Senate Bill 50: Expand ORV shoulder riding
Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to prohibit the Department of Natural Resources from requiring a permit merely for organized group recreational off-road vehicle riding on state land, or for an ORV event on frozen lakes. Also, to require the DNR to designate at least two days each year as free ORV-riding days, when no ORV license is required.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666845
Senate Bill 114: Revise commercial rental property assessment occupancy formula
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to eliminate the use of rental property occupancy rate decreases in determining the taxable value of property. The bill is a response to a 2002 Supreme Court ruling (WPW vs. Troy) which held that the Constitutional tax cap put in place by Proposal A in 1994 capped annual increases in the assessments of commercial property whose assessment had previously been lowered because of high vacancy rates.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666842
Senate Bill 163: Revise wetland use permit details
Passed 66 to 42 in the House on June 12, 2013, to expand certain exemptions to a state wetland permit mandate, increase some wetland permit fees and reduce others, require permit denials to document their rationale and authority, authorize grants to local governments to create “wetland mitigation banks,” slightly reduce regulatory burdens imposed on county drain commission activities, slightly increase the state’s burden to justify restrictions on an owner’s use of his or her property, prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from imposing regulations that beyond the scope those required by federal law, and make other changes to these land use restrictions.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666814
Senate Bill 250: Authorize enhanced penalty for assaulting health professional
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to authorize enhanced penalties in for committing an assault in which the victim is a health care professional.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666762
Senate Bill 263: Revise unused rail line divestiture detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to revise details of the law that establishes timetables for the state divesting itself of unused rail right of ways.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666846
Senate Bill 270: Convert 21st Century Jobs Fund from rule-based to discretionary corporate subsidies
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to essentially eliminate requirements that certain proportions of the money spent by a “21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidy program go to specified actions, including the state government buying shares of particular companies or giving them loans or cash grants, a tourism industry marketing subsidy, and other so-called government ‘economic development’ spending. This and related bills would in general convert this from appearing to be a ‘rule-based’ subsidy program governed by statutory prescriptions and restrictions into one in which the political appointees on the Michigan Strategic Fund board have more discretion to give out subsidies as they choose. See also Senate Bills 269 to 272 and 278, House Bills 4481 and 4482, and 2012 Senate Bill 929, now Public Act 145 of 2012.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666839
Senate Bill 271: Revise corporate and developer subsidy regime
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to increase maximum amount of state “community revitalization” grants (formerly “brownfield” and “historic preservation” tax credits) that can be awarded to a particular developer, corporation or other special interest from $1 million to $2.5 million. The bill would also eliminate various statutory prescriptions and restrictions on how the political appointees on the Michigan Strategic Fund board may spend state revenues allocated to this subsidy program, and also delete certain disclosure and reporting requirements.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666840
Senate Bill 272: Authorize corporate and developer “port facility” subsidies
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to expand the mission of the Michigan Strategic Fund to include providing undefined subsidies for corporations, developers and other entities involved in port facilities. Also to include in its mission dredging recreational or commercial harbors, subject to future appropriations and any conditions attached to them.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666841
Senate Bill 300: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 32 to 6 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to create a Michigan indigent defense commission to establish statewide standards and accountability measures for court-appointed attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, and establish a process by which all counties in the state would be required to conform with the standards. If a local failed to adopt them, the commission could take over its indigent defense administration, and impose a gradually increasing portion of the state’s costs for this, up to 40 percent. Locals would be responsible for maintaining funding at current levels, and all this would be subject to a detailed appeals process. The bill authorizes but does not fund state grants to cover increased costs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666848
Senate Bill 301: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 32 to 6 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to revise the law that requires a court to assign counsel to an indigent person charged with a criminal offense so it conforms with the indigent defense minimum standards process proposed by Senate Bill 300.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666849
Senate Bill 330: Increase state disaster fund deposits
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to require the legislature to annually appropriate between $2 million and $4.5 million to a state disaster and emergency contingency fund; current statute requires between $30,000 and $750,000. Also, to increase the maximum assistance grant to a local government from $30,000 or 10 percent of the local’s operating budget, whichever is less, to $100,000 or 10 percent.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666844
Senate Bill 360: Authorize enhanced penalty for assaulting health professional
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to revise the criminal sentencing guidelines for the penalties proposed by Senate Bill 250 for assaulting or battering a health care professional.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666763
House Bill 4082: Authorize Alzheimer’s association tax checkoff
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to create a state fund to collect the revenue from the income tax checkoff proposed by Senate Bill 150 and give it to the Michigan Alzheimer’s Association.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666761
House Bill 4084: Authorize Lou Gehrig’s disease income tax checkoff
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to create a state fund to collect the revenue from an income tax checkoff proposed by Senate Bill 150 and House Bill 4085, and spend it on government subsidies to research or clinics treating persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666754
House Bill 4085: Authorize Lou Gehrig’s disease income tax checkoff
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to allow an individual to choose to automatically contribute $5 or more from his or her state income tax refund to provide grants to the Michigan Alzheimer’s association, a state “military family relief fund” created by a 2004 law, and to provide government subsidies to research or clinics treating persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”). The checkoffs would have the effect of reducing the amount of a person’s tax refund. A person not receiving a refund could use his or her tax return to contribute to the programs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666756
House Bill 4459: Prohibit TIFA “capture” of Detroit Zoo or Arts tax money
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on June 13, 2013, to prohibit the “capture” by a Downtown Development Authority’s tax increment finance scheme of regional property taxes imposed to subsidize the Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Institute for the Arts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666838
House Bill 4525: Revise sentencing guidelines for arson
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on June 12, 2013, to revise the state sentencing guidelines in a way that authorizes more severe penalties for arson.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666815
House Bill 4591: Exempt home monitoring system installers from electrician licensure mandate
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to prohibit local governments from requiring a home monitoring system provider or a security alarm system provider to obtain a permit or license to do work associated with either of those systems. “Home monitoring system,” is defined as allowing a homeowner to remotely monitor their home through audio, video, or sensor detection systems and that may allow remote control of temperature, humidity, lighting, doors, locks and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666757
House Bill 4592: Exempt home thermostat installers from mechanical contractor licensure
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to establish that a “mechanical contractors” license is not required for a registered or licensed security alarm provider or contractor to install a home thermostat.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666758
House Bill 4737: Don’t require building permit for “home monitoring systems”
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to establish that the state building code requires no building permit for work related to a home monitoring system if performed by a registered or licensed provider. “Home monitoring system” is defined as equipment and devices that allow an individual to remotely monitor his or her home through audio, video, or sensor detection systems, and allow remote control of home temperature, humidity, lighting, doors and locks.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666759
House Bill 4743: Allow local holiday fireworks regulations
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 12, 2013, to allow local governments to ban the use of consumer fireworks between midnight and 8:00 a.m. on the day before, day of, and day after a national holiday (in larger communities the allowable deadline would be 1:00 a.m. on New Years). The 2012 law legalizing these fireworks (which include firecrackers, bottle rockets, aerial spinners, Roman candles, etc.) essentially preempted local bans on their use at all hours during these holiday periods.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666777
Senate Bill 264: Accelerate dredging permit processing deadlines
Passed 83 to 23 in the House on June 13, 2013, to accelerate the deadline for the state to process a dredging permit, and reduce the fees if the dredged material is at least 90 percent sand.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666950
Senate Bill 284: Revise home heating welfare program
Passed 86 to 21 in the House on June 13, 2013, to authorize imposing a $1 per month surcharge on customer electric utility bills, and use the money to provide up to $50 million annually in low income home heating subsidies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666958
House Bill 4344: Revise special Detroit powers population threshold
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on June 13, 2013, to revise the population threshold in a law that gives Detroit the power to define a fire arson investigator as a police officer. The Michigan constitution prohibits passing “local acts” with less than a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate, so the legislature has circumvented this by granting certain privileges or exemptions to “a city with a population greater than 1 million,” later revised to 900,000, and then 750,000. This bill changes that to 600,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666956
House Bill 4478: Revise voter signature detail
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on June 13, 2013, to allow a voter who can’t sign his or her own name because of a disability to use a signature stamp where signatures are required on election-related documents.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666957
House Bill 4529: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 101 to 6 in the House on June 13, 2013, to create a Michigan indigent defense commission to establish statewide standards and accountability measures for court-appointed attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, and if the state Supreme Court agrees, establish procedures by which an agency would be created to enforce expeditious adoption of the standards in local jurisdictions. If a local failed to adopt them, this agency would take over its indigent defense administration, and impose a gradually increasing portion of the state’s costs for this, up to 40 percent. Local governments would be responsible for maintaining funding at current levels. The bill authorizes but does not fund state grants to cover increased costs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666961
House Bill 4530: Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards
Passed 101 to 6 in the House on June 13, 2013, to revise the law that requires a court to assign counsel to an indigent person charged with a criminal offense so it conforms with the indigent defense minimum standards process proposed by House Bill 4529.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666962
House Bill 4691: Revise carnival ride regulation detail
Passed 60 to 46 in the House on June 13, 2013, to eliminate a state government “carnival amusement safety board.” The bill would not affect the regulations and inspection requirements for carnival rides.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666949
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion, with conditions
The substitute
passed by voice vote in the House on June 13, 2013, to adopt a version of the bill that does not require federal approval-in-advance of certain cost-saving Medicaid reforms before the expansion can proceed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159308
House Bill 4714: Accept federal health care law Medicaid expansion, with conditions
Passed 76 to 31 in the House on June 13, 2013, to expand Medicaid eligibility to families and childless adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which implements a key component of the federal health care law (aka “Obamacare”). Under that law, the feds are supposed to pay 100 percent of the expansion’s cost during the first three years, with the state responsible for not more than 10 percent of the costs starting in 2020. This does not contain a provision in the original version of the bill requiring the federal government to approve certain cost-saving state Medicaid reforms before the expansion could proceed.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666980
House Bill 4731: Waive commercial road test for certain recent veterans
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on June 13, 2013, to waive a required state examination for meeting firefighter professional qualification standards, if an applicant is a recent military veteran with relevant experience.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666952
House Bill 4754: Establish that military experience meets mechanical contractor licensure requirements
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on June 13, 2013, to waive a requirement that an applicant for a mechanical contractor license must have at least three years in the field, if the individual is a recent military veteran with relevant service experience.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666954
House Bill 4765: Extend foreclosure restrictions sunset
Passed 98 to 9 in the House on June 13, 2013, to extend until June 30, 2014 the sunset on a 2009 law that forces mortgage lenders to attempt to negotiate revisions in the terms of delinquent loans before they can proceed to a “foreclosure by advertisement” (instead of the more costly judicial foreclosure process). This would be the second time this “temporary” law has been extended.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666965
House Bill 4766: Revise foreclosure restrictions
Passed 99 to 8 in the House on June 13, 2013, to allow a mortgage borrower from an institution that was a defendant that entered into a consent judgment in United States of America, et al. v Bank of America Corp., et al, to request a face to face meeting with the lender to attempt to work out a modification to avoid foreclosure, and delay foreclosure until after the meeting.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666969
House Bill 4813: Establish procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Passed 58 to 49 in the House on June 13, 2013, to establish criteria and procedures for dissolving a school district that has become so fiscally unviable that it can no longer educate students, and for attaching the failed district’s territory to one or more nearby school districts. The bill was introduced after the Buena Vista and Inkster school districts reached this state shortly before the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666994
House Bill 4815: Establish procedures for dissolving fiscally failed school district
Passed 58 to 49 in the House on June 13, 2013, to revise school aid distribution provisions in the state school aid act to reflect the proposal in House Bill 4814 to establish procedures for dissolving a fiscally failed school district and attaching its territory to nearby districts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=666997