House Bill 4038: Allow eviction notices by email
Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate on May 12, 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=713590
House Bill 4054: Expand mobile home court regulation
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 12, 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=713591
House Bill 4074: Grant exception to gas station liquor license requirement
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on May 12, 2015, to exempt gas stations that have liquor licenses in a particular township from a mandate to maintain a certain amount of inventory.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713626
House Bill 4075: Cap fees for electronic copy of electronic county documents
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 12, 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=713592
House Bill 4166: Repeal county promotions tax, except for Washtenaw
Passed 73 to 37 in the House on May 12, 2015, to revise a law that allows counties to impose a 0.5 mill property tax for trade expositions, tourism promotion or to advertise the county’s “agricultural advantages.” The law was passed before the 1978 Headlee amendment required voter approval of local millages, and the bill would change the law to require this, with a renewal vote required every five years going forward.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713625
House Bill 4464: Clarify prescription drug sales tax exemption
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on May 12, 2015, to exempt over-the-counter drugs from sales tax if they are obtained under a prescription.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713623
House Bill 4465: Clarify prescription drug use tax exemption
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 12, 2015, to exempt over-the-counter drugs from use tax if they are obtained under a prescription.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713624
Senate Bill 1: Repeal “prevailing wage” law
Passed 22 to 15 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to revise the state school code so that it conforms with the proposal in Senate Bill 3 to repeal the so-called “prevailing wage” law that prohibits awarding government contracts to contractors who submit the lowest bid unless the contractor pays wages based on union-devised pay scales.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713733
Senate Bill 2: Repeal “prevailing wage” law
Passed 22 to 15 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to revise a law that authorizes Detroit to create an entity to distribute selective corporate and developer tax breaks and subsidies so that it conforms with the proposal in Senate Bill 3 to repeal the so-called “prevailing wage” law, which prohibits awarding government contracts to contractors who submit the lowest bid unless the contractor pays wages based on union-devised pay scales.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713734
Senate Bill 3: Repeal “prevailing wage” law
Passed 22 to 15 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to repeal the state “prevailing wage” law, which prohibits awarding government contracts to contractors who submit the lowest bid unless the contractor pays wages based on pay scales that local union officials represent as prevalent in a particular area, but which tend to be above the market rate. The Senate added a modest appropriation, which has the effect of making the bill “referendum-proof”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713736
Senate Bill 139: Authorize fundraising “bake sales” in schools
Passed 66 to 43 in the House on May 13, 2015, to require the Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) to set rules that permit no less than two days a week on which schools could hold fundraising sales of food or beverages that do not meet mandated school lunch nutritional standards. Also, to require schools to notify parents a week ahead of such sales. 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=713671
Senate Bill 152: Revise boxing and “mixed martial arts” regulation
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to revise details of a comprehensive regulatory regime imposed by a 2004 law on professional boxing and “mixed martial arts” competitions. Among other things the bill would index to inflation the license fees imposed on contestants, referees, judges, physicians, matchmakers, timekeepers, contestants, and promoters, without further authorization from the legislature for any increases.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713745
Senate Bill 154: Revise boxing and “mixed martial arts” regulation
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for violations of the prohibited conduct in “mixed martial arts” competitions proposed or amended by Senate Bill 152, which revises boxing and “mixed martial arts” regulations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713746
Senate Bill 165: Authorize pedal-powered beer bars
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to establish in statute that a “commercial quadricycle,” which is a pedal-powered mobile beer bar, is not considered a “motor vehicle” even if it has auxiliary power, and instead would be subject to the less onerous regulations imposed on “low-speed vehicles,” or if operated on a sidewalk, the regulations imposed on “Segways.” Under this and Senate Bill 166 passengers would be allowed to have open beer or wine containers, but the driver would be required to have a blood alcohol level of zero.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713743
Senate Bill 244: Increase fine for illegally shooting game animals
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 13, 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, $3,500 for a bear, $1,500 for an eagle, etc.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713644
Senate Bill 245: Increase illegal game killing penalties
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 13, 2015, to increase the number of years an individual is banned from hunting for illegally shooting, buying or selling a deer, bear, elk, moose, etc. Under current law the suspension is for three years, and the bill would change this to up to 15 years depending on the species.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713645
Senate Bill 246: Increase illegal game killing penalties
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 13, 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.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713646
Senate Bill 251: Establish less formal court procedures for some juvenile crimes
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 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, and access to case records would be restricted.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713740
Senate Bill 270: Authorize out of state guardian or conservator
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to give Michigan courts the authority to appoint a guardian or conservator for a minor or incapacitated individual who is not a Michigan resident if the person “is present or has a significant connection” to the state as defined in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713741
Senate Bill 281: Require audit of 36th district court pension underfunding surcharge
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to allow a bailiff of the 36th district court to be removed from office for inability to perform essential functions of the office. This is the former Detroit “Recorders Court,” and the law that replaced it with the 36th district court had provisions establishing that the current bailiffs could keep their jobs but would not be replaced, and could only be removed for malfeasance.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713742
Senate Bill 304: Clarify scrap metal seller detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 14, 2015, to clarify that the ban imposed by a 2014 law on scrap metal dealers paying cash for purchases of certain items does not apply to the portion of a purchase comprised of other items.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713747
House Bill 4076: Revise firearms transport law detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 13, 2015, to revise a reference in the state penal code to reflect recent changes in the law governing transportation of firearms in a vehicle.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713643
House Bill 4101: Try to “buy-back” state venture capital investment guarantees
Passed 107 to 1 in the House on May 14, 2015, to appropriate $45 million in an effort to buy-back at a discount some $50 million worth of investor return guarantees investor the state gave out under an “early stage venture capital investment” scheme authorized by a 2003 law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713772
House Bill 4162: Remove some licensure restrictions on residential lift installers
Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on May 13, 2015, to exempt residential lift installers from the comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime that applies to regular elevator contractors. Instead, installers would have to be certified by the lift’s manufacturer and carry a $2 million liability insurance policy. This would greatly increase the number of professionals allowed to install stairway chairlifts and platform lifts in private residences for elderly or handicapped individuals.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713647
House Bill 4163: Remove some licensure restrictions on residential lift installers
Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on May 13, 2015, to permit a licensed residential home builder to install residential stairway lifts without being subjected to the much more rigorous licensure provisions that apply to elevator contractors. The residential contractor would have carry $2 million in liability insurance and be certified by the manufacturer of the lifts, which are one-story stair-climbing machines for elderly or handicapped individuals. See also House Bill 4162.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=713648