House Joint Resolution O: Make university boards subject to open records and meetings laws
Introduced by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R) on April 9, 2015, to place before voters in the next general election a constitutional amendment that would make the governing boards of state universities subject to the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169174
Senate Bill 356: Revise procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Introduced by Sen. Kenneth Horn (R) on June 3, 2015, to allow the school districts that absorbed portions of the Buena Vista school district in Saginaw County, which was dissolved in 2012 after becoming fiscally unviable, to levy property taxes to pay off some of debt the failed district incurred to cover operational expenses, subject to restrictions specified in the bill (and in the state constitution). See also Senate Bill 173 and House Bill 4644.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169721
Senate Bill 357: Establish drunk driver vehicle interlock device regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on June 3, 2015, to revise a state vehicle service and repair regulation law so it conforms with the proposal in Senate Bill 176 to establish regulations, procedures and fees for drunk driver vehicle interlock device installers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169722
Senate Bill 358: Revise teacher certificate detail for out-of-state teachers
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on June 3, 2015, to give the state Superintendent of Public Instruction more discretion in defining the “ongoing professional learning requirements” that a person with at least three years teaching experience in another state must also have received as a condition for getting a Michigan teaching certificate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169720
Senate Bill 359: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 3, 2015, to prohibit the state from considering contributions, distributions, earnings or balances in a disabled person’s ABLE education and living expense savings account (see Senate Bill 361) in the formula used to determine financial eligibility for Medicaid benefits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169723
Senate Bill 360: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 3, 2015, to increase from $235,000 to $500,000 the maximum balance allowed in Michigan “section 529” education savings plans for a particular beneficiary. This is part of a legislative package comprised of Senate Bills 359 to 362 and House Bills 4542 to 4544, which create a new type of such account.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169724
Senate Bill 361: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 3, 2015, to authorize a new “ABLE account” tax advantaged savings plan to cover education and living expenses for beneficiaries who are disabled. Mirroring the recent federal law that created these accounts, under House Bill 4544 and Senate Bill 359 balances and distributions from a beneficiary’s account would not be included in gross income or assets for purposes of caps limiting various state aid programs. Senate Bill 360 would increase the maximum balance allowed in these and other “529” savings plans to $500,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169725
Senate Bill 362: Create college saving plan for disabled students
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on June 3, 2015, to authorize a state income tax deduction of $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for a joint account, for contributions to a disabled person’s “ABLE” education and living expense savings account that Senate Bill 361 would authorize.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169726
Senate Bill 363: Revise fees to build private harbor
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on June 3, 2015, to waive any lease charges to the state that might otherwise be owed by an waterfront property owner who erects breakwaters that create a private harbor, if the harbor is not used for commercial purposes, and if distressed mariners can seek refuge in it during a storm.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169727
Senate Bill 364: Exempt trigger locks from sales tax
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on June 3, 2015, to exempt trigger locks, gun safes and lockboxes, and other home firearm safety devices from sales tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169728
Senate Bill 365: Exempt trigger locks from use tax
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on June 3, 2015, to exempt trigger locks, gun safes and lockboxes, and other home firearm safety devices from use tax.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169729
Senate Bill 366: Impose regulation on government record services
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on June 3, 2015, to impose regulations, disclosure requirements, price caps and more on businesses that solicit a fee for providing copies of various government records.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169730
Senate Bill 367: Authorize a “Thin Blue Line” specialty license plate
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on June 4, 2015, to authorize a “Thin Blue Line” specialty license plate, with the net revenue going to the “Thin Blue Line” organization, to be used solely to assist and support the families of injured or deceased law enforcement officers within the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169731
Senate Bill 368: Revise income tax on pension income detail
Introduced by Sen. Kenneth Horn (R) on June 4, 2015, to slightly expand the scope of a state income tax exemption for pension income collected by person who worked for a government agency whose employees were not covered by Social Security (which means they paid no payroll tax and received no Social Security credits while employed there).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169732
Senate Bill 369: Authorize alcohol manufacturer retail shop tax breaks
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on June 4, 2015, to exempt from use tax the tools and equipment purchased by a brewer, winemaker or distilled liquor maker to create products it sells directly to customers at its own locations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169733
Senate Bill 370: Authorize alcohol manufacturer retail shop tax breaks
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on June 4, 2015, to exempt from sales tax the tools and equipment purchased by a brewer, winemaker or distiller create products it sells directly to customers at its own locations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169734
Senate Bill 371: Ban intent to sell ivory and rhinoceros horn products
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on June 4, 2015, to ban the importation, sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell of ivory or rhinoceros horns and products, subject to fines $5,000 or double the value of the products for second offenses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169735
Senate Bill 372: Revise firefighter certification detail
Introduced by Sen. Dale W. Zorn (R) on June 4, 2015, to waive a state firefighter certification testing requirement for a person from another state where this certification is based on the same national standards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169737
Senate Bill 373: Increase mandated minimum wage for tipped employees
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on June 4, 2015, to mandate that employers pay workers who receive tips a base wage that is the same as the minimum wage mandated for non-tipped workers. Under current law the base rate for tipped employees is 38 percent of the minimum wage for other workers, but a tipped-worker’s employer must still pay the difference between this amount and the regular amount if tips come up short. The current regular minimum wage is $8.15 per hour, which rises to $9.25 in 2018.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169738
Senate Bill 374: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169739
Senate Bill 375: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Peter MacGregor (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169740
Senate Bill 376: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. David Knezek (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169741
Senate Bill 377: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169742
Senate Bill 378: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169743
Senate Bill 379: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169744
Senate Bill 380: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169745
Senate Bill 381: Change “venereal disease” references to “sexually transmitted infection”
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on June 4, 2015, to change references to “venereal disease” in the state Health Code to “sexually transmitted infection.” The code has separate references to viral diseases like AIDS.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169746
House Bill 4658: Revise claims against the state procedures
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on June 2, 2015, to revise the procedures used by both a plaintiff and a state agency for the plaintiff to collect on a successful judgement or allowance of a claim against the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169747
House Bill 4659: Require local zoning board approval of new school site
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on June 2, 2015, to require the local government zoning board to approve the site of any new school.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169748
House Bill 4660: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on Health Maintenance Organization enrollment figures, copays and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169749
House Bill 4661: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Lana Theis (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the medical malpractice insurance market and claim experience in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169750
House Bill 4662: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Hank Vaupel (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the state of competition in the commercial liability insurance market.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169751
House Bill 4663: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission compile an annual report on details and the number of health insurance policies with a coverage period of less than six months.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169752
House Bill 4664: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the degree of competition in the worker’s compensation insurance market statewide.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169753
House Bill 4665: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that providers of liability insurance covering a municipality or other government entity submit certain periodic reports to the state, and that the state insurance commission compile these into other reports.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169754
House Bill 4666: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Derek Miller (D) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate statutory references to the municipal claims reports that House Bill 4665 would eliminate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169755
House Bill 4667: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a requirement that the state insurance commission prepare an annual report on the availability of liquor licensee liability insurance.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169756
House Bill 4668: Eliminate obsolete or useless government reports
Introduced by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R) on June 2, 2015, to eliminate a provision that allows the liquor control commission to waive a requirement that liquor license applicants and renewals have proof of liability insurance, if the annual insurance availability report that House Bill 4667 would repeal indicated that it wasn’t available.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169757
House Bill 4669: Allow sports betting in Detroit casinos
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 2, 2015, to allow sports betting in Detroit casinos.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169758
House Bill 4670: Allow horse race betting in Detroit casinos
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 2, 2015, to allow simulcast horse race betting in Detroit casinos.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169759
House Bill 4671: Ban welfare-related prescription drug benefits for illegal drug violator
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on June 2, 2015, to prohibit giving an individual convicted of an illegal drug crime prescription drugs under the state’s medical welfare programs, including Medicaid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169760
House Bill 4672: Ban smoking in car with minor
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on June 2, 2015, to ban smoking in a vehicle with a minor present, subject to a $500 fine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169761
House Bill 4673: Prescribe requirements for removing “squatters” from property
Introduced by Rep. LaTanya Garrett (D) on June 2, 2015, to prohibit a property owner from attempting to evict “squatters” from the property unless he or she is accompanied by a law enforcement officer who has been provided with proof that the person entering the premises is the owner.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169762
House Bill 4674: Revise mental health outpatient treatment procedures
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on June 2, 2015, to revise rules and procedures for assisted outpatient treatment under Michigan’s mental health assistance programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169763
House Bill 4675: Authorize removal of individual records from pistol purchase database
Introduced by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R) on June 2, 2015, to establish that if an individual requests his or her information be removed from a state “pistol entry database,” the State Police must remove that information within 14 days, and notify the individual by first-class mail that this has been done. Until a 2012 repeal, individuals were required to get a “purchase permit” from local police to buy a pistol. The current law no longer requires this for pistols purchased from a federally licensed firearms dealer, who run all purchases through a national “instant background check” database instead.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169764
House Bill 4676: Revise sentencing guideline references
Introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R) on June 2, 2015, to update references to specific criminal statutes in the state sentencing guidelines law to reflect various revisions to the state criminal code.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169765
House Bill 4677: Revise agricultural property splits
Introduced by Rep. David Maturen (R) on June 2, 2015, to permit agricultural property that is eligible for certain property tax breaks to be split into smaller parcels, with some of the land removed from agricultural use (with its associated tax breaks) and some of it remaining agricultural (and keeping the tax breaks).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169766
House Bill 4678: Give state flag to deceased legislators’ survivors
Introduced by Rep. Fred Durhal, III (D) on June 3, 2015, to create a new law called the “Legislative Funeral Act” that would require the state to give a state flag to the survivor of a current or former legislator who dies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169767
House Bill 4679: Restrict injection well placement
Introduced by Rep. Bill LaVoy (D) on June 3, 2015, to prohibit locating an “injection” well for disposing of hazardous material, or for storing other material (potentially including carbon dioxide), in a region determined to have “Karst geology”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169768
House Bill 4680: Extend prison industry law
Introduced by Rep. David Pagel (R) on June 4, 2015, to extend for five years a law that allows a private business to market textiles produced cut and sewn by state prisoners if this does not compete with any other products made in Michigan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169769
House Bill 4681: Authorize property tax “user fee” in specified situation
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on June 4, 2015, to permit local governments to impose a “user fee” on property owners as a means of collecting revenue that exceeds the amount the state property tax assessment laws provide, if the property taxes previously paid by the owner were based on an assessment methodology that valued the property as if it was vacant and available for purchase, when it was actually occupied being used for a “substantial business purpose”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169770
House Bill 4682: Give veterans hunting lottery preference
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on June 4, 2015, to give veterans preference in getting those hunting permits that are allocated through a lottery process.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169771
House Bill 4683: Create regional electric utility “integrated resource plans”
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on June 4, 2015, to require the state Public Services Commission to create “integrated resource plans” for electric power generation in the different regions of the state as specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169772
House Bill 4684: Revise road funding allocations
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on June 4, 2015, to “flip” the allocation of state road repair funding from 39.1 percent for state highways and 21.8 percent for cities and villages, to 39.1 percent for cities and villages and 21.8 percent for state highways. Counties would continue to get the same amount as currently, 39.1 percent.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169773
House Bill 4685: Revise sales tax on motor fuel detail
Introduced by Rep. Earl Poleski (R) on June 4, 2015, to revise details of the sales tax “prepayments” made by gasoline and diesel fuel refiners, wholesalers, distributors, etc., when these involve “bulk transfers” between such entities. Under current law most sales tax on fuel is not paid by consumers and collected by retailers “at the pump,” but is collected when the fuel is transferred to a distributor.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169774
House Bill 4686: Revise city sidewalk liability
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on June 4, 2015, to establish that a municipality being sued for an injury related to a sidewalk “discontinuity” may any use any common law defense available to regular people, including that the condition was “open and obvious.” Current law limits local government defenses in these suits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169775
House Bill 4687: Eliminate cap on teacher certificate test fee
Introduced by Rep. Adam Zemke (D) on June 4, 2015, to eliminate a $50 cap on the amount the state can charge for taking a test required to obtain a state teacher certificate and related subject area “endorsements”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169776
Senate Bill 217: Revise forest property tax break details
Passed 89 to 20 in the House on June 9, 2015, to clarify eligibility details related to 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=714871
Senate Bill 305: Preempt local knife regulations
Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on June 9, 2015, to preempt local governments from enacting or enforcing an ordinance or rule relating to the transportation, possession, carrying, sale, transfer, purchase, gift, devise, licensing, registration, or use of a knife or knife-making components.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714819
Senate Bill 321: Revise Bay County judge details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 10, 2015, to not reduce the number of judges in the 18th judicial circuit (Bay County) by one as prescribed by current law, and instead decrease by one the number of judges in the 74th district court, which also covers Bay County.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714899
Senate Bill 336: Authorize “Amber Alert” type system for at-large cop killer
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 10, 2015, to establish procedures for rapidly disseminating useful information to radio and television stations when a person suspected of killing or seriously injuring a police officer is on the loose and dangerous. This would be called a “blue alert”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714900
Senate Bill 351: Ban divorce lawyer “ambulance chasing”
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on June 10, 2015, to prohibit a lawyer from soliciting business from a party to a divorce action within 21 days after proof of service in the action was filed with the court, punishable by fines of $1,000, and $5,000 for subsequent violations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714901
House Bill 4188: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 10, 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=714911
House Bill 4189: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 10, 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=714912
House Bill 4190: Let adoption agencies refuse adoptions that violate moral convictions
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 10, 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=714913
House Bill 4245: Revise building code officials registration detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 10, 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=714896
House Bill 4447: Increase and/or extend government license and permit fees
Passed 32 to 6 in the Senate on June 10, 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.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714902
House Bill 4468: Authorize regional airport authorities
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 10, 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=714897
House Bill 4605: House GOP road funding package
Passed 62 to 47 in the House on June 10, 2015, to earmark a portion of state income tax revenue to road funding, starting with $192 million in 2016 and increasing to $717 million in 2019.
According to the House Fiscal Agency, this and other bills in the House package would generate an additional $1.163 billion in annual road repair funding by 2019 with just $119 million in tax increases. Given projected under the road funding package the amount of general fund dollars available for other (non-road) spending would increase by $355 million in 2019, versus an increase of $1.137 billion without the package. The road package includes House Bills 4605 to 4615.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714964
House Bill 4606: House GOP road funding package
Passed 64 to 45 in the House on June 10, 2015, to earmark a portion of the annual state sales tax revenue that comes from fuel purchases (around $127 million in 2019) to road funding. See also House Bill 4605.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714965
House Bill 4607: House GOP road funding package (corporate subsidies repeal)
Passed 60 to 49 in the House on June 10, 2015, to no longer spend $75 million annually on various direct and indirect subsidies granted to corporations and developers under the “21st Century Jobs Fund” rubric, and instead use this money on road repairs and improvements (but not on city bus subsidies and other transit spending).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714966
House Bill 4608: House GOP road funding package (corporate subsidies repeal)
Passed 59 to 50 in the House on June 10, 2015, to no longer channel $60 million in payments from Indian casinos to the “Michigan Strategic Fund,” which is the entity under which the state’s various corporate subsidy programs are organized, and instead use this money for road repairs and improvements (but not city bus subsidies and other transit spending). Also, to establish as the “intent of the legislature” that the MSF continue to spend at least $29 million annually from its other revenue sources on the “Pure Michigan” advertising campaign.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714968
House Bill 4609: House GOP road funding package (EITC repeal)
Passed 57 to 52 in the House on June 10, 2015, to eliminate the state earned income tax credit, which grants recipients an amount equal to 6 percent of the federal EITC. The EITC is a refundable tax credit (or “reverse income tax”) that sends checks to low income workers, totaling around $115 million annually. This is part of a House package that generates $1.163 billion more for annual road repairs by 2019, mostly by reprioritizing current state spending.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714969
House Bill 4610: House GOP road funding package
Passed 63 to 46 in the House on June 10, 2015, to establish that if a township contributes 50 percent or more to the cost of a road project, it can require the county road commission to contract for the work through competitive bidding.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714970
House Bill 4611: House GOP road funding package
Passed 65 to 44 in the House on June 10, 2015, to clarify and revise details of ambiguous sections of a law that appears to require road agencies to seek competitive bids for projects greater than $100,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714971
House Bill 4612: House GOP road package - hybrid and electric car surcharge
Passed 59 to 50 in the House on June 10, 2015, to impose an annual vehicle registration surtax of $30 on gas-electric hybrid-drive cars, and $100 on pure electric (battery) cars.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714972
House Bill 4613: House GOP road funding package
Passed 100 to 9 in the House on June 10, 2015, to require local road agencies to get a contractor’s warranty on all road projects that cost more than $2 million “where possible.” The bill would also earmark some annual revenue for grade crossing surface work, and revise details of how money from various road funding sources can be used.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714974
House Bill 4614: House GOP road funding package
Passed 59 to 50 in the House on June 10, 2015, to revise details of the Michigan version of the “Streamlined Sales Tax” project being pursued this and most states with the goal of taxing out-of-state purchase, so that it conforms with the proposal in House Bill 4615 to extend motor fuel taxes to natural gas burned in Michigan by trucks that was purchased in other states, and to extend the sales tax credit interstate truckers are allowed on fuel purchased in this state.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714975
House Bill 4615: House GOP road package - diesel fuel tax increase
Passed 58 to 51 in the House on June 10, 2015, to increase the current 15 cents per gallon diesel fuel tax to 19 cents per gallon, and index future diesel and gasoline tax rates to inflation. Also, to tax natural gas and other “alternative fuels” burned by vehicles at an equivalent rate. This is part of a House package that by 2019 generates $1.163 billion more for road repairs by reprioritizing current spending, except for this bill’s $78 million tax increase.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714976
House Bill 4616: House GOP road funding package
Passed 58 to 51 in the House on June 10, 2015, to increase the current 15 cent per gallon motor carrier fuel tax imposed on interstate truckers to 19 cents per gallon, and revise it to conform with the extension of this tax to natural gas and other “alternative fuels” burned by interstate trucks, both of which mirror the proposals in House Bill 4615 to raise and extend the tax on regular in-state diesel purchases.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714977