Senate Bill 569: Increase cap on local “rainy day” funds
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on October 20, 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=170464
Senate Bill 570: Exempt certain sportsmen club property from property tax
Introduced by Sen. Peter MacGregor (R) on October 20, 2015, to exempt property owned by sportsmen or gun clubs from property tax if their facilities are available to the public for charitable nonprofit purposes at least 55 days annually.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170465
Senate Bill 571: Revise political campaign restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on October 20, 2015, to define “commingled and connected organization” for purposes of laws restricting contributions to political campaigns. This refers to money given to an intermediary organization and distributed to a political campaign organization subject to contribution limits and reporting mandates.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170466
Senate Bill 572: Revise tax exemption for elderly and disabled housing
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on October 21, 2015, to authorize particular exceptions to procedures used to obtain a property tax exemption for housing occupied by elderly or disabled families.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170479
Senate Bill 573: Tighten abortion provider restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on October 21, 2015, to require existing facilities that provide abortions to get a freestanding surgical outpatient facility license.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170480
Senate Bill 574: Mandate specified nurse-patient ratios
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on October 21, 2015, to mandate that hospitals maintain detailed staff-to-patient ratios specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170481
Senate Bill 575: Restrict state contracts to abortion providers
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on October 21, 2015, to prohibit giving state contracts spending either federal or state money to an entity that performs more than 120 abortions per year and that advertises outpatient abortion services.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170482
Senate Bill 576: Revise prison ombudsman law
Introduced by Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R) on October 21, 2015, to reflect privatized prison services to revise restrictions on releasing information obtained by a state “corrections ombudsman” office, which was created to investigate issues related prisoners, parolees, guards and prison employees, and specifically authorize it interviewing prison contractor employees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170483
Senate Bill 577: Revise building permit detail
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on October 21, 2015, to establish that fire alarm system “shop drawings” prepared for a building permit application do not have to be prepared by a licensed architect or engineer.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170484
Senate Bill 578: Revise home mortgage lender requirements
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on October 22, 2015, to replace a particular declaration required by a law that regulates and restricts home mortgage providers with a reference to a federal regulation this is based on.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170495
House Bill 4999: Revise veterinary medicine prescription regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Edward McBroom (R) on October 20, 2015, to revise a law restricting purchases of veterinary medicine prescriptions from an out of state vendor, to include “veterinary prescriber” to the out-of-staters for whom this is permitted. The bill also raises some veterinary licensure fees.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170468
House Bill 5000: Limit imposing building code regulations for barn events
Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on October 20, 2015, to exempt from state building code standards barns and other unheated and un-air conditioned buildings that are on agricultural land and are not used for retail business, but are used for “seasonal private events”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170469
House Bill 5001: Increase massage therapist licensure requirements
Introduced by Rep. Dan Lauwers (R) on October 20, 2015, to increase from 500 to 625 the number of hours in massage therapy courses and “clinical education” that a person must take before the state will allow them to earn a living as a massage therapist.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170470
House Bill 5002: Make it a crime to injure “vulnerable roadway user”
Introduced by Rep. George T. Darany (D) on October 20, 2015, to make it a criminal misdemeanor subject to a year in prison to commit a traffic infraction (moving violation) that causes injury or death to a “vulnerable roadway user.” The bill also defines this term to include human, electric or gasoline powered vehicles, including wheelchairs, bicycles and others, with less than one horsepower or 750 watts, and not capable of going more than 20 mph.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170471
House Bill 5003: Mandate five-foot clearance when passing bicycle
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on October 20, 2015, to require drivers who are passing a bicyclist going the same direction on the road to stay at least five feet to the right. Also, to allow passing a bicycle in a no passing zone if there is enough room to make it safe to do so.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170472
House Bill 5004: Make it a crime to injure “vulnerable roadway user”
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on October 20, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 5002 of omitting a traffic infraction (moving violation) that causes injury or death to a “vulnerable roadway user”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170473
House Bill 5005: Expand electricity choice
Introduced by Rep. Jim Runestad (R) on October 20, 2015, to revise a 10 percent cap the legislature imposed in 2008 on the amount of the electricity market that can be served by generators who are in competition with regulated monopoly utilities. The bill would establish that power sold to hospitals and health care facilities is exempt from the 10 percent competition cap.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170474
House Bill 5006: Redesignate a road
Introduced by Rep. Tom Cochran (D) on October 20, 2015, to designate a portion of I-496 in Lansing as the “Lansing Firefighter Dennis E. Rodeman Memorial Freeway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170475
House Bill 5007: Invalidate recent school audits
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on October 21, 2015, to essentially cancel the requirement for and results of school district financial audits that were initiated before Oct. 1, 2014. The annual audits are a longstanding requirement specified in state law, and among other things affect how much funding districts get from the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170488
House Bill 5008: Grant property tax breaks for certain energy conversion devices
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on October 21, 2015, to exempt certain small scale energy devices to exempt certain small scale solar, wind, biomass, hydro or geothermal solar energy conversion devices from property taxes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170489
House Bill 5009: Tax credit for teacher out-of-pocket expenses
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on October 21, 2015, to authorize an income tax credit of up to $1,000, $2,000 on a joint return, for classroom supplies purchased by public school teachers out of their own.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170490
House Bill 5010: Authorize voluntary police school patrols
Introduced by Rep. Jason Sheppard (R) on October 21, 2015, to allow schools to enter agreements with law enforcement officers to voluntarily patrol school premises “for the sole purpose of preventing or responding to a mass casualty event connected with illegal activity.” House Bill 5011 would authorize a modest tax credit for the volunteers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170491
House Bill 5011: Authorize voluntary police school patrols
Introduced by Rep. Brandt Iden (R) on October 21, 2015, to authorize a state income tax credit of up to $500 for a law enforcement officer who voluntarily patrols school premises as specified by House Bill 5010.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170492
House Bill 5012: Authorize voluntary police school patrols
Introduced by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D) on October 21, 2015, to require the State Police to make available to schools their list of law enforcement officers in the state for purposes of seeking the voluntary patrols House Bill 5010 would authorize.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170493
House Bill 5013: Mandate specified nurse-patient ratios
Introduced by Rep. Jon Hoadley (D) on October 21, 2015, to mandate that hospitals maintain detailed staff-to-patient ratios specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170494
House Bill 5014: Extend Medicaid health insurance claims tax
Introduced by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R) on October 22, 2015, to repeal the 2017 sunset on a 6 percent tax on the managed care health care providers (hospitals) that provide most Medicaid services, which is designed to “game” the federal Medicaid program in ways that result in higher federal payments to Michigan’s medical welfare establishment (including those same hospitals).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170500
House Bill 5015: Facilitate cogeneration and “small power” facilities
Introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn (R) on October 22, 2015, to require the Public Service Commission to adopt procedures and standards specified in the bill intended to facilitate regulated utilities acquiring electric power from cogeneration facilities and “small power production facilities” as defined in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170501
House Bill 5016: Reimburse utilities for costs imposed by road and other projects
Introduced by Rep. Eric Leutheuser (R) on October 22, 2015, to require local governments of the state Department of Transportation to reimburse expenses incurred by a utility in relocating facilities due to road or other projects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=170502
Senate Bill 244: Increase fine for illegally shooting game animals
Passed 76 to 29 in the House on October 28, 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=718431
Senate Bill 245: Increase illegal game killing penalties
Passed 78 to 27 in the House on October 28, 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=718432
Senate Bill 246: Increase illegal game killing penalties
Passed 77 to 28 in the House on October 28, 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=718433
Senate Bill 538: Revise unclaimed property law
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 28, 2015, to revise details of the state â€escheats law†that lets the state government take possession of unclaimed property if the owner does not claim it within three years. Among other changes the bill authorizes a streamlined audit process for some holders of unclaimed assets.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718405
Senate Bill 543: Authorize foster care scholarships tax checkoff
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 28, 2015, to allow an individual to choose to automatically contribute $5 or more from his or her state income tax refund to provide college scholarships to children in foster care.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718406
Senate Bill 544: Authorize foster care scholarships tax checkoff
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 28, 2015, to allow an individual to choose to automatically contribute $5 or more from his or her state income tax refund to provide college scholarships to children in foster care.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718407
House Bill 4022: Require steps to avoid foster child identity theft
Passed 105 to 0 in the House on October 28, 2015, to require foster care caseworkers to annually request credit reports on each foster care child they are assigned, and if the report suggests the presence of fraudulent activity in the child’s name, report this to the court at the next 90-day review of the child’s foster care plan. The individual appointed by the court to guard the child’s legal interest (guardian ad litem) would then be required to contact the credit reporting agency immediately and request they remove the fraudulent activity from the report. The caseworker also would be required to discuss these matters with the child.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718430
House Bill 4134: Establish that military experience meets boiler installer licensure requirements
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 28, 2015, to establish that having recent and relevant military training and experience meets the criteria for obtaining the state license mandated to earn a living as a boiler installer, boiler repairer or boiler special inspector.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718408
House Bill 4321: Restrict warrantless residence searches
Passed 83 to 22 in the House on October 28, 2015, to establish that a law enforcement officer may not search a residence without a search warrant if a resident expressly objects, even if another resident consents after the objector is no longer physically present. This would not apply if one resident is the victim of a crime committed by another resident, or in “exigent†circumstances, meaning there is imminent danger to people, a suspect may escape or evidence may be destroyed.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718429
House Bill 4362: Revise workers comp insurance detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 28, 2015, to establish that employers in a workers compensation self-insurance group possess a proportional share of the group’s assets that exceed its self-insurer group obligations, and require these groups to establish processes and procedures to distribute the excess, with state approval.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718404
House Bill 4653: Authorize use of drivers license photos for CPL license
Passed 101 to 4 in the House on October 27, 2015, to allow the Secretary of State to provide access to digitized drivers license photographs to the State Police for purposes of using this photo on an individual’s concealed pistol license.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718381
House Bill 4727: Restrict “meteorological towersâ€
Passed 103 to 2 in the House on October 28, 2015, to prohibit the state aeronautics commission from allowing construction of a tower that does not comply with local zoning restrictions, and impose regulations and restrictions on “meteorological towers†erected to measure wind for commercial wind generation turbines. Owners of existing towers would be required to register them, paint them and place lights on the according to specifications in the bill, and meet other regulations. The National Safety Aviation Board has asked states to regulate these towers because they are hard for airplane pilots to see.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718428
House Bill 4767: Expand meth-related pseudoephedrine restrictions
Passed 104 to 1 in the House on October 28, 2015, to authorize up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for attempting to persuade a person to purchase ephedrine or pseudoephedrine while knowing that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Current penalties apply only if the attempt succeeds in persuading someone.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718434
House Bill 4768: Expand meth-related pseudoephedrine restrictions
Passed 103 to 2 in the House on October 28, 2015, to establish sentencing guidelines for the penalties proposed by House Bill 4767 for attempting to persuade a person to purchase ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718435
House Bill 4769: Increase meth production penalties near school
Passed 99 to 6 in the House on October 28, 2015, to increase the penalties for manufacturing methamphetamine near a school or library.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718436
House Bill 4864: Expand meth-related pseudoephedrine purchase restrictions
Passed 103 to 2 in the House on October 28, 2015, to impose a five-year “stop sale alert†on individuals convicted of the crime proposed by House Bill 4767 of attempting to persuade a person to purchase ephedrine or pseudoephedrine while knowing that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine (called “smurfingâ€). This refers to an existing mandate on retailers to electronically submit information on would-be pseudophed buyers to a national database, which is capable of generating a real-time “stop sale” alert on an individual.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=718437