Initiated Legislation 2: Preempt referendum banning wolf hunt
Passed 65 to 43 in the House on August 27, 2014, to preempt the effect of a referendum placed on the November ballot by interests opposed to wolf hunting, which otherwise would ban wolf hunts if approved by voters. Specifically, this measure would make “referendum-proof” a 2013 law giving the legislature and Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority to decide which species may be hunted in Michigan. It would do so by making a small change to that law and adding a modest appropriation, which under a 2001 Supreme Court ruling makes the law not subject to referendum (see House Joint Resolution Q for an explanation). This measure (Initiated Legislation 2) was sponsored by groups in favor of a wolf hunt, and triggers a process specified by Article 2, Section 9 of the state constitution, in which the legislature has 40 days to pass initiated legislation, or else it automatically goes on the ballot. In short, with passage of this measure by both the House and Senate, an initiative banning wolf hunts that has already been approved for the November 2014 ballot will not go into effect, even if a majority of voters approve it.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=694845
Senate Bill 92: Impose licensure on pharmacy assistants
Passed 101 to 7 in the House on August 27, 2014, to impose licensure and regulation on “pharmacy technicians” (assistants), with license fees, continuing education requirements, test-taking mandates and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=694841
House Bill 5045: Allow local governments to permit golf carts on streets
Passed 103 to 5 in the House on August 27, 2014, to allow cities, villages and townships with fewer than 30,000 residents to permit the daytime operation of golf carts on streets. A local government could require registration but could not charge a fee for this. However, a county commission could override a municipality’s decision and prohibit golf carts on streets.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=694843
House Bill 5725: Codify surplus government property sale procedures
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on August 27, 2014, to codify in statute the procedures, restrictions and requirements for state agencies selling or transferring “surplus” property, including land, buildings and equipment. Among other things, if the transferred property is not used for public purposes then it would have to be sold at fair market value. Also, land transfers would include subsurface mineral rights, but the state would be entitled to half the revenue should these resources be extracted in the future. Most of this reflects current practice.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165019
House Bill 5726: Ban auto repair shops installing loud mufflers
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on August 27, 2014, to prohibit auto repair shops from installing a muffler or exhaust system that permits decibel levels higher than a vehicle’s original stock system, subject to a $10,000 fine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165020
House Bill 5727: Place precise definition of individual’s age in statute
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on August 27, 2014, to establish that for purposes of interpreting various statutes that specify a person’s age, “the applicable period is computed from the first minute of the day on which the individual is born.” Therefore, an “individual becomes one year older on the first minute of the anniversary date of the individual’s birth”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165021
House Bill 5728: Establish procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on August 27, 2014, to establish procedures for transferring the property of a school district that has become fiscally unviable to one or more nearby school districts. (See 2013 House Bill 4813, now Public Act 96 of 2013, enacted when the Buena Vista and Inkster school districts reached this state.) Specifically, this bill specifies procedures for when the receiving district does not want the dissolved district’s buildings or land. The Intermediate School District would then have the right of first refusal, with other local government entities next in line. If none of them wanted the property it would be sold, with unpaid lenders of the dissolved district having first claim to the proceeds. The state would be responsible for any demolition costs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165022
House Bill 5729: Exempt Masons lodges from property tax
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on August 27, 2014, to allow local governments to exempt property owned by Masons’ lodges from local property tax, but not from school operating taxes, if the property is used for charitable purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165023
House Bill 5730: Let local governments ban “jake brakes”
Introduced by Rep. Robert Genetski (R) on August 27, 2014, to allow local governments to ban the use of truck compression brakes (“jake brakes”) on sections of state trunk line highways passing through their jurisdiction where the speed limit is 35 mph.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165024
House Bill 5731: Restrict state regulations more stringent than federal
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on August 27, 2014, to prohibit state agencies and departments from imposing a regulation more stringent than required by federal regulations unless the agency’s director determines there is a “clear and convincing” need to do so.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165025
House Bill 5732: Appropriations: Supplemental school aid budget
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on August 27, 2014, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental school aid appropriation for Fiscal Year 2014-2015. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165026
House Bill 5733: Allow homestead property tax exemption for inherited residence
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on August 27, 2014, to allow an individual who has inherited a dwelling that was the decedent’s principle residence, and who also has an principle residence property tax exemption on his or her current home, to claim the Proposal A principle residence (homestead) tax exemption on both properties for up to three years, or until the inherited residence is sold or leased.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165027
House Bill 5734: Earmark some sales tax to roads
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on August 27, 2014, to earmark $125 million in sales tax revenue to road projects during the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2014, and $250 million the following year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165028
House Bill 5735: Ban cell phone use in road construction zone
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on August 27, 2014, to ban using a hand-held cell phone while driving in a posted construction zone when workers are present.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165029
House Bill 5736: Ban sale of Kratom to minors
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on August 27, 2014, to ban the sale to minors of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), which is a tropical tree whose leaves are reportedly chewed by users to deliver an opium-like high.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165030
House Bill 5737: Require advance filing of precinct delegate write-in candidates
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on August 27, 2014, to require precinct delegate candidates who plan to run as a write-in to file a declaration of intent no later than 4 p.m. on the second Friday immediately before the election.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165031
House Bill 5738: Authorize back-to-school “sales tax holiday”
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on August 27, 2014, to exempt from sales tax up to $75 spent on certain items of clothing during August, plus $15 worth of school supplies, and up to $750 for a computer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=165032