House Bill 4793: Revise mental treatment commitment procedures
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on August 18, 2015, to require that the petition filings and “clinical certificates” in cases of a person seeking to have someone committed by a court for mental health treatment must by held by the court as a “confidential record”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170053
House Bill 4794: Require government oil and gas “drilling impact” study
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on August 18, 2015, to require the state to contract for an oil and gas “drilling impact” study that includes a manual of best practices for drilling near residential areas.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170054
House Bill 4795: Authorize sanctions against local gun ban preemption scofflaws
Introduced by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R) on August 18, 2015, to authorize private lawsuits against a local government that violates a state preemption on local firearms ownership or use restrictions, which would allow plaintiffs to collect actual damages and costs if they prevail. Also, to authorize a $5,000 civil fine against elected or appointed local officials who “knowingly and willfully” enact or enforce local restrictions that violate the state preemption.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170055
House Bill 4796: Expand National Guard absence from work excuse
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on August 18, 2015, to expand a prohibition on employers sanctioning employees who are absent because they are National Guard members called to active duty. The bill would specify that this also applies to members of a different state’s National Guard.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170056
House Bill 4797: Require adult always in room with infant in child care
Introduced by Rep. Charles Brunner (D) on August 18, 2015, to require that a staff member must be in the room at all times when an infant less than one year old is in the care of a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170057
House Bill 4798: Increase cap on local “rainy day” funds
Introduced by Rep. Charles Brunner (D) on August 18, 2015, to increase the amount that local governments are allowed to place in a “rainy day fund,” from 15 percent to 20 percent of most recent general fund annual budget.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170058
House Bill 4799: Allow 16 and 17 year olds to “preregister” to vote
Introduced by Rep. Kristy Pagan (D) on August 18, 2015, to allow 16 and 17 year olds to “preregister” to vote when they turn 18.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170059
House Bill 4800: Establish independent political redistricting commission
Introduced by Rep. Jeremy Moss (D) on August 18, 2015, to establish procedures and statutory prescriptions for implementing the proposal in House Joint Resolution AA to create a 14 member citizens redistricting commission to redraw congressional and legislative boundaries after decennial census counts, with members selected in a process overseen by the legislature’s Auditor General office.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170060
House Bill 4801: Revise campaign finance disclosure deadlines
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to revise various campaign finance disclosure filing deadlines for independent and political committees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170061
House Bill 4802: Establish central election mistake database
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to require the Secretary of State to create a centralized registry for electors to report any errors that occur during an election. For context, see Senate Bill 329, now Public Act 43 of 2015.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170062
House Bill 4803: Revise polling place electioneering ban detail
Introduced in the House on August 18, 2015, to require local governments to ensure that electioneering that is not otherwise prohibited by state law be allowed in a nondiscriminatory manner on any property used as a polling place, while the polls are open. Under current law electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of the doors of a polling place, in the room where voting takes place or in a connected “compartment”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170063
House Bill 4804: Create exception to mail-in registration plus absentee first-time vote ban
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to allow first-time voters to vote absentee if their voter registration signature is notarized. Under current law first-time voters who registered by mail must vote in person, so that election officials can confirm they are a real individual.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170064
House Bill 4805: Require picture ID exception notice at polling places
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to require polling places to post a written notice informing voters without a picture identification that they can still vote by signing an affidavit saying that they are who they say they are.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170065
House Bill 4806: Revise polling place electioneering ban detail
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to clarify that a prohibition on electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place is measured from the doorway into the building. Current law specifies the “entrance” to the building.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170066
House Bill 4807: Explicitly include CPL card as acceptable photo ID for voting
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to make explicit in statute that a concealed pistol license is among the forms of valid photo identification for voting. Current law requires voters to show a drivers license, state ID card or “other generally recognized picture identification card”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170067
House Bill 4808: Include “cranial hair prosthesis” (wig) in Medicaid coverage
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 18, 2015, to include “cranial hair prosthesis” (wig) for a person less than age 19 who loses their hair as a result of a medical condition or treatment among the expenses that the state’s medical welfare programs (Medicaid) will pay for.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170068
House Bill 4809: Make mental health treatment a foster child entitlement
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on August 18, 2015, to include children who are in foster care among those who are legally entitled to mental heath treatment paid for by the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170069
House Bill 4810: Make ban on blocking left-lane more emphatic
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on August 18, 2015, to make more explicit the statute that requires a driver cruising in the left land of a multi-lane highway to move over when someone wants to pass, with the usual exceptions for road conditions, obstructions, emergency vehicles, etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170070
House Bill 4811: Expand controlled substance prescription monitoring
Introduced by Rep. Bill LaVoy (D) on August 18, 2015, to require the Department of Community Health to revise its system for monitoring controlled substance prescriptions, so as to allow interstate information sharing with other states that have entered a compact for this and related purposes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170071
House Bill 4812: Allow FDA-designated interchangeable biological drugs
Introduced by Rep. John Bizon (R) on August 18, 2015, to allow pharmacists to dispense FDA-designated interchangeable biological drug products.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170072
House Bill 4813: Revise electrician licensure mandate detail
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on August 18, 2015, to revise staff ratio details in a mandate that requires individuals working as an electrician apprentice to be registered with the state. Current law prohibits registering if the “master” to whom the individual is apprenticed has more than one apprentice. The bill would increase this to two or three based on various factors.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170073
House Bill 4814: Require state agencies post organization chart online
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on August 18, 2015, to require each state department to post on its website an organizational staffing chart.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170074
House Bill 4815: Mandate landlords give new tenants voter registration info
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D) on August 18, 2015, to mandate that landlords provide voter registration information for tenants when they move in.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170075
House Bill 4816: Allow voter registration up to 10 days before an election
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D) on August 18, 2015, to change the deadline for voter registration from 30 days to 10 days before an election.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170076
House Bill 4817: Authorize “junior achievement” income tax checkoff
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R) on August 18, 2015, to allow an individual to choose to automatically contribute $5 or more from his or her state income tax refund to provide grants to local “Junior Achievement” organizations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170077
House Bill 4818: Authorize “junior achievement” income tax checkoff
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R) on August 18, 2015, to allow an individual to choose to automatically contribute $5 or more from his or her state income tax refund to provide grants to local “Junior Achievement” organizations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170078
House Bill 4819: Repeal Right to Work law
Introduced by Rep. John Chirkun (D) on August 18, 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 all employees would be required to pay “agency fees” to the union as a condition of employment.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170079
House Bill 4820: Repeal Right to Work law
Introduced by Rep. John Chirkun (D) on August 18, 2015, to repeal the state’s right to work law for government and public school employees. Specifically, the bill would allow employers to enter an agreement with a union under which all employees would be required to pay “agency fees” to the union as a condition of employment.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170080
House Bill 4821: Mandate employers describe reproductive health coverage to applicants
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on August 18, 2015, to mandate that employers give job applicants information about any reproductive health services and products covered by the employer’s health insurance policy, using notification methods specified in the bill, and notify employees of any change in such coverage at least 90 days before it goes into effect, with failure to do so subject to a $5,000 fine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170081
House Bill 4822: Ban “social promotions” for third graders who can’t read
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on August 18, 2015, to prohibit “social promotions” of third graders who have not reached minimum reading proficiency benchmarks specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170082
House Bill 4823: Mandate reading instruction in teacher certification and training
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on August 18, 2015, to mandate that teacher colleges provide lessons in reading instruction and diagnosing reading problems, and that this be included in the requirement to get the government teaching certificate required to teach in public schools.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170083
House Bill 4824: Give free fishing to developmentally disabled
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on August 18, 2015, to give free fishing licenses to individuals who have a developmental disability.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170084
House Bill 4825: Authorize local landfill regulation on top of state regulation
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on August 18, 2015, to give local governments the power to impose their own landfill regulations on top of the ones imposed by the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170085
House Bill 4826: Ban insurance ownership of body shops
Introduced by Rep. Brain Banks (D) on August 18, 2015, to prohibit auto insurance companies from owning auto repair shops. The bill also prohibits an auto insurance provider from requiring an insured customer to use a particular shop, or having a “preferred facility” list.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170086
House Bill 4827: Create “seed to sale” medical marijuana database
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on August 18, 2015, to require the state to develop a comprehensive “seed-to-sale” tracking system for commercial marijuana, with information on each step including recording final sales to individual customers. This would all be contained in a computer database and would not be a public record, but could be used for enforcing the medical marijuana law, including tracking how much individual card holders purchase and from who.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170087
House Bill 4828: Establish legislative ethics committee
Introduced by Rep. Andy Schor (D) on August 18, 2015, to require the legislature to create a bipartisan legislative ethics committee to investigate ethics violations by lawmakers and employees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170088
House Bill 4829: Mandate non-Detroit employers withhold Detroit income tax
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on August 18, 2015, to require employers who are located outside of Detroit and who employee individuals who live inside the city to withhold city income taxes from the compensation of those employees. This would not apply to small employers (less than 10 employees and $500,000 in annual payroll). This bill has been mentioned as a component in a potential “logroll” deal to get Detroit legislator votes on a large Republican gas tax increase proposal.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170089
House Bill 4830: Authorize enhanced penalties for abortion coercion
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) on August 19, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for penalties proposed by House Bill 4787 of coercing a female to have an abortion against her will.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170096
House Bill 4831: Ban fetal tissue sellers from abortion counseling
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on August 19, 2015, to prohibit an organization that buys, sells or collect fetal tissue, or profits from such sales, from providing abortion counseling. The bill was introduced following release of undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing such activities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170097
House Bill 4832: Revise pharmacist drug storage detail
Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Chang (D) on August 19, 2015, to clarify that the law regulating the location of “schedule 1” drug stocks sold by pharmacists (including narcotics and painkillers) does not apply to drugs kept at home for personal (and presumably legal and prescribed) use.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170098
House Bill 4833: Ban “dismemberment abortion”
Introduced by Rep. Laura Cox (R) on August 19, 2015, to include “dismemberment abortion” in the acts specified in the state’s ban against late-term “partial birth” abortions. The bill defines this as deliberately and intentionally using an instrument to “dismember a living fetus by disarticulating limbs or decapitating the head from the fetal torso and removing the dismembered fetal body parts from the uterus.” The bill was introduced following release of undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the collection and sale of fetal body parts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170099
House Bill 4834: Ban “dismemberment abortion”
Introduced by Rep. Laura Cox (R) on August 19, 2015, to provide sentencing guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 4433 of performing a “dismemberment abortion”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170100
House Bill 4835: Provide for removal of tax appeals board member
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on August 20, 2015, to authorize and prescribe a process for removing a member of a local property tax assessment appeals board of review for malfeasance or for just not doing the job.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170101
House Bill 4836: Accommodate long term care insurance Medicaid “partnership” policies
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on August 20, 2015, to revise the state’s regulations on long term care insurance products to reflect federal rules specifying they include various provisions related to “partnership policies,” which let individuals whose assets exceed the value permitted by Medicaid to nevertheless get Medicaid reimbursements for part of their nursing home costs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170102
House Bill 4837: Revise disabled veteran property tax exemption detail
Introduced by Rep. Holly Hughes (R) on August 20, 2015, to revise details in the law authorizing corrections of an error that results in the denial of a property tax exemption for a disabled veteran.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170103
House Bill 4838: Impose licensure on athlete agents
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on August 20, 2015, to impose licensure (styled as “registration” in the bill) on athlete agents, and create regulations for their activities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170104
House Bill 4839: Impose licensure on athlete agents
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on August 20, 2015, to establish fees for the athlete agents licensure mandate proposed by House Bill 4838 (which is styled as “registration” in that bill). These would include a $250 application fee and $150 annual license (registration) fee.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170105
House Bill 4840: Mandate faith-based adoption agencies participate in placements with homosexuals
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D) on August 20, 2015, to essentially repeal the 2015 law that prohibits requiring adoption agencies to participate in child placements that violate their moral convictions (which essentially means faith-based agencies and placements with homosexuals).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170106
House Bill 4841: Mandate faith-based adoption agencies participate in placements with homosexuals
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on August 20, 2015, to essentially repeal the 2015 law that prohibits requiring adoption and foster care agencies to participate in child placements that violate their moral convictions (which essentially means faith-based agencies and placements with homosexuals).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170107
House Bill 4842: Mandate faith-based adoption agencies participate in placements with homosexuals
Introduced by Rep. Alberta Tinsley Talabi (D) on August 20, 2015, to essentially repeal the 2015 law that prohibits government sanctions against foster care agencies that won’t participate in child placements that violate their moral convictions (which essentially means faith-based agencies and placements with homosexuals).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170108
House Bill 4843: Give overdosing minors immunity if they turn themselves in
Introduced by Rep. Al Pscholka (R) on August 20, 2015, to extend immunity from illegal drug laws for an overdosed minor who shows up at a health facility for observation or treatment. This would also apply a friend who accompanies or assists the overdosed individual.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170109
House Bill 4844: Revise regulatory agency submissions deadlines
Introduced by Rep. Holly Hughes (R) on August 20, 2015, to establish that information demanded by regulatory agencies from regulated individuals or organizations meet any specified deadlines the submittal is postmarked no later than the deadline date.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170110
House Bill 4845: Require court approval for shorter moves by custodial parent
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on August 20, 2015, to revise a law requiring a court order before a parent subject to a child custody order may move more than 100 miles. The bill would change this to 50 miles, as measured by the odometer of a vehicle making the trip.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170111
House Bill 4846: Revise “gun free zone” CPL exception
Introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R) on August 20, 2015, to revise the “gun free zone” provision of the concealed pistol permit law to exempt uniformed members of the active duty military, National Guard or reserve forces.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170112
House Resolution 139: Expel Rep. Todd Courser
Failed 67 to 14 in the House on September 10, 2015, to expel freshmen Representative Todd Courser from the House for using government personnel and resources to cover up an extramarital affair, and for other irregularities in the operation of his office. This was a “trial vote” that failed because two-third of the House is needed to expel a member. Courser resigned within hours of this vote, just before the vote that expelled the other legislator involved in this scandal, Rep. Cindy Gamrat (see House Resolution 141).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=716966
House Resolution 141: Expel Reps. Gamrat and Courser
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on September 11, 2015, to require the House to also adopt HR 145, which requests the Attorney General and State Police to investigate possible criminal violations related to this episode. This was reportedly adopted as part of a deal to get Democratic votes for the expulsion.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170162
House Resolution 141: Expel Reps. Gamrat and Courser
Passed 91 to 11 in the House on September 11, 2015, to expel freshmen Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat from the House for using government personnel and resources to cover up an extramarital affair, and for other irregularities in the operation of their offices. Courser resigned moments before the vote, so the final version only expels Gamrat.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=716968
House Resolution 145: Request criminal investigation of (former) Reps. Courser and Gamrat
Passed by voice vote in the House on September 11, 2015, to request the Attorney General and State Police to investigate possible criminal violations by former Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat related to their use of government resources to cover up an extramarital affair. See also House Resolution 141, which expelled the pair from the House.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170201
Senate Bill 356: Authorize property tax to cover dissolved school district’s debt
Passed 31 to 7 in the Senate on September 10, 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 non-homestead property taxes in the dissolved district’s territory 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). Reportedly the alternative would be for a court to impose a “judgment levy” property tax on residents.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=716896
Senate Bill 384: Authorize establishment of welfare agency police force
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on September 10, 2015, to give the Department of Human Services (the state welfare agency) the authority to appoint agents with the same powers as peace (police) officers and limited arrest powers, for the purpose of investigating welfare fraud.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=716890
House Bill 4856: Require human fetus images be shown in high school biology classes
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R) on September 9, 2015, to require public high school biology courses to include “ultrasound and positron emission tomography (PET) scan images showing the development of an unborn child in the womb”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170174
House Bill 4858: Ban forcing clerics to perform homosexual marriages
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R) on September 9, 2015, to prohibit requiring a religious official to perform or “recognize” a marriage in violation of his or her conscience or religious beliefs. Probably by coincidence, the bill was introduced shortly after a county clerk in Kentucky was jailed for refusing to issue marriage license for homosexuals following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling whose effect was to mandate that state and local governments do this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170176