enate Bill 821: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 107 to 2 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of a mechanism created by a 2012 legislative package enacted to distribute some state use tax revenue to local governments, which would replace revenue they lose due to reductions in the “personal property tax” imposed on business tools and equipment. The bill is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 821 to 830, which essentially replace all of the foregone local personal property tax revenue from that 2012 tax cut, rather than most of it. For any of this to happen voters must approve related changes to the state “use tax” in an August, 2014 ballot initiative; this legislative package was negotiated to forestall local government opposition to that measure.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688143
Senate Bill 822: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 104 to 5 in the House on March 25, 2014, to increase the earmark of state use tax revenue authorized by a 2012 legislative package enacted to distribute some revenue from this tax to local governments, as a replacement for revenue they lose due to reductions in the “personal property tax” imposed on business tools and equipment. The bill is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 821 to 830, which essentially replace all of the foregone local government revenue from that 2012 personal property tax cut measure, instead of replacing most of it. For any of this to happen voters must approve related changes to the state “use tax” in an August, 2014 ballot initiative; this legislative package was negotiated to forestall local government opposition to that measure.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688144
Senate Bill 823: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of a “personal property tax” exemption for manufacturing facilities, which was the device used by a 2012 legislative package enacted to cut this property tax imposed on business tools and equipment, and replace the foregone local government revenue with money from the state “use tax.” For any of this to happen voters must approve related changes to the use tax in an August, 2014 ballot initiative; the legislative package comprised of Senate Bills 821 to 830 was negotiated to forestall local government opposition to that measure.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688145
Senate Bill 824: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of state authorities created by a 2012 legislative package enacted to cut the “personal property tax” imposed on business tools and equipment, and replace the foregone local government revenue with state use tax revenue. See Senate Bill 822.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688147
Senate Bill 825: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 106 to 3 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of the August 2014 ballot initiative authorized by a 2012 legislative package enacted to cut the “personal property tax” imposed on business tools and equipment, and replace the foregone local government revenue with state use tax revenue. See Senate Bill 822.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688146
Senate Bill 826: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of a “personal property tax” exemption for manufacturing facilities, which was a device used by a 2012 legislative package enacted to cut this property tax imposed on business tools and equipment. See Senate Bills 821 and 822.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688148
Senate Bill 827: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of a “personal property tax” exemption for manufacturing facilities, which was a device used by a 2012 legislative package enacted to cut this property tax imposed on business tools and equipment. See Senate Bill 822.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688149
Senate Bill 828: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on March 25, 2014, to revise details of a “personal property tax” exemption for smaller commercial businesses, which was a device used by a 2012 legislative package enacted to cut this property tax imposed on business tools and equipment. See Senate Bill 822.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688150
Senate Bill 829: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 105 to 4 in the House on March 25, 2014, to replace a local “essential services special assessment” (tax) with a state version. The local version was authorized by a 2012 personal property tax reform law to reimburse local governments for lost revenue from the tax cuts in that 2012 law. Senate Bill 822 would increase an earmark of the state use tax to essentially replace all of the foregone local government revenue instead of most of it. The revenue the state gives up to the earmark would be replaced by imposing the tax authorized by this bill on some but not all of the businesses getting a tax cut. In addition, the political appointees on the board of the state economic development agency empowered to grant exemptions to particular firms they select. For any of this to happen voters must approve related changes to the state use tax in an August, 2014 ballot initiative; the current proposal is intended to forestall local government opposition to that measure.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688151
Senate Bill 830: Revise 2012 “personal property tax” reform law
Passed 105 to 4 in the House on March 25, 2014, to authorize a lower “assessment” (tax) than the tax authorized by Senate Bill 829, which would be levied on the tools and equipment of certain kinds of businesses, or ones meeting other specified criteria. See also Senate Bill 822.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688152
Senate Bill 431: Give “biobased” products state purchasing preference
Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to require the state to give preference in purchasing and procurement to products with a higher amount of “biobased” components.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688204
Senate Bill 547: Revise consumer loan law details
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on March 26, 2014, to revise details in provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code that address “negotiable instruments,” including checks and similar rights to payment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688241
Senate Bill 548: Revise consumer loan law details
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on March 26, 2014, to revise details of a “Uniform Electronic Transactions Act” that governs the terms and conditions under which information and signatures can be transmitted, received, and stored by electronic means.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688242
Senate Bill 549: Revise financial institutions check processing rule detail
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on March 26, 2014, to revise and update details in the Uniform Commercial Code that govern how financial institutions process checks.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688243
Senate Bill 551: Revise secured loan default details
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on March 26, 2014, to revise details of the Uniform Commercial Code that governs secured loan defaults to specify limitations on the recovery available for loss to a debtor.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688244
Senate Bill 585: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to raise the minimum age for prostitution-related crimes to from 16 to 18, and prohibit local units of government from enacting ordinances that establish lower minimum ages. Individuals under this age caught violating the law would be presumed to be victims of some kind of coercion and could be taken into protective custody and placed under probate (family) court supervision.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688199
Senate Bill 593: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to require child placement agencies to give special consideration to information that a child may be the victim of human trafficking crimes, and on that basis find that the usual reunification, adoption, or other foster care services may not be suitable. Instead, the child would have to be placed in a setting that provided mental health, counseling, or other specialized services appropriate for a human trafficking victim.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688200
Senate Bill 598: Human trafficking crime package
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to include “enticing a female away under 18 years of age” to commit prostitution-related crimes in the “predicate” crimes that come under the state racketeering law (RICO), which among other things would allow the seizure and sale of a violator’s assets, with the proceeds going to law enforcement agencies. Unrelated to human trafficking, the bill would also add felony liquor control code violations related to the sale, delivery, or importation of spirits to the predicate RICO offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688202
Senate Bill 613: Permit keeping road kill
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to allow a driver who kills or injures a game animal other than bird on the road to keep it, and give the driver first priority if more than one person wants it. The Department of Natural Resources would be required to issue a “salvage tag” if requested, which would be required to get the carcass stuffed or tanned by a taxidermist. The driver would have to keep a record of the circumstances until the game is consumed or discarded.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688205
Senate Bill 714: Adopt “collaborative law” law
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to adopt a “uniform collaborative law act” which would establish a statutory framework for using a collaborative process to resolve disputes arising under Michigan’s family laws or domestic relations laws without having to go to court.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688206
Senate Bill 758: Authorize more stringent sanctions for delinquent hotel tax
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to empower counties that choose to impose a tax of up to 5 percent on hotel and motel room charges to enforce the tax with the more stringent sanctions authorized by the state property tax law for delinquent “special assessment” levies, which include forfeiture and foreclosure. Currently, the maximum penalty permitted by the law authorizing this tax is 25 percent of the delinquent amount, plus interest, and up to 90 days in jail.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688195
Senate Bill 780: Appropriate $27.7 million for state land acquisitions and recreation projects
Passed 106 to 3 in the House on March 26, 2014, to appropriate $27.6 million from the state Natural Resources Trust Fund for various land acquisitions and recreation projects. State oil and gas well royalty money is earmarked for this fund.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688248
Senate Bill 786: Give tax breaks to aquaculture and hydroponics
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to exempt aquaculture and hydroponics production facilities from property taxes. Senate Bill 787 would instead impose a new “specific” tax equal to 25 percent of the regular property tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688197
Senate Bill 787: Give tax breaks to “aquaculture” and hydroponics
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to impose a new “specific” tax on aquaculture and hydroponics production facilities, equal to 25 percent of the regular property tax rate; Senate Bill 786 would exempt these operations from the regular property tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688198
Senate Bill 820: Revise CON health facility rationing board detail
Passed 107 to 2 in the House on March 26, 2014, to require that an individual representing “nonprofit mutual disability” insurance companies be on the board of the state “Certificate of Need” rationing commission, which requires health care providers to seek government permission to open or expand a facility or add certain capital-intensive equipment (like MRIs).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688246
Senate Bill 862: Allow alcohol at Michigan Stadium international soccer game
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to allow the sale of alcohol at the University of Michigan football stadium in Ann Arbor during a potential soccer game in August 2014 between the Manchester United and Real Madrid international soccer teams.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688207
Senate Bill 869: Remove specific fishing season dates from statute
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to eliminate the statutory fishing season dates for largemouth and smallmouth bass, which would leave setting the dates to the state Natural Resources Commission.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688208
House Bill 4288: Restrict use of “indirect” tax audits
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to prohibit the Department of Treasury from levying a delinquent sales tax assessment on a person or business based on an “indirect audit,” if a taxpayer has filed all the required returns and has maintained and preserved adequate records as required. The bill also establishes minimum standards for such “indirect audits”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688196
House Bill 4292: Restrict use of “indirect” tax audits
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to prohibit the Department of Treasury from levying a delinquent use tax assessment on a person or business based on an “indirect audit,” if a taxpayer has filed all the required returns and has maintained and preserved adequate records as required. The bill also establishes minimum standards for such “indirect audits”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688203
House Bill 4295: Adjust school budget projections, appropiate extra money
Passed 105 to 4 in the House on March 26, 2014, to adopt a version of the bill that does not contain $30 million in extra spending approved by the Senate for grants to schools with more “at risk” students, or $2 million the Senate added for class size reduction grants. This version also increases to $750,000 a cap on how much a single school district can get from a year-round school pilot program grant the bill funds, and does not authorize a student nutrition and behavior tracking software program for schools included in the original House version.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688254
House Bill 4467: Don’t impose “insurance” regulations on extended service contracts
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on March 26, 2014, to establish that service contracts covering the future maintenance, repair or replacement of vehicles, building or other property are not “insurance” subject to the licensure mandates and regulations imposed by the state insurance code.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688194
House Bill 5248: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on March 26, 2014, to waive fees charged for state-imposed dental assistant and hygienist licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged veteran who performed these roles in the military.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=688245