.
, Subsidize new Red Wings Stadium: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate To allow property tax revenue "captured" by the Detroit "Downtown Development Authority" to pay the debt on money borrowed to provide taxpayer subsidies for a particular developer's new sports stadium and associated projects (Mike Ilitch). The bill would also exempt DDAs from property and other taxes, and revise details of public officials' appointments to DDA boards.
, Create Detroit streetlight authority: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate To authorize a Detroit streetlight authority with the power to borrow money to restore the city's streetlights, 70 percent of which are reportedly out. The bill requires passage of House Bill 5705, which would let Detroit earmark current utility tax revenue to pay off the new debt, and Senate Bill 970, which would suspend a required city income tax reduction until the new debt is paid off. It also allows Detroit's city unions to bargain for the unionization of the authority's employees.
, Create Detroit regional mass transit authority: Passed 57 to 50 in the House To create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers, the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit.
, Authorize Detroit regional transit vehicle registration tax: Passed 57 to 50 in the House To give the regional transit authority proposed by Senate Bill 909 (above) the power to impose a higher vehicle registration tax in the region to pay for buses and other public transportation. A vote of the people would be required, but if approved region-wide the tax would still be imposed on individual communities that vote against it (no local "opt-out").
, Ban abortion coverage from "Obamacare“ exchange: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate To prohibit health insurance acquired (and subsidized) through an “exchange” created under the federal health care law from including coverage for elective abortion.
, Give county officials power to halt recall as "non-factual": Passed 65 to 43 in the House To require county election commissions to determine whether the reasons for a recall petition are stated both "factually and clearly." Under current law, they must simply determine whether the recall language is clear. Note: This may violate Article 8, Section 8 of Michigan's constitution, which asserts that recallers don't have to justify their reasons, but only make them clear.
, Require parental permission to place student with "ineffective" teacher: Passed 60 to 49 in the House To require a public school district to get the written consent of a parent or guardian before placing a child in a classroom with a teacher who is rated “ineffective” under a new state rating system.
Authorize “essential services” tax on industrial plants: Passed 57 to 52 in the House To give local governments the power to impose targeted property taxes on industrial and commercial property deemed by the bill to be “especially benefited” by fire, police and ambulance services. This would replace some of the revenue from proposed reductions in the property tax imposed on business tools and equipment ("personal property tax").
, Repeal BCBS tax exemption, regulate like other insurers: Passed 61 to 49 in the House To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into a “nonprofit mutual insurance company” (technically "owned" by the policy holders), make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes.
, Give special treatment to firms submitting to “environmental leader” process: Passed 65 to 43 in the House To give certain businesses special treatment in awarding state contracts, eligibility for government subsidies, environmental permit and inspection mandates, and more, if the firm submits itself to a government “environmental leader” designation process. This would require a company to demonstrate that it has no outstanding permit violations or serious past ones, adopt certain practices not required by law, submit to certain additional reporting mandates, participate in “workshops,” etc.
House Joint Resolution K: Repeal constitutional prohibition on graduated state income tax
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on March 12, 2015, to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment to repeal an existing prohibition on imposing a graduated income tax (as opposed to Michigan’s current flat tax). House Bill 4341 would impose rates of between 3 percent and 10 percent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168900
House Joint Resolution J: Establish five year sunset on administrative rules
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R) on March 5, 2015, to place a five year sunset on any new rules or regulations imposed by a state department under the administrative law power delegated to it by the legislature. At the end of five years the rule would remain in effect only if a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in both the House and Senate agreed to the extension.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168846
Senate Bill 203: Authorize local adult foster care facility restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on March 12, 2015, to permit local governments to use zoning ordinances to prohibit an adult foster care facility in an area if it is within 1,500 feet of another adult foster care facility. This amends a law establishing that these facilities are to be considered a regular residence for zoning purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168912
Senate Bill 204: Criminalize state employees removing state markings from a state vehicle
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on March 12, 2015, to make it a crime subject to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for a state employee to remove or conceal a distinctive registration plate or other external marking that clearly identifies a vehicle as state owned, with exceptions for valid investigation purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168913
Senate Bill 205: Revise candidate name on ballot detail
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on March 12, 2015, to permit candidates to specify that a “recognized diminutive” for his or her surname (last name) appear on the ballot. Current law permits this for a first or middle name.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168914
Senate Bill 206: Revise NTRC state land acquisition details
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on March 12, 2015, to revise various rules and restrictions on spending money in the state Natural Resources Trust Fund, to which royalty money earned on state land oil and gas leases is earmarked, and which may be used to buy more state land or on recreation projects. Among other things the bill would prohibit the Department of Natural Resources from from restricting access to land acquired with NRTF money, or buying land with money from any source unless it is first denied NRTF funding. It would also allow land to be purchased in a way that removes use restrictions; require at least 25 percent of the money available for land purchases be used for trails; and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168916
Senate Bill 207: Revise drunk driver roadside sobriety test detail
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on March 12, 2015, to replace the term “preliminary roadside analysis” in the state’s law against driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol with the term “preliminary chemical breath analysis”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168917
House Bill 4339: Repeal pistol purchase permit requirement
Introduced by Rep. Todd Courser (R) on March 12, 2015, to repeal the law that prohibits purchasing a pistol from an individual unless a person gets a “purchase permit” from local police. A 2012 law repealed this requirement for pistols bought from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168901
House Bill 4340: Repeal pistol purchase permit requirement
Introduced by Rep. Todd Courser (R) on March 12, 2015, to revise sentencing guidelines to reflect the changes in pistol purchase procedures proposed in House Bill 4339.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168902
House Bill 4341: Impose graduated income tax
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on March 12, 2015, to impose a graduated income tax ranging from 3 percent on the first $20,000 of income ($40,000 for a joint return) to 10 percent on annual income above $1 million. This is linked to House Joint Resolution K, which would repeal Michigan’s constitutional prohibition on imposing a graduated state income tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168903
House Bill 4342: End daylight savings time
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on March 12, 2015, to no longer participate in daylight savings time in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168904
House Bill 4343: Authorize fines for not “registering” an auto repair shop
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on March 12, 2015, to authorize fines of to $5,000 and $7,500 for subsequent violations of failing to “register” a motor vehicle repair facility.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168905
House Bill 4344: Authorize fines for not “registering” an auto repair shop
Introduced by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R) on March 12, 2015, to revise many details and definitions in a law that imposes a “registration” mandate on motor vehicle repair facilities. House Bill 4343 would authorize fines for failing to register a facility.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168906
House Bill 4345: Ban personal care product “microbeads”
Introduced by Rep. Rick Outman (R) on March 12, 2015, to prohibit the manufacture and sale in Michigan of personal care products containing plastic particles. This refers to “micro beads” in some brands of toothpaste and facial or body washes, which reportedly accumulate in the Great Lakes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168907
House Bill 4075: Cap fees for electronic copy of electronic county documents
Passed 104 to 4 in the House on March 17, 2015, to cap the fees county treasurers can charge to furnish requested transcripts and records in electronic form when these are already stored in electronic form, at 25 cents per page and a maximum of $1,500 per request.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709331
Senate Bill 84: Authorize “Choose Life” license plate
The amendment failed 11 to 26 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to also require the Secretary of State to develop a “Planned Parenthood” fundraising license plate, and add any profits to the amounts spent under a federal “Maternal and Child Health Block Grant,” which pays for government programs to reduce unintended pregnancies, reduce child obesity, reduce sexually transmitted diseases and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709467
Senate Bill 84: Authorize “Choose Life” license plate
The amendment failed 11 to 26 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to not give any profits from the license plate sales to organizations and projects that promote alternatives to abortion, and instead spend it on “health care services to women and practical support to pregnant women”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709468
Senate Bill 84: Authorize “Choose Life” license plate
The amendment failed 11 to 26 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to use the profits from the proposed plate for programs that reduce infant mortality instead of organizations that promote alternatives to abortion.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709469
Senate Bill 84: Authorize “Choose Life” license plate
Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to require the Secretary of State to develop a “Choose Life” license plate, with fees collected from its sale given to organizations and projects that promote alternatives to abortion.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709470
Senate Bill 160: Revise Detroit debt-financed spending detail
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to revise details of a 2011 law that expanded allowable debt-financed deficit spending by Detroit, to clarify a provision allowing some city revenue to held in trust for certain creditors. Specifically, it strengthen the legal claims of certain lenders on future city revenue.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709462
Senate Bill 161: Impose licensure mandate on security guards and businesses
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to impose a licensure mandate on security guards and security guard agencies, and revise many details of a comprehensive regulatory regime that already covers these individuals and companies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709463
Senate Bill 162: Revise regulation of security guard businesses
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to revise many details of a comprehensive regulatory regime for security guards and agencies, and transfer the statutory authority for these regulations from a Private Security Business and Security Alarm Act to the state Occupational Code.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709464
Senate Bill 163: Revise regulation of security guard businesses
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to revise a law imposing registration requirements on security alarm providers so it conforms with the proposal in Senate Bill 162 to revise the statutory authority for licensure and regulation of private security guard and security alarm businesses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709465
Senate Bill 164: Revise security guard company licensure fees
Passed 29 to 8 in the Senate on March 18, 2015, to establish license fees for security guard agencies or branch offices. See also Senate Bill 162.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709466
House Bill 4038: Allow eviction notices by email
Passed 85 to 24 in the House on March 18, 2015, to allow landlords to send eviction notices by email, if the lease provides for this. Sending these notices is just the first step in the eviction process.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709399
House Bill 4188: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Passed 65 to 44 in the House on March 18, 2015, to specify in statute that a “child placing agency” (private adoption agency or foster care service) is not required to assist or participate in an adoption or placement that violates its written religious or moral convictions, including adoptions of a child by a homosexual. Also, to prohibit a state agency from discriminating or taking an “adverse action” against an adoption agency for this reason.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709394
House Bill 4189: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Passed 65 to 44 in the House on March 18, 2015, to specify in statute that a “child placing agency” (private adoption or foster care agency) is not required to assist or participate in an adoption or placement that violates its written religious or moral convictions, including adoptions of a child by a homosexual. Also, to prohibit a state agency from discriminating or taking an “adverse action” against an agency for this reason.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709396
House Bill 4190: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Passed 65 to 44 in the House on March 18, 2015, to prohibit a state agency from discriminating or taking an “adverse action” against an adoption agency that refuses to assist or participate in an adoption or placement that violates its written religious or moral convictions. Specifically, to establish that an adoption agency that adopts this written policy is still eligible for required state licenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709398
House Bill 4289: Revise government pension system detail
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 18, 2015, to update some terms and references in the law requiring large municipal pension systems (namely Detroit) to have an investment committee that recommends asset allocations and actuarial assumptions.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709400
Senate Bill 24: Authorize homestead tax exemption for inherited house
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 19, 2015, to establish if a person dies and leaves his or her principal residence to a child, the heir may retain the homestead property tax exemption for up to two years as long as it is vacant and not leased or used for a business operation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709532
Senate Bill 42: Revise commercial drivers license detail
Passed 105 to 2 in the House on March 19, 2015, to revise various details in the state law prescribing commercial drivers license standards, procedures and penalties. Among the provisions are prohibitions against fraudulent license and permit testing and fraudulently obtaining a commercial driver license. The bill also modifies details of the graduated drivers license system for new non-commercial drivers, which would apply to traffic violations before a person gets a regular license. Finally, it reduces the Secretary of State’s discretion to not issue an offensive “vanity” license plate, which comes in response to a recent free speech lawsuit.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709478
Senate Bill 100: Revise property tax appeal details
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on March 19, 2015, to repeal a law making prepayment of a disputed tax levy, plus penalties and interest, a prerequisite for protesting the validity of a tax levy to the state Court of Claims. Also, to extend from 35 days to 60 days the deadline for a taxpayer to appeal a levy to the state Tax Tribunal.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709533
Senate Bill 106: Extend charity sales tax exemption to veterans groups
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 19, 2015, to greatly expand for nonprofit veterans organizations a sales tax exemption allowing charitable entities to sell up to $5,000 in merchandise annually for fundraising purposes. Under the bill, veterans organizations could sell up to $25,000 in goods at each individual fund-raising event they hold before incurring sales tax liability, if the sales benefit an active duty service member or a veteran.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709535
Senate Bill 139: Authorize fundraising “bake sales” in schools
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on March 19, 2015, to require the Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) to “take all steps necessary to ensure maximum state and local control” over school lunch nutrition mandates. Also, to limit to three per week the number of school day fundraising sales of food or beverages that do not meet mandated school lunch nutritional standards. The bill was introduced in response to federal and MDOE restrictions and bans on the sales.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709536
Senate Bill 208: Mandate expulsion of students who make teacher death threats
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on March 17, 2015, to mandate the expulsion of a public school student who threatens the life of a school employee, contractor or volunteer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168940
Senate Bill 209: Encourage teaching America’s founding documents
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on March 17, 2015, to add language to the state school code stating that public school boards are “encouraged” to provide instruction on the “core principles” of America’s foundational documents and governmental system.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168941
Senate Bill 210: Establish annual “Patriot Week”
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on March 17, 2015, to designate the week starting on September 11 each year as “Patriot Week”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168942
Senate Bill 211: Authorize uncensored public school American heritage instruction
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on March 17, 2015, to require public school boards to “permit” instruction and reading of “America’s founding documents” including those related to the country’s “representative form of limited government, the Bill of Rights, our free-market economic system, and patriotism.” School districts would be prohibited from censoring or restraining reading that includes “religious references in original source documents, writings, speeches, proclamations, or records”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168943
Senate Bill 212: Impose licensure on genetic counselors
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on March 17, 2015, to impose licensure, fees, certification through a nationally recognized certifying agency, and more on “genetic counselors” as they are defined in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168944
Senate Bill 213: Repeal duplicative worker injury notification requirement
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on March 17, 2015, to repeal a requirement in state law that employers notify regulators within eight hours of a fatality, or any hospitalization of three or more employees suffering injury from the same accident or illness from exposure to the same employment-related health hazard. The bill asserts that employers would still be subject to an identical federal requirement.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168945
Senate Bill 214: Require insurers offer abortion coverage option with federal health care law
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on March 17, 2015, to require (rather than just allow) health insurance companies to offer an optional abortion coverage “rider” for policies sold in Michigan through the federal health care law’s “exchange.” Under “Initiated legislation” enacted in 2013, insurers are prohibited from including abortion coverage in policies sold through the exchange, but may sell a policy “rider” for this, for which individuals must pay themselves with no federal subsidy.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168946
Senate Bill 215: Repeal ban on Detroit imposing employee residency mandate
Introduced by Sen. Morris Hood, III (D) on March 17, 2015, to exclude Detroit from the state law that prohibits local governments from imposing employee residency mandates. Under current law, a city can still prohibit employees from living more than 20 miles away.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168947
Senate Bill 216: Revise GED high school equivalency test nomenclature
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on March 18, 2015, to change the term “General Educational Development” test (GED) in the school aid act with the term “high school equivalency test,” and define it as the “GED test developed by the GED testing service, the test assessing secondary completion (TASC) developed by CTB/McGraw-Hill, the HISET test developed by the education Testing Service (ETS), or another comparable test” approved by the state Department of Education.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168957
Senate Bill 217: Revise forest property tax break references
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on March 18, 2015, to revise references in the property tax law to reflect changes made by a 2013 law in forest property tax breaks.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168958
Senate Bill 218: Provide insurance to fallen public safety dependents
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on March 18, 2015, to require the state to provide the spouse and dependents of a firefighter, law enforcement officer or emergency first responder who dies in the line of duty with health insurance comparable to and on similar terms as the coverage the decedent received from any source at the time of his or her death. This would end when these individuals get comparable coverage from another source.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168959
Senate Bill 219: Revise animal abuser ownership ban
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on March 18, 2015, to revise a law that prohibits an individual convicted of animal abuse from owning a similar animal for five years after being sentenced, to instead extend the ban to five years after completing the sentence, or whichever is later.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168960
Senate Bill 220: Waive fee for pet adoption criminal background check
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on March 18, 2015, to allow animal shelters to access a government “internet criminal history access tool” (ICHAT) at no charge for purposes of checking whether an individual who wants to adopt an animal has been convicted of an animal abuse offense.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168961
Senate Bill 221: Authorize multi-state distance learning compact
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on March 18, 2015, to authorize the state Department of Education to enter a multistate higher education compact, or enter “reciprocal agreements with public educational agencies in other states” that have the same purpose, which is essentially to hold institutions that provide distance learning courses accountable for basic contractual obligations to students, and provide an administrative process to enforce these obligations. Colleges and universities that want to be “authorized” under this arrangement would have to pay annual fees of $2,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168962
Senate Bill 222: Establish “Blue Star Mothers” recognition day
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on March 18, 2015, to establish as a matter of law that February 2 of each year shall be known in Michigan as “Blue Star Mothers Day”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168963
Senate Bill 223: Authorize “Women’s Health” license plate
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on March 19, 2015, to require the Secretary of State to develop a “Women’s Health” license plate, with fees collected from its sale added to amounts spent under a federal “Maternal and Child Health Block Grant,” which pays for government programs to reduce unintended pregnancies, reduce child obesity, reduce sexually transmitted diseases and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168982
Senate Bill 224: Impose lobbying moratorium on former lawmakers
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on March 19, 2015, to impose a two-year moratorium on lobbying by a former member of the Michigan House or Senate, or a former governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and Secretary of State. A one-year moratorium would apply to former state department heads.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168983
House Bill 4346: Channel some state road money to Wayne County townships
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on March 17, 2015, to revise the state road funding formula so it allows two or more Wayne County townships that create a roadwork “alliance” to get state road tax dollars directly, with the amount they get deducted from the amount that otherwise flows through the county.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168933
House Bill 4347: Establish “Blue Star Mothers” recognition day
Introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R) on March 17, 2015, to establish as a matter of law that February 2 of each year shall be known in Michigan as “Blue Star Mothers Day”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168934
House Bill 4348: Authorize Girl Scouts specialty plate
Introduced by Rep. Pam Faris (D) on March 17, 2015, to authorize a specialty license plate honoring the Girl Scouts of America, with the premium revenue going to that organization.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168935
House Bill 4349: Revise adult foster care detail
Introduced by Rep. Henry Yanez (D) on March 17, 2015, to slightly expand the definition of “adult foster care” eligible for various government subsidies so it includes facilities that provide “one or more elements” of adult foster care.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168936
House Bill 4350: Require candidate personal finance disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D) on March 17, 2015, to require candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state senator, state representative, state Board of Education, elected state and university board members, current state office holders, certain executive branch officials, and local offices that pay more than 1.5 the median state per capita income, to file detailed personal financial disclosure statements.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168937
House Bill 4351: Impose lobbying moratorium on former lawmakers
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on March 17, 2015, to impose a two-year moratorium on lobbying by a former member of the Michigan House or Senate, or a former governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state. A one-year moratorium would apply to former state department heads.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168938
House Bill 4352: Restrict state contractor political contributions
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on March 17, 2015, to prohibit giving a state contract worth more than $100,000 to a vendor who has given a gift or made a campaign contribution of $100 or more to an elected state office holder in the past 12 months.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168939
House Bill 4353: Mandate pet adoption criminal background check
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on March 18, 2015, to mandate that animal shelters must check a government criminal records database before letting person adopt an animal, and prohibit adoptions if the records show a person committed an animal cruelty offense in the past five years. See also Senate Bill 220.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168948
House Bill 4354: Revise insurance company trade secret detail
Introduced by Rep. Michael Webber (R) on March 18, 2015, to allow insurance companies or rating organizations filing on the insurer’s behalf to designate certain information in filings they are required to make with the state as a trade secret. If the state insurance commissioner agrees the information is proprietary then it would not be subject to open records law disclosure.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168949
House Bill 4355: Mandate pet adoption criminal background check
Introduced by Rep. Paul Muxlow (R) on March 18, 2015, to mandate that animal shelters must check a government criminal records database before letting person adopt an animal. See also Senate Bill 220.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168950
House Bill 4356: Revise intoxicated driving law medical marijuana threshold
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on March 18, 2015, to create an exception to the law that makes a person who drives with “any amount of a controlled substance” (illegal drugs) in their system liable for drunk or drugged driving sanctions, so that it would not apply to an individual authorized to use medical marijuana who has “less than 5 nanograms of tetrahydrocannabinol per one milliliter of blood”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168951
House Bill 4357: Revise intoxicated driving law medical marijuana threshold
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on March 18, 2015, to create an exception to the law that makes a person who drives with “any amount of a controlled substance” (illegal drugs) in their system liable for drunk or drugged driving sanctions, so that it would not apply to an individual authorized to use medical marijuana who has “less than 5 nanograms of tetrahydrocannabinol per one milliliter of blood”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168952
House Bill 4358: Revise disabled veteran hunting license detail
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on March 19, 2015, to revise references in the law that authorizes free or discounted hunting licenses for disabled veterans.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168967
House Bill 4359: Require state agencies disclose non-rule rulemaking actions
Introduced by Rep. Ken Goike (R) on March 19, 2015, to require state agencies to create and create and maintain an index of all of their regulatory actions that do not fall under the formal rulemaking processes of the state Administrative Procedures Act, including: guidelines; forms with instructions; interpretive statements; informational pamphlets; intergovernmental, interagency, or intra-agency memoranda, directives, or communications; operational memoranda; bulletins; and directional or instructional documents that are sent or distributed outside of the agency. Rules or regulations formally imposed by a state department under the administrative law power delegated to it by the legislature have the force of law, even though they were not explicitly approved by an elective body.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168968
House Bill 4360: Authorize “Women’s Health” license plate
Introduced by Rep. Pam Faris (D) on March 19, 2015, to require the Secretary of State to develop a “Woman’s Health” license plate, with fees collected from its sale added to the amounts spent under a federal “Maternal and Child Health Block Grant,” which pays for government programs to reduce unintended pregnancies, reduce child obesity, reduce sexually transmitted diseases and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168969
House Bill 4361: Require conviction for alleged drug crime property forfeiture
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on March 19, 2015, to revise the law that authorizes forfeiture of property seized in connection with an alleged illegal drug crime, so it would prohibit forfeitures unless the owner is actually convicted. Property that that cannot be lawfully possessed or is dangerous to public health or safety could still be taken. Also, to establish that a law enforcement or other official who “negotiates for forfeiture in violation” of the proposed conviction requirement is guilty of misfeasance in office. The definition of property subject to forfeiture under this law is extremely broad.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168970
House Bill 4362: Revise workers comp insurance detail
Introduced by Rep. Jason Sheppard (R) on March 19, 2015, to establish that employers in a workers compensation self-insurance group possess a proportional share of the group’s assets that exceed its self-insurer group obligations, and require these groups to establish processes and procedures to distribute the excess, with state approval.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168971
House Bill 4363: Increase mechanical contractor license fees
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on March 19, 2015, to make permanent certain “temporary” license fee increases on mechanical contractors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168972
House Bill 4364: Increase plumbers license fees
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on March 19, 2015, to make permanent certain “temporary” license fee increases on plumbers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168973
House Bill 4365: Cap certain previously authorized corporate subsidies or tax breaks
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R) on March 19, 2015, to reduce from $600 million to $450 million the total amount of subsidies or tax breaks that may be delivered to firms who made deals with the state guaranteeing them a certain return on investments in “early stage ventures” under a 2003 law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=168974
Senate Bill 53: Revise “gun free zone” CPL exception
Passed 73 to 37 in the House on March 25, 2015, to revise the “gun free zone” provision of the concealed pistol permit law to exempt retired federal law enforcement officers who carried a firearm during their employment. This provision prohibits regular citizens who have received a permit after meeting the background check and training requirements from carrying a pistol in schools, day care facilities, sports stadiums or arenas, bars, bar/restaurants, places of worship, college dorms and classrooms, hospitals, casinos, large entertainment facilities and courts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709778
Senate Bill 54: Ban using a drone to interfere with hunters
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 25, 2015, to prohibit using an aerial drone to interfere with or harass a person who is hunting. This would expand an existing law that bans interfering with or harassing hunters.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709776
Senate Bill 55: Ban hunting with a drone
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 25, 2015, to prohibit using an aerial drone to take game.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709777
Senate Bill 85: Extend preemption of local gun control to air guns
Passed 29 to 8 in the Senate on March 25, 2015, to revise the state law preempting restrictive local gun control ordinances so it applies to “pneumatic” guns, defined as ones that shoot “a BB or pellet by spring, gas, or air.” Locals could adopt restrictions on possession of these by minors, prohibit “brandishing” them to induce fear, or shooting in a heavily populated area.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709939
Senate Bill 173: Revise procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
The amendment failed 10 to 27 in the Senate on March 25, 2015, to appropriate $1 million to pay for a school spending study that was included as part of the deal to place a $2 billion tax increase measure on the May 5, 2015 ballot.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709935
Senate Bill 173: Revise procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Passed 29 to 8 in the Senate on March 25, 2015, to appropriate $725,000 to pay off the remaining operating debt of Buena Vista school district in Saginaw County, which was dissolved in 2012 after becoming so fiscally unviable it could no longer educate students. Also, to revise school aid payments to the three school districts that absorbed Buena Vista’s students and facilities.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709937
House Bill 4015: Repeal ticket scalping ban
Passed 70 to 40 in the House on March 25, 2015, to repeal a state law that bans ticket “scalping” at sports and entertainment events, or selling tickets at a higher price through some service or agency.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709780
House Bill 4051: Require certain low income housing tax disclosures
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 25, 2015, to allow the Department of Treasury to disclose the address and millage rate of each housing unit that is part of part of a tax-exempt housing project, and whether the units are instead subject to a “service charge” in lieu of regular property taxes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709934
House Bill 4054: Expand mobile home court regulation
Passed 106 to 3 in the House on March 24, 2015, to impose new licensure conditions mobile home parks; require the state “Manufactured Housing Commission” to notify local governments of any complaints from residents; impose a performance bond mandate on owners of a mobile home park owners deemed “in distress” for health and safety reasons; authorize placing a court-ordered lien on a park if conditions threaten residents’ health and safety; increase health and safety fines from $10,000 to $50,000; and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709639
House Bill 4295: Revise firearms definition
Passed 90 to 20 in the House on March 25, 2015, to revise criminal sentencing guidelines so they conform with the proposal in House Bill 4155 to redefine “firearm” in the state penal code so it longer applies to BB, pellet, paint ball or “air-soft” guns.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=709782
Senate Bill 9: Restrict child custody changes for active military member
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2015, to revise a 2005 law prohibiting a court from changing an established child custody or parenting time order of a parent has been called to active duty in the military (unless it is the best interest of the child), so as to also allow the military parent to get a stay until he or she has returned from duty at any stage before final judgment in the proceedings.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710124
Senate Bill 18: Clarify ownership for some Calhoun County landholders
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on March 26, 2015, to require the state to take actions that remove questions about the title to land held “under color of title” by a number of citizens of Clarence Township in Calhoun County, and convey clean titles to these owners.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710001
Senate Bill 19: Clarify ownership for some Calhoun County landholders
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on March 26, 2015, to establish that the property conveyances that would result from the proposal in Senate Bill 18 would not be subject to the Proposal A taxable value “bump up,” wherein the new basis for property tax assessments becomes the property’s state equalized value (market value) rather than its capped “taxable value”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710002
Senate Bill 56: Raise and index judges’ compensation
Passed 33 to 3 in the Senate on March 26, 2015, to increase judges’ salaries around $12,000, and index them going forward to increases in the salaries paid to unionized state “civil service” employees. After they change salaries would range from around $150,000 to $163,000 depending on which level of court.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710127
Senate Bill 195: Revise pharmacy licensure detail
Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on March 26, 2015, to repeal a licensure mandate requirement that an applicant for a new pharmacy, drug manufacturer or wholesale distributor license who is not a licensed health care professional licensed must submit fingerprints.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710128
House Bill 4017: Provide liability waiver for food donations
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on March 26, 2015, to establish that a food retailer, food service provider, processor, farm, etc., who donates food to a nonprofit charity, and the charity itself, are immune from civil damages or criminal liability resulting from the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the food unless they knew or had reasonable grounds to know the food was adulterated or not fit for human consumption..
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710004
House Bill 4041: Ban welfare for persistent truancy
Passed 74 to 36 in the House on March 26, 2015, to withhold welfare benefits from a household with children who are persistently truant from school. A truant child age 16 and above could be removed from the household.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710003
House Bill 4060: Require certain state university admissions practices
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 26, 2015, to require state universities to inform applicants that they may receive credit for college-level training and education received in the military, and require them to accept a “joint services transcript” prepared under “American Council on Education Registry of Credit” recommendations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710006
House Bill 4119: Revise wage garnishment procedures
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2015, to revise the law that authorizes a court-ordered garnishment of an individual’s wages, by establishing notice requirements and procedures for when an employer who is supposed to withhold wages fails to do so. The bill also increases the fee a creditor must pay to the employer.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710125
House Bill 4119: Revise wage garnishment procedures
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on February 19, 2015, to revise the law that authorizes a court-ordered garnishment of an individual’s wages, by establishing notice requirements and procedures for when an employer who is supposed to withhold wages fails to do so. The bill also increases the fee a creditor must pay to the employer.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=705958
House Bill 4120: Revise wage garnishment procedures
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2015, to revise the law that authorizes a court-ordered garnishment of an individual’s wages, by establishing notice requirements and procedures for when an employer who is supposed to withhold wages fails to do so.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710126
House Bill 4134: Establish that military experience meets boiler installer licensure requirements
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on March 26, 2015, to establish that having recent and relevant military training and experience meets the criteria for obtaining the state license mandated to earn a living as a boiler installer, boiler repairer or boiler special inspector.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710005
House Bill 4193: Allow electronic “proof of insurance”
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on March 26, 2015, to revise the state’s no-fault insurance law to allow “proof of insurance” documents motorists are required to have when driving to be an electronic communication from the insurance company visible on a mobile device. If asked a driver could be required to forward the information to a designated site.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710007
House Bill 4224: Repeal an out of state insurance company fee
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on March 26, 2015, to repeal a $25 fee that out of state insurance companies doing business in Michigan must submit with an annual report they are required to file with the state.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=710008
House Bill 4366: Authorize Pontiac schools property transfer
Introduced by Rep. Tim Greimel (D) on March 24, 2015, to authorize the reversion back to the state of certain Pontiac school district property that was formerly owned by the state and is no longer needed by the school district.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169003
House Bill 4367: Authorize local firework regulation preemption exceptions
Introduced by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R) on March 24, 2015, to create exceptions to the law prohibiting local governments from banning consumer fireworks use on or near “national holidays.” Among other things the bill would allow locals to regulate use through zoning ordinances.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169004
House Bill 4368: Require state give locals chance to buy surplus snow equipment
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on March 24, 2015, to require the state Department of Transportation give local governments the right of first refusal when it chooses to sell or dispose of surplus snow removal equipment.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169005
House Bill 4369: Revise school aid “pupil count” detail
Introduced by Rep. Phil Potvin (R) on March 24, 2015, to revise a detail of the procedure by which a school district can collect state aid for a special education student who had been expelled on the “pupil count day” on which overall state school aid payments for the district are determined, but who then returns to school.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169006
House Bill 4370: Exempt certain pension income from state income tax
Introduced by Rep. Holly Hughes (R) on March 24, 2015, to repeal the provision of Gov. Rick Snyder’s tax reform and business tax cut that partially eliminated some of the state income tax exemptions for pension income, and capped the value of income tax credits granted for payment of “homestead” property tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169007
House Bill 4371: Ban counting religious holiday absences in student’s record
Introduced by Rep. Christine Greig (D) on March 24, 2015, to prohibit public schools from counting religious holiday absences against a student’s attendance record if the school provides any special recognition for this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169008
House Bill 4372: Sales tax exemption for car parts recycling deposit
Introduced by Rep. Erika Geiss (D) on March 24, 2015, to not charge sales tax on a recycling fee, deposit, or disposal charge included in the purchase price of an automobile battery or part.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169009
House Bill 4373: Mandate charter cyberschools publically post all instructional materials
Introduced by Rep. Erika Geiss (D) on March 24, 2015, to require an online charter “cyber school” to post on its website all the instructional materials it and its students use, and also require the state Department of Education to post this on its website.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169010
House Bill 4374: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on March 24, 2015, to amend the state marriage statute so as to reflect the proposal in House Joint Resolution L to repeal Section 25 of the Michigan constitution, which bans recognizing same sex marriage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169011
House Bill 4375: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced by Rep. Adam Zemke (D) on March 24, 2015, to repeal a law that prohibits recognizing same sex marriages performed in another state. The bill would only go into effect if House Joint Resolution L is adopted, which would repeal the ban on recognizing same sex marriages performed in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169012
House Bill 4376: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D) on March 24, 2015, to amend a law that authorizes secret marriages if a judge determines there is good reason, so as to reflect the proposal in House Joint Resolution L to repeal Section 25 of the Michigan constitution, which bans recognizing same sex marriage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169013
House Bill 4377: Regulate non-husband-and-wife state income tax joint filing
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on March 24, 2015, to establish that individuals who file a joint federal income tax return must also file a joint state income tax return, even if they are not husband and wife.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169014
House Bill 4378: Ease certain lawsuits against the state restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Triston Cole (R) on March 24, 2015, to remove certain restrictions on a person who successfully sues the state collecting “costs and fees” in addition to any court-ordered damage awards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169015
House Bill 4379: Ease certain lawsuits against the state restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on March 24, 2015, to remove certain restrictions on a person who successfully sues the state collecting “costs and fees” in addition to any court-ordered damage awards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169016
House Bill 4380: Eliminate straight ticket ballot option
Introduced by Rep. Todd Courser (R) on March 24, 2015, to eliminate the straight party ticket option from election ballots.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169017
House Bill 4381: Increase licensure fees
Introduced by Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R) on March 24, 2015, to increase license fees imposed on a range of businesses and occupations in which licensure mandates are imposed as a condition of earning a living. Technically, this and a number of related bills repeal the sunsets of previously enacted “temporary” fee increase laws.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169018
House Bill 4382: Increase licensure fees
Introduced by Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R) on March 24, 2015, to increase license fees imposed on electricians and electrical contractors. Technically, this and related bills eliminate the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases, making them permanent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169019
House Bill 4383: Increase licensure fees
Introduced by Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R) on March 24, 2015, to increase annual building inspector registration fees. Technically, this and related bills eliminate the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases, making them permanent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169020
House Bill 4384: Increase business fees
Introduced by Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R) on March 24, 2015, to increase the fees imposed on limited liability corporation annual statements of resident agents. Technically, this and related bills eliminate the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases, making them permanent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169021
House Bill 4385: Eliminate February election date
Introduced by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R) on March 24, 2015, to revise details of the state election law to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4273 to eliminate the February election date established by a 2003 election consolidation law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169022
House Bill 4386: Put MCCA under FOIA and OMA
Introduced by Rep. Henry Yanez (D) on March 24, 2015, to make the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) subject to the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act, which otherwise apply to public bodies. Also, to require an annual audit of the MCCA, which is the private entity established to provide reinsurance to cover the liability of individual auto insurance companies to pay unlimited medical claims above $500,000 per incident, as required by the state no-fault auto insurance law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169023
House Bill 4387: Subject MCCA to OMA
Introduced by Rep. Henry Yanez (D) on March 24, 2015, to subject the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) to the state Open Meetings Act, which otherwise only applies to public bodies. MCCA is the private entity established to provide reinsurance to cover the liability of individual auto insurance companies to pay unlimited medical claims above around $500,000 per incident, as required by the state no-fault auto insurance law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169024
House Bill 4388: Authorize 5-mill “sinking fund” property tax
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on March 25, 2015, for school security and computers to allow school districts to use a “sinking fund” property tax to buy computer equipment, software and security equipment. Under current law schools may levy up to 5 mills for 20 years for a “sinking fund,” which is a permanent fund that may only be used only for the purchase of land, or construction and (major) repair of school buildings.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169048
House Bill 4389: Redesignate a road
Introduced by Rep. David Pagel (R) on March 25, 2015, to designate a segment of US 12 in Berrien County as the “ Trooper Steven B. Devries Memorial Highway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169049
House Bill 4390: Allow financial literacy as high school economics credit
Introduced by Rep. Jim Tedder (R) on March 25, 2015, to allow a financial literacy or “personal economics” course to be substituted for the one-half credit economics course required under state high school graduation standards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169050
House Bill 4391: Increase pesticide registration fees and conditions
Introduced by Rep. Dan Lauwers (R) on March 25, 2015, to increase a registration fee mandated for any pesticide used in this state, impose increased record keeping requirements on registrants, and require the company the files the application (a pest control service or pesticide maker) to continuously maintain a registered Michigan office and a resident agent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169051
House Bill 4392: Increase pesticide fees and conditions
Introduced by Rep. Dan Lauwers (R) on March 25, 2015, to increase pesticide applicator registration fees, impose increased record keeping requirements on registrants, and require the applicators headquartered in another state continuously maintain a registered Michigan office and a resident agent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169052
House Bill 4393: Require utilities notify landlord before tenant shutoff
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on March 25, 2015, to require utilities to notify landlords at least 14 days before shutting of the service of a tenant who hasn’t paid his or her bills.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169053
House Bill 4394: Let local school districts hire qualified teachers without state certification
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on March 25, 2015, to permit local school districts to hire a person as a teacher who has not gone through the official state teacher certification process but who is considered “appropriate and in the best interest” of the students due to “a combination of education and experience”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169054
House Bill 4395: Let local school districts hire qualified teachers without state certification
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on March 25, 2015, to permit local school districts to hire a person as a teacher who has not gone through the official state teacher certification process but who is considered “appropriate and in the best interest” of the students due to “a combination of education and experience”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169055
House Bill 4396: Repeal pre-Labor Day school start ban
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on March 25, 2015, to repeal a law that prohibits public schools from beginning their school year before Labor Day. Classes would still be prohibited on the Friday before Labor Day however.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169056
House Bill 4397: Increase business fees
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on March 25, 2015, to increase the fees imposed on business corporation annual report filings. Technically, this and related bills eliminate the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases, making them permanent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169057
House Bill 4398: Increase business and occupational licensure fees
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on March 25, 2015, to increase annual registration fees imposed on stock brokers and advisors. This is one a number of bills increasing fees on a wide range of businesses and occupations in which registration or licensure mandates are imposed as a condition of operating the firm or earning a living in the profession. The bills technically repeal the sunsets of previously enacted “temporary” fee increase laws.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169058
House Bill 4399: Increase business fees
Introduced by Rep. Leslie Love (D) on March 25, 2015, to increase the fees imposed on limited liability corporation annual statements of resident agents. Technically, this and related bills eliminate the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases, making them permanent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169059
House Bill 4400: Increase livestock dealer licensure fees
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) on March 25, 2015, to increase the license fees imposed on livestock dealers, truckers, brokers and agents as a condition of earning a living in this profession, and to revise various details in the licensure-related regulations. Technically, the bill repeals the sunsets of previously enacted “temporary” fee increase laws.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169060
House Bill 4401: Eliminate sunset on MMQAA health care provider tax
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on March 25, 2015, to eliminate the sunset on a “Michigan Medicaid Quality Assurance Assessment” (MMQAA) tax on health care facilities. This is a bed tax or fee on health care providers that is used to generate more federal Medicaid matching funds, resulting in a net gain for some but not all of the providers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169061
House Bill 4402: Create government task force to reduce government red tape
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on March 25, 2015, to appoint a task force of representatives from various interests and governmental institutions to review state reporting requirements for public, private and charter schools, and recommend which could be eliminated or streamlined.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169062
House Bill 4404: Revise government job training program detail
Introduced by Rep. Larry Inman (R) on March 26, 2015, to revise references in the state unemployment insurance law to reflect a recent executive order reorganizing government job training programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169083
House Bill 4405: Give tax break for hiring unemployed veteran
Introduced by Rep. Charles Smiley (D) on March 26, 2015, to authorize a business tax break of up to $4,000 for hiring a military veteran who has been unemployed for at least 60 days, with various exceptions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169084
House Bill 4406: Use tax records to establish jury pools
Introduced by Rep. Brain Banks (D) on March 26, 2015, to allow the Department of Treasury to deliver to counties the names and addresses of taxpayers in the county. House Bill 4407 requires counties to include registered voters and taxpayers in the jury pool and to provide for more geographic diversity in the pool.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169085
House Bill 4407: Use tax records to establish geographically proportionate jury pools
Introduced by Rep. Brain Banks (D) on March 26, 2015, to require the Department of Treasury to deliver to counties the names and addresses of income tax payers in the county. Jury boards would be required to order jury pools so that an proportionate number of residents of each community is represented in the pool (“geographical diversity”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169086
House Bill 4408: Impose continuing education mandate on veterinarians
Introduced by Rep. Kathy Crawford (R) on March 26, 2015, to impose a continuing education mandate on veterinarians as a condition of being allowed to practice their profession.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169087
House Bill 4409: Repeal welfare “extender” subsidy
Introduced by Rep. Earl Poleski (R) on March 26, 2015, to repeal a law that requires the state to send $10 per month for six months to former welfare recipients who leave the they no longer qualify on income grounds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169088
House Bill 4410: Accelerate vehicle trade-in “sales tax on the difference”
Introduced by Rep. Tim Greimel (D) on March 26, 2015, to accelerate the 24-year phase-in of a 2013 law that exempted from sales tax the value of a trade-in when buying a motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169089
House Bill 4411: Make domestic violence victims civil rights law “protected class”
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on March 26, 2015, to add domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking victimhood to the characteristics that define membership in a protected class against whom it is a crime to discriminate in matters of housing under the Michigan civil rights law. This would make it a civil rights violation to deny housing to a person who happens to be a victim of these crimes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169090
House Bill 4412: Give unemployment benefits for domestic violence absence
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on March 26, 2015, to allow unemployment insurance benefits for an individual who leaves a job due to domestic violence.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169091
House Bill 4413: Create domestic violence confidential address program
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on March 26, 2015, to establish an address confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence crimes, in which the state would give victims a “designated address” to which mail could be sent and forwarded. The person’s real address would be kept confidential and not be subject to disclosure under open records laws, and the person could also vote using the designated address.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169092
House Bill 4414: Mandate domestic violence sick leave
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on March 26, 2015, to mandate that an employer who grants employee sick leave must grant leave to an employee who has been the victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169093
House Bill 4415: Make Proposal 1 license plate tax hike federal tax deductible
Introduced by Rep. Tim Greimel (D) on March 26, 2015, to revise the legal basis of vehicle registration (license plate) taxes in a way that ensures Michigan residents who itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns may continue to deduct these taxes even if voters approve the May 5, 2015 Proposal 1 sales tax increase initiative, which would automatically trigger a vehicle registration tax increase. The bill that authorized the registration tax hike also revised the law in a way that could cancel the current federal income tax deductibility.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169094
House Bill 4416: Ban powdered alcohol
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on March 26, 2015, to ban the sale, use or possession of “powdered alcohol” in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169095
House Bill 4417: Authorize home accessibility improvements tax credit
Introduced by Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D) on March 26, 2015, to authorize an income tax credit up to $2,500 for modifications that make a home accessible for an individual with a disability if that person permanently resides with the taxpayer. The credit would be “refundable,” which means the state would send a check for the amount the credit exceeds the person tax liability for the year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169096
House Joint Resolution L: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced by Rep. Jeremy Moss (D) on March 24, 2015, to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment to repeal Section 25 of the Michigan constitution, which states, “To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169002
Senate Bill 225: Ban gun dealers keeping photos of buyers
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on March 24, 2015, to prohibit gun sellers and federally licensed firearms dealers from creating a visual image of an individual who purchases a firearm or ammunition, or linking such a visual image to a buyer’s records. The bill also clarifies inherited pistol transfer and ownership procedures and requirements.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169026
Senate Bill 226: Ban gun dealers keeping photos of buyers
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on March 24, 2015, to revise statutory references in the state’s sentencing guidelines to reflect the gun purchase provisions proposed by Senate Bill 225.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169027
Senate Bill 227: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced in the Senate on March 24, 2015, to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment to repeal Section 25 of the Michigan constitution, which states, “To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169028
Senate Bill 228: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on March 24, 2015, to amend the state marriage statute so as to reflect the proposal in Senate Joint Resolution I to repeal Section 25 of the Michigan constitution, which bans recognizing same sex marriages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169029
Senate Bill 229: Repeal same sex marriage ban
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith (D) on March 24, 2015, to amend a law that authorizes secret marriages if a judge determines there is good reason, so as to reflect the proposal in Senate Joint Resolution I to repeal Section 25 of the Michigan constitution, which bans recognizing same sex marriages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169030
Senate Bill 230: Restrict state contractor political contributions
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on March 24, 2015, to prohibit giving a state contract worth more than $100,000 to a vendor who has given a gift or made a campaign contribution of $100 or more to an elected state office holder in the past 12 months.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169031
Senate Bill 231: Ban selling “e-cigarettes” to minors
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on March 24, 2015, to ban selling or giving minors electronic vapor cigarettes, or any device that delivers nicotine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169032
Senate Bill 232: Revise vehicle trade in tax break detail
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on March 24, 2015, to revise the definition of new or used vehicle dealer in the Use Tax law so that it is the same as the definition in the vehicle code. This would reportedly affect a “sales tax on the difference” vehicle trade in tax break law if a vehicle is bought in another state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169035
Senate Bill 233: Revise vehicle trade in tax break detail
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on March 24, 2015, to revise the definition of new or used vehicle dealer in the sales tax law so that it is the same as the definition in the vehicle code. This would reportedly affect a “sales tax on the difference” vehicle trade in tax break law if a vehicle is bought in another state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169039
Senate Bill 234: Revise corporate income tax detail
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on March 24, 2015, to revise definitions and tax liability calculations for out of state financial institutions under the state corporate income tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169040
Senate Bill 235: Increase electric utility customer choice
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on March 25, 2015, to require regulated electric utilities to purchase power through a competitive bidding process, and increase the percentage of a utility’s customer base that that choose an alternative provider by an amount determined by a formula specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169072
Senate Bill 236: Reduce wastewater discharge permit fees
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on March 25, 2015, for commercial enterprises to reduce the wastewater discharge permit fees that some commercial facilities must pay.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169073
Senate Bill 237: Establish medical professional hazardous drug contact rules
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on March 25, 2015, to require the Department of Community Health to develop procedures and rules for health professionals exposed to antineoplastic (anti-cancer) or other hazardous drugs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169074
Senate Bill 238: Replace the term “cripple” in reckless boating injury law
Introduced by Sen. Morris Hood, III (D) on March 25, 2015, to replace the verb “cripple” with the phrase “cause serious impairment of bodily function” in the law that imposes sanctions for injuring a person through reckless operation of a watercraft.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169075
Senate Bill 239: Ban local restrictions on particular dog breeds
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on March 26, 2015, to prohibit local governments from enforcing an ordinance that imposes regulations or restrictions on dogs based solely on their breed or type (such as pit bulls).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169105
Senate Bill 240: Ban powdered alcohol
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on March 26, 2015, to ban the sale, use or possession of “powdered alcohol” in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169106
Senate Bill 241: Revise state competitive bidding criteria
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on March 26, 2015, to require state agency procurement contracts for goods or services worth $100,000 or more to use a “bid scorecard system” that assesses bids based on technical and critical performance requirements, cost evaluation and labor evaluation, with specified weightings for each factor.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169107
Senate Bill 242: Revise community rehabilitation state purchase detail
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on March 26, 2015, to add a seventh member, who must be a disabled veteran, to a government “committee on the purchase of goods and services from community rehabilitation organizations,” which is tasked with helping “establish and review fair market prices for goods and services to be purchased by the state from community rehabilitation organizations”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169108
Senate Bill 243: Prohibit working seven days a week for same employer
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on March 26, 2015, to mandate that employers must give employees “at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in every calendar week,” with some exceptions. The bill would also impose a related record-keeping mandate on employers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169109
Senate Bill 244: Increase fine for illegally shooting game animals
Introduced by Sen. Phil Pavlov (R) on March 26, 2015, to increase the amount of restitution a person must pay for illegally shooting certain game or protected animals. Among others the bill would impose a $5,000 fine for illegally killing an elk or moose.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169110
Senate Bill 246: Increase illegal game killing penalties
Introduced by Sen. Dale W. Zorn (R) on March 26, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased penalties proposed by Senate Bills 244 and 245 for illegally shooting, buying or selling certain game or protected animals.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169112
Senate Bill 247: Completely restore big utility monopolies
Introduced by Sen. Kenneth Horn (R) on March 26, 2015, to essentially eliminate the last remnants of a 2000 law that took away regional electric utility monopolies and authorized customer choice, a regime that was mostly eliminated by a 2008 law that essentially restored the monopolies by limiting customer choice to just 10 percent of the market. Existing customer contracts with competing electricity providers would be “grandfathered,” but no additional customers could get service from a competing provider, and a utility could refuse to sell power to the former customer of a competitor for up to five years if the customer did not immediately drop the competitor’s service.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169113
Senate Bill 248: Expand auto theft prevention authority duties
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on March 26, 2015, to expand the duties of a state automobile theft prevention authority to include insurance fraud related to unlimited medical benefits provided by Michigan’s no-fault law, overhaul its structure, and authorize $21 million in assessments (taxes) on insurers to pay for this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169114
Senate Bill 249: Change no fault insurance “coordination of benefits” reference
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on March 26, 2015, to revise reverences in the child support and parenting time law to reflect technical “coordination of benefits” and other changes in the state no fault auto insurance law proposed by Senate Bill 248.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169115
House Bill 4403: Remove licensure obstacles to “Remote Area Medical” type clinics
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on March 25, 2015, to allow medical professionals licensed in other states to practice at free “Remote Area Medical” type health care clinic event held in Michigan, of the type pioneered by Stan Brock.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169063
Senate Bill 160: Revise Detroit debt-financed spending detail
Passed 107 to 3 in the House on April 15, 2015, to revise details of a 2011 law that expanded allowable debt-financed deficit spending by Detroit, to clarify a provision allowing some city revenue to held in trust for certain creditors. Specifically, it strengthen the legal claims of certain lenders on future city revenue.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711487
Senate Bill 191: Expand retail fraud penalties
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on April 14, 2015, to include retail fraud and failing to appear in court among the violations for which a court may order a convicted person to reimburse the state or a local government for expenses they incur related to the incident, including transportation costs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711450
House Bill 4195: Repeal government “venture capital investment” program
Passed 107 to 3 in the House on April 15, 2015, to prohibit the state from pledging any more future tax revenue to guarantee investor returns under an “early stage venture capital investment” scheme authorized by a 2003 law. House Bill 4196 would move forward the expiration of this scheme from 2054 to 2030, and House Bill 4365 would lower the cap the on amount of future tax revenue the state could pledge to guarantee investor returns.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711483
House Bill 4196: Repeal government “venture capital investment” program
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on April 15, 2015, to move forward from 2054 to 2030 the expiration of a state “early stage venture capital investment corporation,” which pledges future tax revenue to guarantee investor returns on certain types of investments. See also House Bills 4195 and 4365.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711484
House Bill 4245: Revise building code officials registration detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on April 15, 2015, to establish that employment by a government building code enforcing agency is not required for “registration” as a building official, plan reviewer, or inspector.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711486
House Bill 4365: Cap certain previously authorized corporate subsidies or tax breaks
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on April 15, 2015, to reduce from $600 million to $450 million the total amount of subsidies or tax breaks that may be delivered to firms who made deals with the state guaranteeing them a certain return on investments in “early stage ventures” under a 2003 law. See also House Bills 4195 and 4196.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711485
Senate Bill 12: Allow pension double-dipping by “retired” Attorney General employees
Passed 82 to 28 in the House on April 16, 2015, to allow a retired state employee to simultaneously collect pension benefits and a paycheck for work performed as an Attorney General consultant or expert witness.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711907
Senate Bill 99: Rename a road
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to designate the I-94 business loop in Battle Creek as the “ Detective LaVern S. Brann Memorial Highway”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711981
Senate Bill 169: Authorize high school “STEM” diploma
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to require the state Department of Education to “issue and transmit” a high school diploma “endorsement” for a student who completes the science, technology, engineering, and math courses (STEM) specified in Senate Bill 170.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711973
Senate Bill 170: Authorize high school “STEM” diploma
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to authorize granting a high school diploma “endorsement” to a student who completes a specified number of science, technology, engineering, and math courses (STEM).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711974
Senate Bill 221: Authorize multi-state distance learning compact
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to authorize the state Department of Education to enter a multistate higher education compact, or enter “reciprocal agreements with public educational agencies in other states” that have the same purpose, which is essentially to hold institutions that provide distance learning courses accountable for basic contractual obligations to students, and provide an administrative process to enforce these obligations. Colleges and universities that want to be “authorized” under this arrangement would have to pay annual fees of $2,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711975
Senate Bill 232: Revise vehicle trade in tax break detail
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to revise a 2013 law that exempts from use tax the value of a trade-in when buying a motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle, so that it also applies to purchases made from out of state dealers. Under the 2013 law the tax exemption will supposedly be phased in over 24 years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711978
Senate Bill 233: Revise vehicle trade in tax break detail
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to revise a 2013 law that exempts from sales tax the value of a trade-in when buying a motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle, so that it also applies to purchases made from out of state dealers. Under the 2013 law the tax exemption will supposedly be phased in over 24 years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711980
Senate Bill 248: Expand auto theft prevention authority duties
The amendment failed 15 to 23 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to make the MCCA and its successor organization subject to the state’s open records law. The Senate-passed version of the bill does subject the successor organization to this law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712002
Senate Bill 248: Expand auto theft prevention authority duties
Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to replace the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) with a new state authority that would provide reinsurance to individual auto insurance companies for personal injury claim amounts that exceed above $545,000 per incident. The MCCA is a private entity created by the original no-fault law, which also mandated that all drivers have unlimited personal injury protection coverage (PIP). The bill would place some price controls on medical services and attendant care provided to injured individuals under this PIP, with monthly copays on the latter. It would also expand the duties of a state automobile theft prevention authority to include insurance fraud related PIP benefits, paid for by $21 million in assessments (taxes) on insurers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712000
Senate Bill 249: Change no fault insurance “coordination of benefits” reference
Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate on April 16, 2015, to revise reverences in the child support and parenting time law to reflect technical “coordination of benefits” and other changes in the state no fault auto insurance law proposed by Senate Bill 248.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712011
House Bill 4271: Eliminate February election date
Passed 93 to 17 in the House on April 16, 2015, to revise details of the state election law to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4273 to eliminate the February election date authorized by a 2003 election consolidation law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711908
House Bill 4272: Eliminate February election date
Passed 93 to 17 in the House on April 16, 2015, to revise details of the state election law to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4273 to eliminate the February election date authorized by a 2003 election consolidation law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711909
House Bill 4273: Eliminate February election date
Passed 93 to 17 in the House on April 16, 2015, to eliminate the February election date authorized by a 2003 election consolidation law, which required all regular elections in the state to be held on either the last Tuesday in February, or the Tuesday after the first Monday in either May, August, or November.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711910
House Bill 4274: Eliminate February election date
Passed 93 to 17 in the House on April 16, 2015, to revise details of the state election law to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4273 to eliminate the February election date authorized by a 2003 election consolidation law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711911
House Bill 4276: to revise details of the state election law
Passed 93 to 17 in the House on April 16, 2015, to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4273 to eliminate the February election date authorized by a 2003 election consolidation law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711912
House Bill 4385: Eliminate February election date
Passed 94 to 16 in the House on April 16, 2015, to revise details of the state election law to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4273 to eliminate the February election date established by a 2003 election consolidation law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=711913
House Bill 4418: Authorize truck weight limit exceptions for maple sap haulers
Introduced by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R) on April 14, 2015, to include maple syrup sap in the definition of agricultural products hauled by a truck that may exceed axle-weight limits by 10 percent when being moved from the field to storage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169227
House Bill 4419: Repeal mandatory minimum sentence for firearms felonies
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 14, 2015, to repeal a law that mandates a minimum sentence of two years in prison for a felony firearms conviction, with no chance for parole or probation.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169228
House Bill 4420: Repeal mandatory minimum sentence for firearms felonies
Introduced by Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D) on April 14, 2015, to revise the state sentencing guidelines to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4419 to repeal a mandatory two year sentence for firearms felony convictions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169229
House Bill 4421: Revise nonprofit sales tax exemption
Introduced by Rep. Phil Potvin (R) on April 14, 2015, to exempt from sales tax up to $10,000 in aggregate annual retail sales made by a nonprofit organization, rather than $5,000 under current law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169230
House Bill 4422: Authorize Woodward streetcar property owner subsidies
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on April 14, 2015, to authorize “business improvement district” subsidies financed by a tax increment financing scheme for property owners near a proposed Woodward Avenue streetcar line in Detroit. Tax increment financing authorities collect the extra local property tax revenue that (hopefully) results from property value increases generated by their selective subsidies and projects and use this money to repay the debt they incur on projects and providing subsidies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169231
House Bill 4423: Increase speed limits, streamline related rules
Introduced by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R) on April 14, 2015, to increase speed limits on rural freeways to 80 mph (70 mph for trucks). General speed limits on other roads would be 70 mph on urban freeways, 65 mph on state “trunkline” highways, 60 mph on county roads, and 55 mph on unpaved roads except in Oakland and Wayne Counties, where they would be 45 mph. The speed limit on subdivision streets would remain at 25 mph. The bill would revise and simplify various other regulations related to speed limits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169232
House Bill 4424: Increase speed limits, streamline related rules
Introduced by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R) on April 14, 2015, to simplify and streamline details of the law that authorizes lower school speed limits during school hours. This is part of a speed limit revision package consisting of House Bills 4423 to 4427.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169233
House Bill 4425: Increase speed limits, streamline related rules
Introduced by Rep. Rick Outman (R) on April 14, 2015, to revise the process for establishing local speed limits that vary from ones prescribed by state law. Variances would have to based on either the number of points of entry to a road (driveways) or a traffic study that determines the speed at or below which 85 percent of vehicles travel. This is part of a speed limit revision package consisting of House Bills 4423 to 4427.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169234
House Bill 4426: Increase speed limits, streamline related rules
Introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D) on April 14, 2015, to eliminate extra drivers license “points” imposed for exceeding speed limits in highway work zone. This is part of a speed limit revision package consisting of House Bills 4423 to 4427.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169235
House Bill 4427: Increase speed limits, streamline related rules
Introduced by Rep. Charles Smiley (D) on April 14, 2015, to prohibit auto insurance companies from increasing premiums for exceeding the speed limit by 5 mph or less.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169236
House Bill 4428: Require biannual government union recertification
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on April 14, 2015, to require government employee unions to be recertified by a majority of the employees in a workplace bargaining unit at least once every two years, as determined by a vote with a secret ballot.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169237
House Bill 4429: Exempt schools from “prevailing wage”
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on April 14, 2015, to exempt school construction projects from the state “prevailing wage” law, which prohibits awarding contracts to contractors who submit the lowest bid unless the contractor pays “prevailing wages,” which are based on union pay scale reports in a particular geographic region.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169238
House Bill 4430: Exempt schools from “prevailing wage”
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on April 14, 2015, to exempt public school, community college and state university construction or repair projects from the state “prevailing wage” law, which prohibits awarding contracts to firms that submit the lowest bid unless the contractor pays “prevailing wages,” which are based on reported union pay scales in a region.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169239
House Bill 4431: Ban selling “e-cigarettes” to minors
Introduced by Rep. Rick Outman (R) on April 14, 2015, to ban selling or giving minors electronic vapor cigarettes, or any device that delivers nicotine, and mandate that liquid nicotine containers to be sold in child-resistant containers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169240
House Bill 4432: Ban “two for one” or “all you can drink” sales at bars
Introduced by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R) on April 14, 2015, to prohibit bars and restaurants from offering “all you can drink” for a fixed price or “two for the price of one” promotions and sales. This would not be prohibited at a private function (such as a “kegger”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169241
House Bill 4433: Let multistate lottery winner remain anonymous
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on April 14, 2015, to allow the winner of a multistate lottery game to remain anonymous.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169242
House Bill 4434: Exempt Kent County from higher foster care payment share
Introduced by Rep. Earl Poleski (R) on April 14, 2015, to extend indefinitely for Kent County only a 2013 law that requires the Department of Human Services to pay all of a $3 per day per child per day rate increase for private providers of foster care services, rather than half the amount.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169205
House Bill 4435: Mandate restaurant allergy notices
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on April 14, 2015, to require restaurants to post a notice that is visible to the public and says, “Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169243
House Bill 4436: Revise drivers license suspension appeal detail
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on April 14, 2015, to allow a court to order restricted driving privileges for a person appealing a license suspension. Under current law a court may only review the record in such an appeal, and may not allow a (less stringent) drivers license restriction.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169244
House Bill 4437: Allow pharmacists to interchange “biologicals”
Introduced by Rep. Ken Yonker (R) on April 14, 2015, to allow pharmacists to interchange FDA-designated interchangeable biological drug products for prescribed drugs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169245
House Bill 4438: Authorize “epi-pens” in restaurants, camps, arenas and more
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 14, 2015, to expand to restaurants, recreation camps, youth sports leagues, amusement parks, sports arenas and other “authorized facilities” at which allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present, a law that allows physicians to prescribe epinephrine auto injectors to schools to keep in their facilities. This law also waives the legal liability of an authorized employee or agent of the facility who has specified training and who provides or administers the drug to a person he or she believes in good faith to be experiencing anaphylaxis, except for gross negligence.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169246
House Bill 4439: Extend sunset on scrap tire vehicle title tax
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on April 14, 2015, to extend from Dec. 31, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2019, the $1.50 tire disposal surcharge fee that is tacked on to vehicle title fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169206
House Bill 4440: Shift road tax money from certain subsidies
Introduced by Rep. Edward Canfield (R) on April 14, 2015, to road projects to not earmark $12 million in annual road tax money to the state “Transportation Economic Development Fund” in fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, 2016, and instead use it for regular road building and repair projects. TEDF money is essentially a form of corporate subsidy in which the state pays for transportation infrastructure projects related to a particular investor’s or developer’s new plant or project.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169207
House Bill 4441: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Brett Roberts (R) on April 14, 2015, to extend the sunset on water pollution discharge fees imposed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) until Oct. 1, 2019.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169208
House Bill 4442: Extend part time independent student scholarships
Introduced by Rep. Paul Muxlow (R) on April 14, 2015, to remove various restrictions from a state scholarship program for part-time independent students (ones who are not a “dependent” of their parents).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169247
House Bill 4443: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Aaron Miller (R) on April 14, 2015, to extend for another four years (though September of 2019) a $30 State Police fee for taking fingerprints and completing a criminal record check for employment-related or licensing-related purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169209
House Bill 4444: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R) on April 14, 2015, to increase the per-bed license fee for a psychiatric hospital unit and eliminate a $5,000 cap on these fees. Also to revise this licensure statute to reflect various changes in the practice of psychiatry, and to extend the minimum time between state inspections of these facilities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169248
House Bill 4445: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on April 14, 2015, to extend various license fees charged by the Secretary of State, and the amounts the department charges for commercial look-up services, registration services, and bulk record sales.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169210
House Bill 4446: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on April 14, 2015, to extend various license fees charged by the Secretary of State, and the amounts the department charges for commercial look-up services, registration services, and bulk record sales.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169211
House Bill 4447: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on April 14, 2015, to increase the license fees for hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other health care facilities. Also, to extend a “Michigan Medicaid Quality Assurance Assessment” (MMQAA) tax on nursing homes for another four years, which is a bed tax used to “game” the federal Medicaid matching funds formula to generate more federal money for Michigan’s medical welfare programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169249
House Bill 4448: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on April 15, 2015, to extend for another four years permit and application fees charged by the Department of Environmental Quality for shoreline and waterway infrastructure and construction projects, including marina projects, seawalls, jetties, docks, wharves, stream enclosures, golf courses, waterfront subdivisions, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169212
House Bill 4449
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on April 15, 2015, to extend and increase air pollution discharge permit fees imposed on industrial facilities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169213
House Bill 4450: Extend legal liability to martial arts contest doctors
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 15, 2015, to extend liability from lawsuits to doctors and emergency medical technicians who give emergency treatment to a contestant in a boxing and mixed martial arts contest, except for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169214
House Bill 4451: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) on April 15, 2015, to increase license fees imposed on manufacturers and distributors of commercial animal feed, revise inspection procedures and make other changes to this regulatory regime.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169215
House Bill 4452: Expand senior citizen eligibility for homestead property tax credit
Introduced by Rep. Christine Greig (D) on April 15, 2015, to reverse the senior citizen portion of a provision of Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2011 tax reform and business tax cut that limited eligibility for an income tax credit against property taxes imposed on a person’s primary residence.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169216
House Bill 4453: Create income tax child credit
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on April 15, 2015, to authorize a state income tax credit of $600 per dependent child age 18 and younger. A similar credit was repealed by a 2011 income tax overhaul and business tax cut.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169217
House Bill 4454: Exempt certain pension income from state income tax
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on April 15, 2015, to repeal the provision of Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2011 tax reform and business tax cut that partially eliminated some of the state income tax exemptions for pension income, and capped the value of income tax credits granted for payment of “homestead” property tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169218
House Bill 4455: Revise highway bridge inspections
Introduced by Rep. Ben Glardon (R) on April 15, 2015, to require the Department of Transportation to adopt a “federally compliant and risk-based plan of biennial inspection” for all highway bridges.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169219
House Bill 4456: Require state-based businesses to “add back” federal outsourcing deduction
Introduced by Rep. Henry Yanez (D) on April 15, 2015, to eliminate a state corporate income tax deduction for outsourcing expenses that are deductible for federal tax purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169220
House Bill 4457: Eliminate adoptive parent registry enrollment fee
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on April 15, 2015, to eliminate a $100 fee that is charged to be placed on a central state clearinghouse for information about prospective adoptive parents.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169221
House Bill 4458: Repeal “complete streets” advisory council
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on April 15, 2015, to eliminate a government “complete streets” advisory council comprised of representatives of various pro-sidewalk interest groups that was created by a 2010 law mandating local governments include “complete-streets” policies in their land use “master-plans,” defined as ones that “promote safe and efficient movement of people and goods whether by car, truck, transit, assistive device, foot, or bicycle”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169222
House Bill 4459: Allow embedding emergency contact info in drivers license
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on April 15, 2015, to allow the Secretary of State to embed machine-readable emergency contact information in digitized drivers licenses starting in 2018, if a person requests this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169223
House Bill 4460: Allow embedding emergency contact info in state ID
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on April 15, 2015, to allow the Secretary of State to embed machine-readable emergency contact information in digitized state identification cards starting in 2018, if a person requests this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169224
House Bill 4461: Authorize income tax refund interest payments
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on April 15, 2015, to authorize interest payments on state income tax refunds starting 45 days after a return is filed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169225
House Bill 4462
Introduced by Rep. Paul D. Clemente (D) on April 15, 2015, Authorize income tax refund interest payments to authorize interest payments on city income tax refunds starting 45 days after a return is filed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169226
House Bill 4463: Clarify aggravated physical abuse sentencing guideline
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 16, 2015, to clarify wording in the state sentencing guidelines for the crime of aggravated physical abuse.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169295
House Bill 4464: Clarify prescription drug sales tax exemption
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 16, 2015, to exempt over-the-counter drugs from sales tax if they are obtained under a prescription.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169296
House Bill 4465: Clarify prescription drug use tax exemption
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 16, 2015, to exempt over-the-counter drugs from use tax if they are obtained under a prescription.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169297
House Bill 4466: Require detailed police shooting and use-of-force reports
Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Chang (D) on April 16, 2015, to revise the monthly crime reports local police agencies are required to submit to the state police so that they include the number and type of use of force complaints made against officers; the number of shooting incidents involving officers; the disposition of use of force and shooting incident investigations; the racial, ethnic, and gender demographic data of individuals who made use of force complaints and individuals involved in police shooting incidents.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169298
House Bill 4467: Allow housing adult prisoners at Baldwin private prison
Introduced by Rep. Jon Bumstead (R) on April 16, 2015, to allow more dangerous adult prisoners to be held at a privately owned and managed prison whose previous contract with the state to house juvenile prisoners was revoked by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169299
House Bill 4468: Authorize regional airport authorities
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on April 16, 2015, to authorize the establishment of regional airport authorities to manage the business operations of local airports.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169300
House Bill 4469: Ban or restrict certain radioactive waste from landfills
Introduced by Rep. Kristy Pagan (D) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit waste that exceeds a specified level of radioactivity from being deposited in Michigan landfills, and impose restrictions, testing and reporting requirements on certain waste that has lower levels of radioactivity.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169301
House Bill 4470: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on April 16, 2015, to increase various state license fees imposed on food establishments including grocery stores, warehouses, processors, etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169302
House Bill 4471: Require disclosure of corporate “economic development” subsidy details
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on April 16, 2015, to require detailed disclosures from state “economic development” agencies about the “refundable” tax credits that were granted to particular firms under the Michigan Economic Growth Authority law (which was repealed in 2011). It was recently revealed that tax breaks and subsidies granted under that law represent a nearly $10 billion unfunded liability that will not be extinguished for nearly 20 years. Under current law, information on which companies were granted these special deals and the terms of their agreements are kept secret.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169303
House Bill 4472: Prohibit MEGA corporate subsidy deal modifications
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit state “economic development” officials from amending or modifying corporate tax break and subsidy deals granted to certain businesses and developers under a Michigan Economic Growth Authority law (repealed in 2011) in a way that increases state liabilities. The bill was introduced after it was revealed that these deals have generated a unfunded liability of nearly $10 billion, and that officials continue to amend and modify them in ways that may increase the liability.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169304
House Bill 4473: Prohibit MEGA corporate subsidy deal modifications
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit state “economic development” officials from amending or modifying corporate tax break and subsidy deals granted to certain businesses and developers under a Michigan Economic Growth Authority law (repealed in 201)1 in a way that increases state liabilities. Also, to cap the annual payout of these subsidies in any given year at $400 million. The bill was introduced after it was revealed that these deals have generated a unfunded liability of nearly $10 billion, and that officials continue to amend and modify them in ways that may increase the liability.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169305
House Bill 4474: Prohibit MEGA corporate subsidy deal modifications
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit state “economic development” officials from amending or modifying corporate tax break and subsidy deals granted to certain businesses and developers under a Michigan Economic Growth Authority law (repealed in 2011) in a way that increases state liabilities. Also, to require these officials to disclose the details of any other modifications to the governor and legislature. The bill was introduced after it was revealed that these deals have generated a unfunded liability of nearly $10 billion, and that officials continue to amend and modify them in ways that may increase the liability.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169306
House Bill 4475: Require disclosure of corporate “economic development” subsidy details
Introduced by Rep. Bill LaVoy (D) on April 16, 2015, to require the Department of Treasury to disclose the details annual tax break and subsidy deal payouts granted to particular businesses and developers under a Michigan Economic Growth Authority law repealed in 2011. The bill was introduced after it was revealed that these deals have generated a unfunded liability of nearly $10 billion. Under current law, information on which companies were granted these special deals and the terms of their agreements are kept secret.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169307
Senate Bill 250: Revise “training wage” for youth
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on April 14, 2015, to increase and index to inflation a “training” wage provided as an exception to the law that makes unlawful employment for less than a minimum wage determined by the government. The bill would also increase the age limit on this exception, from 17 and younger to 19 and younger. Under current law, during a young worker’s first 90 days on the job the mandated minimum wage is $4.25 per hour, which the bill would increase to $6.25 per hour. After 90 days the mandated minimum is 85 percent of the amount prescribed for adult workers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169177
Senate Bill 251: Establish less formal court procedures for some juvenile crimes
Introduced by Sen. John Proos (R) on April 14, 2015, to establish a parallel court “consent calendar” process for criminal cases involving juveniles that are not serious enough warrant removing the juvenile from parental custody, but only if the parents or guardian and the prosecutor agree. Procedures for such cases would be less formal than for regular criminal cases.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169178
Senate Bill 252: Give unemployment benefits for domestic violence absence
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on April 14, 2015, to allow unemployment insurance benefits for an individual who leaves a job due to domestic violence.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169180
Senate Bill 253: Restrict imposing mediation in domestic relations disputes
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on April 14, 2015, to prohibit a court from ordering the parties in a domestic relations dispute to enter mediation against their will unless certain factors are present, including a personal protection order restraining one of the parties, a court “no contact” order, child abuse or neglect by one of the parties, health and safety concerns, or some other “good cause”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169181
Senate Bill 254: Establish confidential “service of process” procedure
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on April 14, 2015, to establish alternative “service of process” procedures for cases before the state Supreme Court or Appeals court, which would provide for delivering legal notices to an individual whose address the court is prohibited from disclosing. See also Senate Bill 257.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169182
Senate Bill 255: Make domestic violence victims civil rights law “protected class”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on April 14, 2015, to add domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking victimhood to the characteristics that define membership in a protected class against whom it is a crime to discriminate in matters of housing under the Michigan civil rights law. This would make it a civil rights violation to deny housing to a person who happens to be a victim of these crimes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169183
Senate Bill 256: Mandate domestic violence sick leave
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on April 14, 2015, to mandate that an employer who grants employee sick leave must grant leave to an employee who has been the victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169184
Senate Bill 257: Create domestic violence confidential address program
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on April 14, 2015, to establish an address confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence crimes, with the state Attorney General giving a victim a “designated address” to which mail could be sent and then forwarded to where the individual actually lives. The person’s real address would not be subject to disclosure under open records laws, and the person could also vote using the designated address.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169185
Senate Bill 258: Revise child custody “best interest of the child” detail
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on April 14, 2015, to establish that in determining the “best interest of child” in child custody dispute cases a court may not consider “consider negatively” actions taken by a parent in self defense or “to protect a child from the child’s abusive parent”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169186
Senate Bill 259: Revise school immunization reports
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on April 14, 2015, to revise an immunization report schools are required to file with the state, by requiring it to indicate the immunization status of each student be broken down by immunization type. Also, to require schools to post this information online.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169187
Senate Bill 260: Revise school immunization reports
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on April 14, 2015, to revise an immunization report schools are required to file with the state, by requiring it to indicate the immunization status of each student be broken down by immunization type. Also, to require schools to post this information online.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169188
Senate Bill 261: Revise school immunization reports
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on April 14, 2015, to require child care centers to post online the immunization status of each child for each immunization type.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169189
Senate Bill 262: Repeal Right to Work law
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on April 14, 2015, to repeal the state’s right to work law for government employees. Specifically, the bill would allow a public school or government agency to enter an agreement with a union under which employees would be required to pay “agency fees” to the union as a condition of employment, at a level equal to full union dues.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169191
Senate Bill 263: Repeal Right to Work law
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on April 14, 2015, to repeal the state’s right to work law for private sector employees. Specifically, the bill would allow employers to enter an agreement with a union under which employees would be required to pay “agency fees” to the union as a condition of employment, at a level equal to full union dues.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169192
Senate Bill 264: Authorize wild turkey association specialty plate
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on April 14, 2015, to authorize a specialty license plate honoring the National Wild Turkey Federation, with the premium revenue going to that organization.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169193
Senate Bill 265: Clarify authorization for local government beach rescue equipment
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on April 15, 2015, to allow local governments to provide safety and rescue equipment and emergency communication equipment at public beach as “an exercise of a government function”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169196
Senate Bill 266: Revise ISD school “enhancement millage” distribution
Introduced in the Senate on April 15, 2015, to revise details of the distribution of the 3 mill “regional enhancement” property tax that Intermediate School Districts are permitted to levy with voter approval.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169197
Senate Bill 267: Extend sales tax earmark to airport projects
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on April 15, 2015, to extend indefinitely an annual $10 million sales tax earmark to airport infrastructure projects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169198
Senate Bill 268: Exempt “autocycle” makers from protectionist auto dealer law
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on April 15, 2015, to exempt three-wheel motor vehicles and enclosed motorcycles (“autocycles”) from the protectionist regulations that prohibit motor vehicle makers from selling directly to the public rather than through a dealer and subject to contractual arrangements prescribed by state law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169199
Senate Bill 269: Increase wage sex discrimination penalty
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on April 15, 2015, to authorize fines of between $500 and $2,000 depending on the number of employees for an employer who pays different wages to men and women who are “similarly employed.” The bill also removes from the law a provision stating that, “No female shall be assigned any task disproportionate to her strength, nor shall she be employed in any place detrimental to her morals, her health or her potential capacity for motherhood”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169200
Senate Bill 270: Authorize out of state guardian or conservator
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on April 15, 2015, to permit a person who is not a Michigan resident to be appointed as a guardian or conservator for a minor or incapacitated individual if the person “is present or has a significant connection” to the state as defined in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169202
Senate Bill 271: Ban “two for one” or “all you can drink” sales at bars
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit bars and restaurants from offering “all you can drink” for a fixed price or “two for the price of one” promotions and sales. This would not be prohibited at a private function (such as a “kegger”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169283
Senate Bill 272: Mandate “comparable worth” pay
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on April 16, 2015, to mandate that employers provide to employees wage information on “similarly situated employees,” meaning employees who are within the same job classification or whose duties are comparable in skill, effort, responsibility, working conditions, and training. See also Senate Bill 273.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169284
Senate Bill 273: Mandate “comparable worth” wages
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit paying a person a wage or salary that is less than an amount established under a proposed definition of comparable worth, making doing so a violation of the civil rights laws of the state, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, or marital status. The bill would prohibit different levels of compensation for work of “comparable value,” meaning a “comparable composite skill, responsibility, effort, education or training, and working conditions.” The bill does not specify how different kinds of work would be compared using these criteria.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169285
Senate Bill 274: Increase allowable truck “saddle mount” length
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on April 16, 2015, to increase the maximum allowable length for triple “saddle mount” type truck combinations, which is a method for one semi-truck “tractor” to tow several others.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169286
Senate Bill 275: Authorize “community paramedics” practice
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on April 16, 2015, to establish a certification requirement for “community paramedics,” which would permit them to treat a patient when “delegated” to do so by a licensed physician.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169287
Senate Bill 276
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on April 16, 2015, Authorize “community paramedics” practice to make medical services provided by a “community paramedic” (see Senate Bill 275) reimbursable under state medical welfare programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169288
Senate Bill 277: Ban or restrict certain radioactive waste from landfills
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit waste that exceeds a specified level of radioactivity from being deposited in Michigan landfills, and impose restrictions, testing and reporting requirements on certain waste that has lower levels of radioactivity.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169289
Senate Bill 278: Authorize regional airport authorities
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on April 16, 2015, to authorize the establishment of regional airport authorities to manage the business operations of local airports.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169290
Senate Bill 279: Ban certain school district/union pension spiking schemes
Introduced by Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R) on April 16, 2015, to prohibit public school districts and unions from adopting “release time” arrangements in which a school employee who goes to work full time for a teachers union remains an employee of the district for purposes of collecting a government pension. Recent news reports have exposed how the president of the state’s largest teachers union has been considered a Lansing School District employee for many years, and as a result stands to collect a government pension amount based on his $200,000 union salary rather than the much lower amount he earned years ago during a brief period working as a classroom assistant.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169291
Senate Bill 280: Ban putting union stewards on public payroll
Introduced by Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R) on April 16, 2015, to ban government employee union contracts that pay employees who are union officials for time they spend on the job conducting union business (which they call “release time”). Among other government employers, many public school districts give local union officials full teacher salary and benefits but do not require them to teach or perform any other educational function.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169292
Senate Bill 281: Require audit of 36th district court pension underfunding surcharge
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on April 16, 2015, to require an audit and revise other details of a $1 surcharge tacked on to certain 36th district court fees to cover unfunded pension liabilities of bailiffs of the former Detroit “Recorders Court” who now work for the 36th court district that succeeded it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169293
Senate Bill 64: Revise nursing home regulation detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 21, 2015, to revise the extensive regulatory regime imposed on nursing homes, so as to establish that patient care policies, compliance procedures, outcome measures and more should be based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines or best-practices (rather than a similar but less specific prescriptions in current law), along with other detail changes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712138
Senate Bill 65: Revise nursing home medical treatment restriction
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 21, 2015, to allow any nursing home to employ or contract with a licensed health care professional to provide a program of planned and continuing nursing care and medical treatment for residents. Under current law medical and dental treatment provided in nursing homes are subject to complex regulatory restrictions and constraints.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712141
Senate Bill 66: Revise nursing home medical treatment restriction
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 21, 2015, to revise the definition of “services in a learned profession” in the Michigan business corporations act to make it conform with the proposal in Senate Bill 65 potentially dismantling various regulatory obstacles to medical care provided being in nursing homes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712143
Senate Bill 67: Revise nursing home medical treatment restriction
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 21, 2015, to revise the definition of “services in a learned profession” in the Michigan business corporations act to make it conform with the proposal in Senate Bill 65 potentially dismantling various regulatory obstacles to medical care provided being in nursing homes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712144
House Bill 4168: Replace paper tax rolls with electronic
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on April 21, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that local governments keep a hard (paper) copy of tax rolls if the information is maintained on computerized database.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712142
House Bill 4175: Revise horseback riding liability waiver
Passed 64 to 46 in the House on April 21, 2015, to revise a law limiting the liability of stables and equine event organizers for injury, death or property damage resulting from an inherent risk of an equine activity, by changing an exception allowing suits for “negligence” so that it instead only allows suits for “willful and wanton disregard” for participants’ safety.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712135
House Bill 4244: Expand property owner recreation liability waiver
Passed 79 to 31 in the House on April 21, 2015, to expand to “aviation activities” a liability exemption that currently applies to someone fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, hiking, sightseeing, motorcycling, or snowmobiling on a person’s land. Specifically, this would apply to non-commercial aircraft operations. In other words, someone can’t sue a landowner for injuries sustained doing any of these things, as long as the individual hasn’t paid the landowner owner for use of the property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712133
Senate Bill 196: Revise totaled vehicle title detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 22, 2015, to facilitate insurance companies getting salvage or scrap certificates of title on totaled vehicles from the Secretary of State if needed.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712320
Senate Bill 282: Connect Upper and Lower Peninsula power grids
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on April 21, 2015, to establish a process for the state to choose an electric utility power line operator that would connect the Upper and Lower Peninsulas into a single electric grid. This relates to recent conflicts involving Wisconsin utilities and plants that serve central and western U.P. customers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169316
Senate Bill 283: Require DNR stock walleye fry in some lakes
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on April 21, 2015, to require the Department of Natural Resources to stock inland lakes in certain counties with a number of walleye “fingerlings” specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169318
Senate Bill 284: Mandate homeschool parents register with public schools
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on April 21, 2015, to mandate that parents of children who are homeschooled submit the name and age of each child to the local public school district at the start of each school year. Also, to mandate that home school children must “meet in person at least twice a year” with either a physician, social worker, friend of the court employee, school counselor or teacher, audiologist, psychologist, law enforcement officer, marriage and family therapist, member of the clergy, or regulated child care provider.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169319
Senate Bill 285: Create a government “commission on pay equity”
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on April 21, 2015, to establish a government commission on pay equity to “develop definitions, models, and guidelines for employers and employees on pay equity.” The commission would include the directors of the Department of Civil Rights and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and representatives from the Michigan Women’s Commission, the National Organization of Women, the Michigan Women’s Studies Association, the AFL-CIO, the UAW, the Farm Bureau, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association (but not the Federation of Independent Businesses). See also Senate Bill 273, which would prohibit paying a person a wage or salary that is less than an amount established under a proposed definition of comparable worth, making doing so a violation of the civil rights laws of the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169320
Senate Bill 286: Earmark some sales tax to roads
Introduced by Sen. John Proos (R) on April 21, 2015, to earmark up to $100 million of sales tax revenue collected on fuel purchases to road projects, based on a formula specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169321
Senate Bill 287: Mandate giving perinatal hospice information when birth defect detected
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on April 21, 2015, to mandate that a physician who informs a pregnant woman that the child has a life-limiting medical condition to also inform her about certified perinatal hospice programs, and about various options and sources of relevant information. Also, to require the Department of Community Health to establish criteria for certifying a perinatal hospice program.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169322
Senate Bill 288: Authorize alternative “low cost” car insurance
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Smith (D) on April 22, 2015, to authorize an alternative type of “low cost” auto insurance policy for car owners with incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty rate and a good driving record. The coverage would be exempt from the regular no fault insurance coverage mandate of unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) benefits for injuruies and instead offer a maximum benefit of $50,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169339
Senate Bill 289: Authorize sanctions for bad faith patent infringement claim
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on April 22, 2015, to authorize damages for the target of a patent infringement claim that is made in bad faith. Damages of up to $50,000 or triple the actual loss would be authorized, plus legal costs. If the target demonstrates a “reasonable likelihood” that the claim is made in bad faith then the court could order the claim seeker to post a bond equal to the target’s likely legal expenses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169340
Senate Bill 290: Expand Viet Nam veteran grant eligibility
Introduced by Sen. Vincent Gregory (D) on April 23, 2015, to extend a state grant that was given to Viet Nam era veterans under a 1974 law, so that the award would also be given to individuals who were in the military between September 1, 1973 and May 7, 1975. The last U.S. combat troops were withdrawn from Viet Nam in August, 1972.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169344
Senate Bill 291: Authorize wrongful imprisonment compensation
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on April 23, 2015, to authorize payment by the state of civil damages to a person wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he or she did not commit. The damages would be $60,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment, plus “economic damages” including lost wages, plus reasonable attorney fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169345
Senate Bill 292: Disclose unfunded liabilities in state budget
Introduced by Sen. John Proos (R) on April 23, 2015, to require the constitutionally required executive budget the governor must submit each year to include an accounting by department of the unfunded liabilities incurred to pay future pension and post-retirement health benefits promised to retired employees (legacy costs).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169346
Senate Bill 293: Require semi-annual state unfunded liability estimates
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on April 23, 2015, to require the twice-a-year state “revenue estimating conferences” at which state officials estimate how much tax and fee revenue the state can expect to collect and spend in the coming year, to also estimate the state’s unfunded liabilities. These consist primarily of underfunded “defined benefit” government and school employee pension plans.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169347
Senate Bill 294: Establish rental unit bedbug procedures
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on April 23, 2015, to prohibit a landlord from renting a unit that he or she knows is infested with bedbugs; prohibit tenants from moving infested items into a unit or attempting to apply pest control treatments to the unit; and require tenants to grant reasonable access to professional pest management personnel and comply with the control protocols established by the landlord. Tenants who cause an infestation would be responsible for treatment costs, and landlords would have limited liability for items damaged by treatment.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169348
Senate Bill 295: Increase “renewable” energy mandates on utilities
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on April 23, 2015, to revise the 2008 law mandating that electric utilities generate at least 10 percent of their power from “renewable” sources by 2015, by increasing this to 20 percent by 2020.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169349
Senate Bill 296: Increase mandate on utilities
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on April 23, 2015, to reduce consumption to increase a mandate that electric and gas utilities undertake programs intended to cause net consumption to fall. The bill would gradually make the mandates more stringent by requiring annual reductions of 2 percent for electricity and 1.5 percent for gas.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169350
Senate Bill 297: Eliminate renewable energy utility surcharge
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on April 23, 2015, to eliminate a provision that allows electric utilities to impose a surcharge on customer bills to pay for the mandate imposed by a 2008 law that electric utilities generate at least 10 percent of their power from “renewable” sources.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169352
House Bill 4173: Revise principle residence property tax exemption claim process
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on April 22, 2015, to revise details of a real estate transfer tax exemption for homeowners whose home is worth less and is sold for less than when they bought it. The bill eases slightly the eligibility for this exemption, and makes that expansion retroactive for up to four years in the past.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712259
House Bill 4325: Establish overspending public school “early warning system”
Passed 60 to 49 in the House on April 23, 2015, to establish a process by which school districts would be required to submit their budget projections and assumptions to the state each July, and require intermediate school districts to declare whether they concur with the projections and assumptions. If they did not this would trigger a detailed reporting and oversight process specified in this and related bills. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4325 to 4330 intended to create an “early warning system” for school districts with financial problems.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712387
House Bill 4326: Establish overspending public school “early warning system”
Passed 60 to 49 in the House on April 23, 2015, to revise a 2012 law establishing various alternative processes for resolving financial crises in school districts to accommodate the proposal in House Bill 4325 and related bills establishing an “early warning system” for school districts with financial problems. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4325 to 4330.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712388
House Bill 4327: Establish overspending public school “early warning system”
Passed 60 to 49 in the House on April 23, 2015, to revise a law that requires overspending school districts to adopt a deficit elimination plan approved by the state. Among other things the bill would require these plans to be posted online and include an academic reform plan, require additional disclosures to the legislature, and prescribe “enhanced” deficit elimination plans for chronically overspending districts. It would also give the Department of Education explicit authority to withhold state school aid payments to an overspending district. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4325 to 4330 intended to create an “early warning system” for school district with financial problems.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712391
House Bill 4328: Establish overspending public school “early warning system”
Passed 58 to 51 in the House on April 23, 2015, to give the Department Treasury the authority to withhold state school aid payments from an overspending school district that fails to submit an acceptable “deficit elimination plan” as required by law, or which falls more deeply into financial trouble and must operate under an “enhanced” deficit plan. This is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4325 to 4330 intended to create an “early warning system” for school district with financial problems.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712394
House Bill 4329: Establish overspending public school “early warning system”
Passed 59 to 50 in the House on April 23, 2015, to authorize appointment of an Emergency Manager for a public school district that fails to comply with an “enhanced deficit elimination plan” required by House Bill 4327 for a district whose regular deficit elimination plan failed to fix the problem.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712398
House Bill 4330: Establish overspending public school “early warning system”
Passed 60 to 49 in the House on April 23, 2015, to update references to deficit elimination plans in the school aid act to accommodate the overspending school district “early warning system” proposals contained in House Bill 4325 to 4329. The bill would make forfeit 10 percent of a district’s state aid if it fails to comply with provisions of this package or to post budget and other financial information on its website.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712400
House Bill 4331: Increase municipal and school “emergency loan” funding
Passed 64 to 45 in the House on April 23, 2015, to increase from $50 million to $70 million the amount allocated through 2018 for “financial emergency” loans from the state to public school districts, and increase from $35 million to $48 million the amount of such loans to cities, townships, villages, and counties.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712385
House Bill 4332: Increase municipal and school “emergency loan” funding
Passed 105 to 4 in the House on April 23, 2015, to increase from $50 million to $70 million the amount allocated through 2018 for “financial emergency” loans from the state to public school districts, and increase from $35 million to $48 million the amount of such loans to cities, townships, villages, and counties.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712386
House Bill 4354: Revise insurance company trade secret detail
Passed 95 to 14 in the House on April 22, 2015, to allow insurance companies or rating organizations filing on the insurer’s behalf to designate certain information in filings they are required to make with the state as a trade secret. If the state insurance commissioner agrees the information is proprietary then it would not be subject to open records law disclosure.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712260
House Bill 4476: Restrict imposing mediation in domestic relations disputes
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on April 21, 2015, to prohibit a court from ordering the parties in a domestic relations dispute to enter mediation against their will unless certain factors are present, including a personal protection order restraining one of the parties, a court “no contact” order, child abuse or neglect by one of the parties, health and safety concerns, or some other “good cause”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169370
House Bill 4477: Establish confidential “service of process” procedure
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on April 21, 2015, to establish alternative “service of process” procedures for appeals cases. This would provide a means for delivering legal notices to an individual whose address the court has prohibited from being disclosed. See also Senate Bill 257.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169371
House Bill 4478: Authorize PPOs for threats against pets
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on April 21, 2015, to authorize courts to issue a personal protection order against an individual who threatens, harms or tries to take an animal in which the petitioner has an ownership interest, or who interferes with the petitioner’s efforts to remove the animal from premises the premises of individual to be restrained.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169372
House Bill 4479: Create new crime of assaulting pregnant woman
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on April 21, 2015, to make assault and battery against a pregnant women a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment up to 93 days and a $500 fine, with higher penalties (up to five years) for those with prior convictions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169373
House Bill 4480: Revise child custody “best interest of the child” detail
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 21, 2015, to establish that in determining the “best interest of child” in child custody dispute cases a court may not “consider negatively” actions taken by a parent in self defense or to protect a child from “the child’s abusive parent”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169374
House Bill 4481: Revise rapist father parental rights detail
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 21, 2015, to revise a law that prohibits granting custody of a child conceived by rape to the rapist unless the parents establish a “mutual custodial environment,” so it still prohibits granting the offender custody unless the other parent consents.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169375
House Bill 4482: Restrict child custody changes for active military member
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on April 21, 2015, to clarify the definition of “active duty” for purposes of a 2005 law prohibiting a court from changing an established child custody or parenting time order of a parent has been called to active duty in the military. See also Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 4071.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169376
House Bill 4483: Mandate employers turn over “comparable worth” pay data
Introduced by Rep. Julie Plawecki (D) on April 21, 2015, to mandate that employers provide to employees wage information on “similarly situated employees,” meaning employees who are within the same job classification or whose duties are comparable in skill, effort, responsibility, working conditions, and training. See also Senate Bill 273 and House Bills 4484 to 4487.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169377
House Bill 4484: Increase wage sex discrimination penalty
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on April 21, 2015, to authorize penalties of between $500 and $20,000 depending on the number of employees for an employer who pays different wages to men and women who are “similarly employed.” The bill also removes from the law a provision stating that, “No female shall be assigned any task disproportionate to her strength, nor shall she be employed in any place detrimental to her morals, her health or her potential capacity for motherhood”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169378
House Bill 4485: Authorize a government “pay equity” award
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on April 21, 2015, to authorize a government “pay equity in the workplace” award to “encourage employers to eliminate barriers to equal pay for equal work,” according to criteria that officials in the state Department of Civil Rights would devise.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169379
House Bill 4486: Mandate “comparable worth” wages
Introduced by Rep. Leslie Love (D) on April 21, 2015, to establish a government “commission on pay equity” to “develop definitions, models, and guidelines for employers and employees on pay equity.” House Bill 4487 would prohibit employing a person for a wage or salary that is less than someone else doing a different but “comparable” job “using the criteria of composite skills, responsibility, effort, education or training, and working conditions.” The commission would include the directors of the Department of Civil Rights and the MEDC, and representatives from the Michigan Women’s Commission, the National Organization of Women, and the Michigan Women’s Studies Association, the AFL-CIO, the UAW, the Farm Bureau, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Association (but not the larger Federation of Independent Businesses).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169380
House Bill 4487: Mandate “comparable worth” wages
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on April 21, 2015, to prohibit paying a person a wage or salary that is less than an amount established under a proposed definition of comparable worth, making it a violation of the state civil rights law. The bill would prohibit different levels of compensation for work of “comparable value,” meaning a “comparable composite skill, responsibility, effort, education or training, and working conditions.” House Bill 4486 would create a government commission to establish how different kinds of work, experience, training, conditions, etc. would be measured and weighted for enforcement purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169381
House Bill 4488: Mandate “comparable worth” wages
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on April 21, 2015, to mandate that firms accepting a state contracts worth $500,000 or more get an “equal pay certificate of compliance” by certifying they are not guilty of various illegal sex discrimination violations, and that they pay compensation based on a concept of “comparable worth” specified in the bill. A firm would have to pay $150 to get this certificate and also answer detailed questions about how it determines employee compensation, the sex and compensation of all current employees, and any other questions created by employees of the state Department of Civil Rights.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169382
House Bill 4489: Mandate employers post government “pay equity” posters
Introduced by Rep. Kristy Pagan (D) on April 21, 2015, to mandate that employers post a notice in their workplace that describes state and federal pay equity laws with contact information for government regulators, subject to a $100 fine for not posting it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169383
House Bill 4490: Require government “comparable worth” pay report
Introduced by Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D) on April 21, 2015, to require that an annual state government report on state employment trends also include information on “current and projected levels of pay differential for men and women who perform the same work”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169384
House Bill 4491: Mandate “comparable worth” wages
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on April 21, 2015, to expand a law that bans employer not paying employees of the opposite sex less for equal work on jobs (that require) equal skill, effort, and responsibility…under similar working conditions. Under the bill, differential pay would be banned for “equivalent” job requirements and employee skills (vs. “equal”) performed in “comparable” working conditions (vs. “similar”). Also, the bill would expand this ban to cover wage differentials based on race, religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169385
House Bill 4492: Mandate “comparable worth” wages
Introduced by Rep. Fred Durhal, III (D) on April 21, 2015, to extend to violations of the “comparable worth” compensation mandates that House Bill 4491 would impose on employers the same sanctions and remedies as those authorized by the state civil rights law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169386
House Bill 4493: Mandate Holocaust and genocide instruction
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on April 21, 2015, to mandate that public schools must provide high school students at least six hours each school year of instruction about genocides, including the Holocaust.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169387
House Bill 4494: Authorize triple damages for false monetary claim against state
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 21, 2015, to create a new “false claims” cause of action, in which an individual or the Attorney General could sue a person who performs one of a wide range of actions that constitute a false or fraudulent monetary claim against the state or a local government. A court would be authorized to award triple damages against the perpetrator, and the individual who brought the suit (or the Attorney General’s office) would be eligible to receive a portion of the damages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169388
House Bill 4495: Revise delinquent municipal borrower’s repayment procedure
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R) on April 21, 2015, to establish that lenders who loan money to a local government, with the loan secured by the borrower’s “unlimited tax pledge,” have a “statutory first lien” (legal claim) on “all taxes subject to the (municipality’s) unlimited tax pledge.” Under the bill, such lenders be less likely to have to go to court to enforce their claim.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169389
House Bill 4497: Liberalize school debt repayment requirements
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on April 21, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that school districts must pay back their debt to a state School Bond Loan Fund by a “final repayment date” determined for each district by the state treasurer. The requirement was instituted by a 2005 law to fix the problem of districts extending debt on old projects by combining with additional borrowing for new projects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169391
House Bill 4499: Increase asset forfeiture burden of proof
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on April 22, 2015, to establish a more rigorous “clear and convincing” burden of proof requirement on a law that gives government the power to seize and sell an owner’s property if it is deemed a “nuisance” due being associated with criminal activity. See also House Bill 4504.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169393
House Bill 4500: Mandate criminal asset forfeiture disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on April 22, 2015, to amend the state law authorizing sanctions and remedies for identity theft to conform with the criminal asset forfeiture disclosures proposed by House Bill 4504.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169394
House Bill 4501: Repeal archaic laws
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on April 22, 2015, to revise state sentencing guidelines to reflect the repeal of various archaic crimes proposed by House Bill 4248.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169395
House Bill 4502: Designate peeper as official state amphibian
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on April 22, 2015, to establish that the northern spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) shall be designated as the official State of Michigan amphibian. Note: At present Michigan does not have an official state amphibian, but past bills have proposed peepers, marbled salamanders (Ambystome opacum), gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) and Blanchard’s cricket frogs (acris crepitans blanchardii). However, Michigan does have an official state reptile, which is the painted turtle (chrysemys picta).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169396
House Bill 4503: Require police criminal asset forfeiture disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Triston Cole (R) on April 22, 2015, to amend the state’s “Revised Judicature Act” to incorporate the requirements proposed by House Bill 4504 that law enforcement agencies file detailed annual reports on the number of criminal asset forfeiture proceedings they were involved in.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169397
House Bill 4504: Require police criminal asset forfeiture disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on April 22, 2015, to require law enforcement agencies to file annual reports on the number of criminal asset forfeiture proceedings concluded, pending or “negotiated.” The bill would also require the reports to disclose for each property seizure the alleged violation; the date the property was seized; whether any person was charged or convicted; a description of the property; its value; whether there was a plea or other agreement; the property’s final disposition; whether the seizure was based on arrangements with federal, state or local agencies (“adoptive” seizure); details of the costs and expenses associated with the seizure and more. The State Police would be required to compile these disclosures into a report and post it on the internet.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169398
House Bill 4505: Increase criminal asset forfeiture burden of proof
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on April 22, 2015, to establish a more rigorous “clear and convincing” burden of proof requirement in the illegal drug law provisions of the Public Health Code that give government the power to seize and sell a person’s property even if the person is not charged or convicted of a crime. See also House Bill 4504.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169399
House Bill 4506: Require police criminal asset forfeiture disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Jason Sheppard (R) on April 22, 2015, to amend the illegal drug law provisions of the Public Health Code to incorporate the requirements proposed by House Bill 4504 that law enforcement agencies file detailed annual reports on the number of criminal asset forfeiture proceedings they were involved in.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169400
House Bill 4507: Require police criminal asset forfeiture disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R) on April 22, 2015, to amend the law that gives government the power to seize and sell a person’s property if it is deemed a “nuisance” because is connected with unlawful activity, so that it reflects the requirements proposed by House Bill 4504 that law enforcement agencies file detailed annual reports on the number of criminal asset forfeiture proceedings they were involved in.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169401
House Bill 4508: Limit forfeiture in minor marijuana crime
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on April 22, 2015, to revise the illegal drug law provisions of the Public Health Code to establish that a vehicle used to transport one ounce or less of marijuana purchased for personal use is not subject to forfeiture provisions that give the government the power to seize and sell a person’s property even if the person is not charged or convicted of a crime.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169402
House Bill 4509: Ban intent to sell ivory and rhinoceros horn
Introduced by Rep. Henry Yanez (D) on April 23, 2015, to ban the importation, sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell of ivory or rhinoceros horns and products, subject to fines of $5,000 or double the value of the products for second offenses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169403
House Bill 4510: Authorize charitable contribution income tax credits
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on April 23, 2015, to authorize state income tax credit for donations to nonprofit organizations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169404
House Bill 4511: Revise state oil pipeline regulation
Introduced by Rep. Sarah Roberts (D) on April 23, 2015, to give the Department of Environmental Quality explicit authority to regulate pipelines used to transport oil or petroleum; mandate that pipeline owners have “emergency response plans” for pipeline leaks that include consultation with local governments; require pipeline owners to pay for regular state inspections of underwater pipelines and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169405
House Bill 4512: Revise state oil pipeline regulation
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on April 23, 2015, to authorize the imposition of an annual per-mile oil or petroleum “pipeline impact fee” in an amount that would be determined by the state Public Service Commission, with half the revenue given to the county where a pipeline is located.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169406
House Bill 4513: Revise state oil pipeline regulation
Introduced by Rep. Tom Cochran (D) on April 23, 2015, to give the Department of Environmental Quality explicit authority to regulate pipelines used to transport oil or petroleum, rather than just the Public Services Commission. See House Bill 4511 and 4512.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169407
House Bill 4514: Revise state oil pipeline regulation
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on April 23, 2015, to require oil pipeline owners to make a “good faith effort” to employ or contract with Michigan residents and companies in their response activities to any future leak.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169408
Senate Bill 85: Extend preemption of local gun control to air guns
Passed 79 to 31 in the House on April 29, 2015, to revise the state law preempting restrictive local gun control ordinances so it applies to “pneumatic” guns, defined as ones that shoot “a BB or pellet by spring, gas, or air.” Locals could adopt restrictions on possession of these by minors, prohibit “brandishing” them to induce fear, or shooting in a heavily populated area.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712799
Senate Bill 217: Revise forest property tax break references
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 28, 2015, to revise references in the property tax law to reflect changes made by a 2013 law in forest property tax breaks.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712647
House Bill 4102: Appropriations: “Omnibus” state budget
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 28, 2015, to impose a July 1, 2016 deadline for the Department of Community Health to establish contract performance standards for Medicaid health plans, which are essentially “Health Maintenance Organizations” run by hospitals, and through contracts with the state are the means by which most Medicaid benefits are delivered in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=167585
House Bill 4102: Appropriations: “Omnibus” state budget
Passed 59 to 51 in the House on April 28, 2015, the House version of the non-education portion of the state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2015. (House Bill 4115 contains K-12 school, college and university spending.) This would appropriate $37.857 billion, compared to $37.4 billion originally appropriated the previous year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712723
House Bill 4115: Appropriations: “Omnibus” education budget
Passed 60 to 50 in the House on April 29, 2015, the House version of the K-12 school aid, community college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2015. A separate House budget authorizes the rest of state government spending (House Bill 4102). This bill would appropriate $13.906 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $13.870 billion originally appropriated for the prior year. It also appropriates $1.527 billion for state universities, compared to $1.516 billion the prior year. Community colleges would get $392 million, vs. $364 million the prior year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712783
House Bill 4151: Repeal criminal sanctions for minor with BB gun
Passed 30 to 7 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to repeal a law that makes it a misdemeanor for a minor unaccompanied by an adult to possess a BB pistol except in his or her own home or yard.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712742
House Bill 4152: Revise firearms definition
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to revise the definition of “firearm” in state statute so it longer applies to BB, pellet or “air-soft” guns. The new definition would be a gun that “expels a projectile by action of an explosive”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712743
House Bill 4153: Revise firearms definition
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to revise the definition of “firearm” in state statute so it longer applies to BB, pellet or “air-soft” guns. The new definition would be a gun that “expels a projectile by action of an explosive”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712744
House Bill 4154: Revise firearms definition
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to revise the definition of “firearm” in the law that authorizes hunting and fishing regulations, so that it no longer applies to “air soft” or paint ball guns. Restrictions would still apply to use in the field of BB or pellet guns (precision versions of the latter are often used for hunting). This is part of a package that revises the definition of “firearm” in other statutes so it longer applies to BB, pellet, paint ball or “air-soft” guns.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712745
House Bill 4155: Revise firearms definition
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to revise the definition of “firearm” in the state penal code so it longer applies to BB, pellet, paint ball or “air-soft” guns. The new definition would be a gun that “expels a projectile by action of an explosive.” However, using one of those non-firearms to commit a crime would still be subject to serious criminal penalties (the bill authorizes up to five years for a first offense).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712746
House Bill 4156: Revise firearms definition
Passed 89 to 20 in the House on February 26, 2015, to revise the definition of “firearm” in the state law authorizing regulations on selling, purchasing, possessing, and carrying a handgun, To revise the definition of “firearm” in the state penal code so it longer applies to BB, pellet, paint ball or “air-soft” guns. The new definition would be a gun that “expels a projectile by action of an explosive.” However, using a non-firearm to commit a crime would still be subject to criminal penalties.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=706732
House Bill 4160: Revise firearms “brandishing” law
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to establish that using a firearm in self defense or to defend one’s home or property under the 2006 law repealing a legal “duty to retreat” in such situations is not considered illegal “brandishing,” which means to display or wave a firearm in a menacing or threatening manner. Also, to revise the brandishing law to require the behavior to be “willful” in order to warrant criminal prosecution. House Bill 4161 clarifies the definition of brandishing.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712751
House Bill 4161: Revise firearms “brandishing” law
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on April 29, 2015, to define “brandishing” a firearm as “to point, wave about, or display in a threatening manner with the intent to induce fear in a reasonable person.” Under current law “brandishing” is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. See also House Bill 4160, which requires the behavior to be “willful” in order to warrant criminal prosecution, and exempts behavior permitted under the 2006 law repealing a legal “duty to retreat” in a self defense situation or in defense of one’s home or property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712752
House Bill 4363: Increase mechanical contractor license fees
Passed 100 to 10 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend for another four years certain “temporary” increases in mechanical contractor license fees. This and several related fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712772
House Bill 4364: Increase plumbers license fees
Passed 96 to 14 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend for another four years “temporary” increases in plumbers’ license fees. This and several related fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712773
House Bill 4381: Increase licensure fees
Passed 88 to 22 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase license fees imposed on a range of businesses and occupations in which licensure mandates are imposed as a condition of earning a living. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712776
House Bill 4382: Increase licensure fees
Passed 92 to 18 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase license fees imposed on electricians and electrical contractors. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712774
House Bill 4383: Increase licensure fees
Passed 92 to 18 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase annual building inspector registration fees. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712775
House Bill 4384: Increase business fees
Passed 88 to 22 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase the fees imposed on limited liability corporation annual statements of resident agents. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712777
House Bill 4398: Increase business and occupational licensure fees
Passed 98 to 12 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase annual registration fees imposed on stock brokers and advisors. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712779
House Bill 4399: Increase business fees
Passed 98 to 12 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase the fees imposed on limited liability corporation annual statements of resident agents. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712786
House Bill 4400: Increase livestock dealer licensure fees
Passed 99 to 11 in the House on April 29, 2015, to increase the license fees imposed on livestock dealers, truckers, brokers and agents as a condition of earning a living in this profession, and to revise various details in the licensure-related regulations. Technically, this and related bills extend the sunset on previously enacted “temporary” fee increases. The fee increases were proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of his annual budget recommendation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712787
House Bill 4409: Repeal welfare “extender” subsidy
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on April 29, 2015, to repeal a law that requires the state to send $10 per month for six months to former welfare recipients who leave the they no longer qualify. The House Fiscal Agency reports the extra payments cost the state $116,400 annually.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712797
House Bill 4434: Exempt Kent County from higher foster care payment share
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on April 29, 2015, to make subject to annual appropriations a provision that requires the Department of Human Services to pay all of a $3 per day per child per day rate increase for private providers of foster care services, rather than half the amount.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712798
House Bill 4439: Extend sunset on scrap tire vehicle title tax
Passed 102 to 8 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend from Dec. 31, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2019, the $1.50 tire disposal surcharge fee that is tacked on to vehicle title fees.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712788
House Bill 4440: Shift some road tax money from corporate subsidies to road projects
Passed 107 to 3 in the House on April 29, 2015, to not earmark $12 million in annual road tax money to the state “Transportation Economic Development Fund” next year, and instead use it for regular road projects. TEDF money is a type of corporate subsidy in which the state pays for access improvements related to a particular investor’s or developer’s plant or project.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712794
House Bill 4441: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend until Oct. 1, 2016 the authorization for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to collect fees for a number of permit mandates imposed on businesses and industries by state environmental laws.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712789
House Bill 4442: Extend part time independent student scholarships
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on April 29, 2015, to limit to community college students (and not university students) a state scholarship program for part-time independent students (ones who are not a “dependent” of their parents). The bill would also replace a $600 limit on the scholarships with one to be determined by the Department of Treasury, and repeal a ban on granting them to seminary students.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712795
House Bill 4443: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend for another four years (though September of 2019) a $30 State Police fee for taking fingerprints and completing a criminal record check for employment-related or licensing-related purposes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712790
House Bill 4446: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Passed 103 to 7 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend various license fees charged by the Secretary of State, and the amounts the department charges for commercial look-up services, registration services, and bulk record sales.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712792
House Bill 4448: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Passed 107 to 3 in the House on April 29, 2015, to extend for another four years permit and application fees charged by the Department of Environmental Quality for shoreline and waterway infrastructure and construction projects, including marina projects, seawalls, jetties, docks, wharves, stream enclosures, golf courses, waterfront subdivisions, and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712793
House Bill 4515: Mandate employers create job description for each position
Introduced by Rep. Erika Geiss (D) on April 23, 2015, to mandate that employers with five or more employees must create a job description for each position that must include “a list of the essential duties and responsibilities; a description of the skills, training, and effort required to perform the job; and the working conditions and schedule.” Also, to mandate that employers make these available to job applicants, and prohibit employers from the initial and revised job descriptions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169409
House Bill 4516: Make retroactive disabled veteran property tax exemption
Introduced by Rep. Holly Hughes (R) on April 23, 2015, to make retroactive for 2013 and 2014 the principal residence property tax exemption granted to a totally disabled veteran.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169410
House Bill 4517: Revise school bond refunding detail
Introduced by Rep. David E. Rutledge (D) on April 23, 2015, to allow the bond debt of a school district that was consolidated into a larger or different district to be refinanced.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169411
House Bill 4518: Increase renewable energy mandates on utilities
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on April 23, 2015, to revise the 2008 law mandating that electric utilities generate at least 10 percent of their power from “renewable” sources by 2015, by increasing this to 20 percent by 2020.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169412
House Bill 4519: Eliminate renewable energy utility surcharge
Introduced by Rep. Julie Plawecki (D) on April 23, 2015, to eliminate a provision that allows electric utilities to impose a surcharge on customer bills to pay for the mandate imposed by a 2008 law that electric utilities generate at least 10 percent of their power from “renewable” sources.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169413
Senate Bill 271: Ban “two for one” or “all you can drink” sales at bars
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on April 30, 2015, to prohibit bars and restaurants from offering “all you can drink” for a fixed price or “two for the price of one” promotions and sales.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712906
House Bill 4220: Revise “mixed martial arts” regulation, extend to amateurs
Passed 100 to 10 in the House on April 30, 2015, to revise many details of a comprehensive regulatory regime imposed by a 2004 law on professional boxing and martial arts competitions, and extend this regulation to amateur mixed martial arts events. Among other things amateurs would have to get a license, and female contestants would have to get a (negative) pregnancy test within a week of an event.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712959
House Bill 4286: Revise “mixed martial arts” regulations
Passed 99 to 11 in the House on April 30, 2015, to revise the state sentencing guidelines to make it a felony to knowingly allowing a professional to participate as a contestant in an amateur mixed martial arts contest.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=712960
Senate Bill 298: Expand scope of service dog law
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on April 28, 2015, to expand the scope of a law that originally permitted places of public accommodation to allow seeing-eye dogs, and later was amended to require this and expanded to include other specific types of “service dogs.” This bill would expand this law, and a related one prescribing penalties for harassing or injuring a service dog, to include service animals employed by individuals with a broad range of physical or mental impairments included a general definition the bill proposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169419
Senate Bill 299: Expand scope of service dog law
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on April 28, 2015, to revise the law that exempts seeing-eye and other service dogs from canine license fees, so that it reflects the proposal in Senate Bill 298 to expand the range of disabilities covered by this and related service animal laws.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169420
Senate Bill 300: Repeal preemption of local fireworks regulations
Introduced by Sen. Morris Hood, III (D) on April 28, 2015, to repeal the provisions of a 2012 law that legalized the sale and use of “consumer fireworks” which restricted the authority of local governments to regulate fireworks use.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169421
Senate Bill 301: Impose recycling mandate on cell phone and tablet makers
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on April 28, 2015, to expand a 2008 law law that imposed a new regulatory regime mandating that manufacturers of computers and related equipment take back used units and recycle the parts, so that it also applies to cell phones and tablet computers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169422
Senate Bill 302: Restore ban on nude entertainment in liquor license law
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on April 28, 2015, to ban fully nude performers at “topless” bars. This relates to a 2007 federal appeals court ruling that struck down Michigan’s previous law banning fully nude performers in bars, holding it was a violation of the First Amendment. The bill would specifically ban a performance that “exposes to public view the pubic region, anus, or genitals”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169423
Senate Bill 303: Authorize putting municipal cemetery reserves in stocks
Introduced by Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R) on April 29, 2015, to permit municipalities that own a cemetery to invest up to 60 percent of their “perpetual care and maintenance” reserve funds in equities (stocks) via a high rated equity mutual fund.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169426
Senate Bill 304: Clarify scrap metal seller detail
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on April 29, 2015, to clarify that the ban imposed by a 2014 on scrap metal dealers paying cash for purchases of certain items does not apply to the portion of a purchase comprised of other items.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169427
Senate Bill 305: Revise state knife regulations
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on April 29, 2015, to repeal the law banning folding knives that can be opened by a “mechanical contrivance,” and also to preempt local government regulations on knives. The ban was originally targeted at “switchblades,” but many knives used by sportsmen and other legitimate users now have features that could fall under it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169428
Senate Bill 306: Authorize joining multistate “Compact for a Balanced Budget”
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on April 29, 2015, to authorize Michigan’s membership in a “Compact for a Balanced Budget.” This would use the device of a multistate compact to submit an application to Congress calling for an Article V “convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.” This would be limited to proposing an amendment prohibiting Congress from increasing the national debt without the approval of a majority of state legislatures.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169429
Senate Bill 307: Establish sentencing guidelines for car insurance kickback ban
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on April 30, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for a law that prohibits soliciting, paying, or receiving a kickback or bribe in connection with a claim for automotive repair.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169456
Senate Bill 308: Authorize “black Greek letter organizations” specialty plate
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on April 30, 2015, to authorize a specialty license plate honoring several African American fraternities and sororities specified in the bill, with the premium revenue going to the United Negro College Fund.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169457
Senate Bill 309: Revise condominium subdivision details
Introduced by Sen. Jim Stamas (R) on April 30, 2015, to revise details of the signatures and cover sheet contents that are required for a condominium subdivision survey plan, so that among other things they reflect details of the state licensure law that covers architects and engineers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169458
Senate Bill 310: Ban employer sanctions for emergency CAP service
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on April 30, 2015, to prohibit an employer from discriminating against, disciplining or discharging an employee who is absent from work due to serving with the Civil Air Patrol during an emergency declared by the governor.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169459
Senate Bill 311: Ban new charter schools without “certificate of need”
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on April 30, 2015, to prohibit any new charter schools from opening unless the state Board of Education grants a “certificate of need” as defined in the bill. Among other things this would require consideration of a new charter school’s “impact on existing public schools” nearby. The bill also impose more rigorous performance and oversight regulations and procedures on charter schools and the entities that authorize them (usually state universities).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169460
Senate Bill 312: Sell-off property of terminated charter school
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on April 30, 2015, to establish a process for the reversion to the state of property and assets owned by charter school whose authorization is terminated or revoked. The property would be sold and the proceeds distributed as specified in the bill. The bill would also turn over student records of a terminated charter to its authorizing entity (usually a state university), and require the authorizer to post specified details of the termination on the internet.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169461
House Bill 4520: Establish rental unit bedbug procedures
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R) on April 28, 2015, to prohibit a landlord from renting a unit that he or she knows is infested with bedbugs; prohibit tenants from moving infested items into a unit or attempting to apply pest control treatments themselves; and require tenants to grant reasonable access to professional pest management personnel and comply with the control protocols established by the landlord. Tenants who cause an infestation would be responsible for treatment costs, and landlords would have limited liability for items damaged by treatment.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169440
House Bill 4521: Authorize official service dog ID, tag and vest
Introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R) on April 28, 2015, to require the Department of Civil Rights to create an identification card, tag, and vest for a service animal (for example a seeing-eye dog) that is used by a person with a disability, which would demonstrate that the person with their animal is allowed to enter public accommodations where dogs are usually not allowed. The bill would also authorize service dog users to submit complaints the department via an existing 800-number “hotline.” See also House Bill 4527.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169441
House Bill 4522: Expand legislative subpoena power
Introduced by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R) on April 28, 2015, to give the legislature the same power to subpoena and investigate records of local governments, authorities, school districts and community colleges that it now has for records of state departments, boards, institutions, and agencies. See also House Bill 4523.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169442
House Bill 4523: Expand legislative subpoena power
Introduced by Rep. Edward McBroom (R) on April 28, 2015, to expand the power of the legislature to compel testimony and order records be provided so that it applies to “any person or entity” involved in a matter before a legislative committee. See also House Bill 4522.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169443
House Bill 4524: Restrict human lice treatments containing lindane
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on April 28, 2015, to prohibit the sale or use of human lice treatments containing lindane unless it is prescribed by a physician.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169444
House Bill 4525: Require government hotline for rights complaints
Introduced by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D) on April 28, 2015, to require the state Department of Civil Rights to maintain a dedicated phone line and electronic method (website) for individuals to anonymously report alleged violations of the state civil rights act.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169445
House Bill 4526: Revise substitute teacher requirements
Introduced by Rep. Alberta Tinsley Talabi (D) on April 28, 2015, to require substitute teachers in public schools to have at least 10 hours of training in classroom management, instructional techniques, school policies, techniques for working with disabled students and with students granted “individualized education plan” exemption from regular graduation credit requirements. Under current law a substitute teacher must have at least 90 semester hours of college course credit.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169446
House Bill 4527: Revise service dog regulations
Introduced by Rep. David E. Rutledge (D) on April 28, 2015, to authorize criminal penalties of up to 90 days in jail for falsely claiming to have a disability that makes a person eligible for the service animal identification, tag and vest authorized by House Bill 4521. Also, to expand the range of disabilities that makes a person eligible to bring a service animal (such as a seeing-eye dog) into a place of public accommodation where animals are usually not allowed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169447
House Bill 4528: Require reporting of state payments to local governments
Introduced by Rep. Pam Faris (D) on April 28, 2015, to require the state’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) to itemize all payments to each local government during the year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169448
House Bill 4529: Authorize local “pension obligation bonds”
Introduced by Rep. Larry Inman (R) on April 28, 2015, to make permanent a law passed in 2012 to allow local governments to borrow money to cover unfunded employee pension liabilities, which is allowed if the local has closed its traditional “defined benefit” pension system to new employees. Under current law this permission will expire on Dec. 31, 2015.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169449
House Bill 4530: Establish official state bug
Introduced by Rep. Edward McBroom (R) on April 28, 2015, to establish that henceforth, as a matter of law and statute, the ladybug, and no other bug, shall be the official insect of the state of Michigan. The bill does not specify any particular variety of ladybug (family coccinellidae), of which there are more than 5,000 worldwide.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169450
House Bill 4531: Impose licensure on “naturopathic physicians”
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 28, 2015, to impose licensure and regulation on “naturopathic physicians,” with license fees, education requirements, and more. The bill defines “naturopathic” medicine as “a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169451
House Bill 4532: Revise insurance regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 28, 2015, to revise the regulations, and extend a 2 percent tax that applies to policies sold by out-of-state insurance companies not registered in Michigan, to so-called “surplus lines” insurance, which describes a relatively small number of policies sold to cover unusual or very high risk items or activities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169452
House Bill 4533: Create new online child abuse offenders registry
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on April 29, 2015, to create an online public registry of individuals convicted of child abuse crimes, similar to the existing sex offenders registry. The bill prescribes registration requirements, procedures, fees, penalties and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169434
House Bill 4534: Mandate “vessel under tow” flag
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on April 29, 2015, to require a vessel under tow to display at all times a bright orange or red flag at least 12 inches by 12 inches in size that is visible from all directions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169435
House Bill 4535: Revise pistol purchase detail
Introduced by Rep. Lana Theis (R) on April 29, 2015, to exempt law enforcement officers from the law that prohibits purchasing a pistol from an individual unless a person gets a “purchase permit” from local police. A 2012 law repealed this requirement for pistols bought by civilians from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169436
House Bill 4536: Authorize wrongful imprisonment compensation
Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Chang (D) on April 29, 2015, to authorize payment by the state of civil damages to a person wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he or she did not commit. The damages would be $60,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment, plus “economic damages” including lost wages, plus reasonable attorney fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169437
House Bill 4537: Ban employer sanctions for emergency CAP service
Introduced by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R) on April 30, 2015, to prohibit an employer from discriminating against, disciplining or discharging an employee who is absent from work due to serving with the Civil Air Patrol during an emergency declared by the governor.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169467
House Bill 4538: Make homosexuals a civil rights law “protected class”
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on April 30, 2015, to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” to the characteristics that define membership in a protected class, against whom it is a crime to discriminate under the state’s Elliott-Larsen civil rights law. This would make it a crime to deny employment, housing, use of public accommodations, public services, and educational facilities to another person on the basis of a perception that the person has a particular sexual orientation or gender identity.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169468
House Bill 4539: Sell-off property of terminated charter school
Introduced by Rep. Charles Brunner (D) on April 30, 2015, to establish a process for the reversion to the state of property and assets owned by charter school whose authorization is terminated or revoked. The property would be sold and the proceeds distributed as specified in the bill. The bill would also turn over student records of a terminated charter to its authorizing entity (usually a state university), and require the authorizer to post specified details of the termination on the internet.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169469
No wolf hunt?
I’m not sure where we stand on the wolf hunt.
We had a wolf hunt but the feds declared that we couldn’t so I don’t know where we stand.
Senate Bill 134: Appropriations: “Omnibus” education budget
Passed 24 to 14 in the Senate on May 5, 2015, the Senate version of the K-12 school aid, community college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2015. A separate Senate budget authorizes the rest of state government spending (Senate Bill 133). This bill would appropriate $13.969 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $13.870 billion originally appropriated for the prior year. It also appropriates $1.541 billion for state universities, compared to $1.516 billion the prior year. Community colleges would get $394 million, vs. $364 million the prior year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713160
House Bill 4239: Allow disabled to hunt from “personal assistive mobility device”
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 5, 2015, to allow a disabled individual to hunt small game from an electric “personal assistive mobility device,” subject to conditions and restrictions specified in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713208
House Bill 4319: Revise stop at railroad crossings law detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 5, 2015, to revise the law that requires a vehicle to stop at railroad crossings. Currently, this does not apply if a track is “abandoned,” and the bill would expand this to one that is “inactive,” which means the track has been covered or removed and all signs, signals, and other warning devices have been removed.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713210
House Bill 4320: Revise stop at railroad crossings law detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 5, 2015, to authorize posting signs that say “exempt” at inactive railroad crossings where the tracks have been removed or covered up, which would mean school buses are not required to stop. See also House Bill 4319.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713211
House Bill 4390: Allow financial literacy as high school economics credit
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 5, 2015, to allow a financial literacy or “personal economics” course to be substituted for the one-half credit economics course required under state high school graduation standards.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713209
Apparently the feds were unhappy with the states delisting from endangered so they upped it to a federal endangered species listing. grrr.
Senate Bill 133: Appropriations: 2015-2016 “Omnibus” budget
Passed 23 to 15 in the Senate on May 5, 2015, the Senate version of the non-education portion of the state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2015. This would appropriate $38.0 billion, compared to $37.4 billion originally appropriated the previous year. Of this, $17.2 billion comes from state tax, fee and other revenue, compared to $17.6 billion the previous year. The rest of this budget is federal money ($20.8 billion, compared to $19.8 billion the previous year). The education portion of the budget (K-12, community colleges and state universities) is in Senate Bill 134. Altogether, the Senate proposes to spend $53.9 billion next year, vs. $53.2 billion originally appropriated for the current year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713157
Senate Bill 134: Appropriations: “Omnibus” education budget
Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate on May 5, 2015, the Senate version of the K-12 school aid, community college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2015. A separate Senate budget authorizes the rest of state government spending (Senate Bill 133). This bill would appropriate $13.969 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $13.870 billion originally appropriated for the prior year. It also appropriates $1.541 billion for state universities, compared to $1.516 billion the prior year. Community colleges would get $394 million, vs. $364 million the prior year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713133
House Bill 4069: Revise criminal defendant “youthful trainee status”
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on May 7, 2015, to make 21 to 23 year old offenders eligible for criminal defendant “youthful trainee status,” which provides a mechanism for not including the offense on a youth’s permanent record. The bill would also establish various conditions for this status, including a full time school, work or community service requirement and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713275
House Bill 4071: Restrict child custody changes for active military member
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 7, 2015, to revise a 2005 law prohibiting a court from changing an established child custody or parenting time order of a parent has been called to active duty in the military (unless it is the best interest of the child), so as to also allow the military parent to request a stay until he or she has returned from duty at any stage before final judgment in the proceedings.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713330
House Bill 4135: Revise criminal defendant “youthful trainee status”
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on May 7, 2015, to require (rather than just “allow”) that if a young criminal assigned to “youthful trainee status” (which provides a mechanism for not including an offense on the youth’s permanent record) is convicted for a serious felony listed in the bill while in this program, the “trainee” status must be revoked (which means the previous crime also goes on the person’s record).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713277
House Bill 4169: Revise “boot camp” prison alternative detail
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on May 7, 2015, to eliminate the option of sending a youthful offender to prison for up to three years eligible instead of assigning him to a “special alternative incarceration” sentencing program, changing this instead to sending him to prison for two years, parole for three years, or a county jail for up to one year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713276
House Bill 4333: Prohibit MEGA corporate subsidy deal modifications
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on May 7, 2015, to prohibit state “economic development” officials from amending or modifying a corporate tax break and subsidy deal granted to certain businesses and developers under a Michigan Economic Growth Authority law repealed in 2011. The bill was introduced after it was revealed that these agreements have generated an unfunded liability of nearly $10 billion for the state, and that officials continue to amend the deals in ways that may increase this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713292
House Bill 4334: Prohibit MEGA corporate subsidy deal modifications
Passed 104 to 6 in the House on May 7, 2015, to prohibit state “economic development” officials from amending or modifying a corporate tax break and subsidy deal granted to certain businesses and developers under a Michigan Economic Growth Authority law repealed in 2011. The bill was introduced after it was revealed that these agreements have generated an unfunded liability of nearly $10 billion for the state, and that officials continue to amend the deals in ways that may increase this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713293
House Bill 4362: Revise workers comp insurance detail
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 7, 2015, to establish that employers in a workers compensation self-insurance group possess a proportional share of the group’s assets that exceed its self-insurer group obligations, and require these groups to establish processes and procedures to distribute the excess, with state approval.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713376
House Bill 4389: Redesignate a road
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 7, 2015, to designate a segment of US 12 in Berrien County as the “ Trooper Steven B. Devries Memorial Highway”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713328
House Bill 4432: Ban “two for one” or “all you can drink” sales at bars
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on May 7, 2015, to prohibit bars and restaurants from offering “all you can drink” for a fixed price or “two for the price of one” promotions and sales. This would not be prohibited at a private function.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713294
House Bill 4467: Allow more dangerous prisoners at Baldwin private prison
Passed 57 to 53 in the House on May 7, 2015, to allow more dangerous adult prisoners to be held at a privately owned and managed prison whose previous contract with the state to house juvenile prisoners was revoked by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005. Since then the prison has contracted with other states to house their prisoners, although it is closed now.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713322
House Bill 4468: Authorize regional airport authorities
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 7, 2015, to authorize the establishment of regional airport authorities to manage the business operations of local airports. This is primarily directed at creating an authority for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Kent County, but it would apply statewide.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713295
House Bill 4482: Restrict child custody changes for active military member
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 7, 2015, to clarify the definition of “active duty” for purposes of a 2005 law prohibiting a court from changing an established child custody or parenting time order of a parent has been called to active duty in the military. See also Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 4071.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713331
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