Weekly/biweekly Michigan legislative activism thread December 7, 2012

Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 58 to 52 in the House To prohibit employers from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. The bill also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof." All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Reps. Forlini, Goike, Horn, McBroom, Somerville and Zorn.

, Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate The Senate vote on the same "right-to-work" measure described above. All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Sens. Casperson, Green, Nofs and Rocca.

, Extend "right-to-work" to government and school employees: Passed 22 to 4 in the Senate To prohibit Michigan governments and schools from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.

, Subsidize new Red Wings Stadium: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate To allow property tax revenue "captured" by the Detroit "Downtown Development Authority" to pay the debt on money borrowed to provide taxpayer subsidies for a particular developer's new sports stadium and associated projects (Mike Ilitch). The bill would also exempt DDAs from property and other taxes, and revise details of public officials' appointments to DDA boards.

, Create Detroit streetlight authority: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate To authorize a Detroit streetlight authority with the power to borrow money to restore the city's streetlights, 70 percent of which are reportedly out. The bill requires passage of House Bill 5705, which would let Detroit earmark current utility tax revenue to pay off the new debt, and Senate Bill 970, which would suspend a required city income tax reduction until the new debt is paid off. It also allows Detroit's city unions to bargain for the unionization of the authority's employees.

, Create Detroit regional mass transit authority: Passed 57 to 50 in the House To create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers, the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit.

, Authorize Detroit regional transit vehicle registration tax: Passed 57 to 50 in the House To give the regional transit authority proposed by Senate Bill 909 (above) the power to impose a higher vehicle registration tax in the region to pay for buses and other public transportation. A vote of the people would be required, but if approved region-wide the tax would still be imposed on individual communities that vote against it (no local "opt-out").

, Ban abortion coverage from "Obamacare“ exchange: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate To prohibit health insurance acquired (and subsidized) through an “exchange” created under the federal health care law from including coverage for elective abortion.

, Give county officials power to halt recall as "non-factual": Passed 65 to 43 in the House To require county election commissions to determine whether the reasons for a recall petition are stated both "factually and clearly." Under current law, they must simply determine whether the recall language is clear. Note: This may violate Article 8, Section 8 of Michigan's constitution, which asserts that recallers don't have to justify their reasons, but only make them clear.

, Require parental permission to place student with "ineffective" teacher: Passed 60 to 49 in the House To require a public school district to get the written consent of a parent or guardian before placing a child in a classroom with a teacher who is rated “ineffective” under a new state rating system.

Authorize “essential services” tax on industrial plants: Passed 57 to 52 in the House To give local governments the power to impose targeted property taxes on industrial and commercial property deemed by the bill to be “especially benefited” by fire, police and ambulance services. This would replace some of the revenue from proposed reductions in the property tax imposed on business tools and equipment ("personal property tax").

, Repeal BCBS tax exemption, regulate like other insurers: Passed 61 to 49 in the House To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into a “nonprofit mutual insurance company” (technically "owned" by the policy holders), make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes.

, Give special treatment to firms submitting to “environmental leader” process: Passed 65 to 43 in the House To give certain businesses special treatment in awarding state contracts, eligibility for government subsidies, environmental permit and inspection mandates, and more, if the firm submits itself to a government “environmental leader” designation process. This would require a company to demonstrate that it has no outstanding permit violations or serious past ones, adopt certain practices not required by law, submit to certain additional reporting mandates, participate in “workshops,” etc.

Senate Bill 585: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on October 3, 2013, to raise the minimum age for prostitution-related crimes to from 16 to 18, and prohibit local units of government from enacting ordinances that establish lower minimum ages. Individuals under this age caught violating the law could be taken into custody and placed under probate (family) court supervision.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161002

Senate Bill 586: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Tory Rocca (R) on October 3, 2013, to authorize diverting individuals under age 18 arrested for violating prostitution laws into probate (family) court supervision rather than criminal court prosecution. The court would be required to hold a hearing to determine if the juvenile was a victim of a human trafficking offense.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161003

Senate Bill 587: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Vincent Gregory (D) on October 3, 2013, to require a state agency supervising a child found to be the victim of human trafficking to provide psychological counseling services.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161004

Senate Bill 588: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on October 3, 2013, to establish as an “affirmative defense” for a person being prosecuted for a prostitution-related offense that the individual did it only because of his or her status as a victim of a human trafficking crime.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161005

Senate Bill 589: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on October 3, 2013, to add human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation of children to the (statutory) grounds for terminating a parent’s parental rights.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161006

Senate Bill 590: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on October 3, 2013, to allow human trafficking victims to sue violators for damages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161007

Senate Bill 591: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on October 3, 2013, to establish that an individual could have prostitution or other criminal convictions cleared from his or her record if the offense was due to being a victim of a human trafficking crime.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161008

Senate Bill 592: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on October 3, 2013, to revise the general state welfare law to authorize medical and psychological assistance benefits for having been a victim of a human trafficking crime.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161009

Senate Bill 593: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on October 3, 2013, to require child placement agencies to give special consideration to information that a child may be the victim of human trafficking crimes, and on that basis find that the usual reunification, adoption, or other foster care services may not be suitable.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161010

Senate Bill 594: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R) on October 3, 2013, to allow local governments to adopt ordinances requiring individuals working at an adult entertainment business (strip club) to get a permit.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161011

Senate Bill 595: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on October 3, 2013, to impose a $3 per customer fee for entering an adult entertainment business (strip club), with the money going into a state fund.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161012

Senate Bill 596: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on October 3, 2013, to create a state “human trafficking board” to collect and disseminate information on this crime, seek federal and other aid for addressing it and helping victims, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161013

Senate Bill 597: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on October 3, 2013, to require that medical professionals receive training to identify the signs of human trafficking in patients.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161014

Senate Bill 598: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on October 3, 2013, to include “enticing a female away under 18 years of age” to commit prostitution-related crimes in the “predicate” crimes that come under the state racketeering law (RICO), which among other things would allow the seizure and sale of a violator’s assets, with the proceeds going to law enforcement agencies. Unrelated to human trafficking, the bill would also add felony liquor control code violations related to the sale, delivery, or importation of spirits to the predicate RICO offenses.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161015

Senate Bill 599: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on October 3, 2013, to prohibit using the internet or a computer system to solicit a prostitute who is less than 21 years of age.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161016

Senate Bill 600: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 3, 2013, to authorize specific regulations and procedures for the use of wiretapping and electronic monitoring to investigate human trafficking crimes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161017

Senate Bill 601: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 3, 2013, to authorize the use of covert listening “bugs” to investigate human trafficking crimes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161018

Senate Bill 602: Human trafficking crime package
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on October 3, 2013, to require individuals convicted of soliciting a prostitute to register on the state sex offender registry.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161019

House Bill 5053: Clarify cash register “zapper” crime jurisdiction
Introduced by Rep. Ellen Lipton (D) on October 3, 2013, to clarify jurisdiction details of a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying the records of electronic cash registers (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160983

House Bill 5054: Expand ban on electronic cash register dirty tricks devices
Introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D) on October 3, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the expanded scope proposed by House Bill 5050 for a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying the records of electronic cash registers (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160984

House Bill 5055: Make target pay arrest warrant costs
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on October 3, 2013, to empower courts to order a person convicted of a crime to reimburse the expenses incurred in executing a bench warrant for the person’s arrest.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160985

House Bill 5056: Revise state preschool grant detail
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on October 3, 2013, to allow state grants for preschool programs intended for children from low income households to also pay for higher income children if this does not displace any low income children in a particular school’s program.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160986

House Bill 5057: Abolish adverse possession
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on October 3, 2013, to abolish the doctrine of adverse possession, by which a person who is in open possession of property for a certain period of time may claim title to it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160987

House Bill 5058: Revise county tax foreclosure detail
Introduced by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on October 8, 2013, to allow a particular county that chose to have the state foreclose tax delinquent property in the county to rescind that decision for one year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161027

Senate Bill 603: Mandate criminal background check to adopt a pet
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on October 8, 2013, to authorize animal shelters to access the government “internet criminal history access tool” (ICHAT) for purposes of performing the background check that Senate Bill 604 would mandate that they do on an individual person who wants to adopt an animal, and exempt them from the usual fees for these checks.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161023

Senate Bill 604: Mandate criminal background check to adopt a pet
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on October 8, 2013, to mandate that animal shelters must check a government criminal records database before letting person adopt an animal, and prohibit adoptions the records show a person committed an animal cruelty offense in the past five years.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161024

Senate Bill 605: Mandate criminal background check to adopt a pet
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 8, 2013, to require prosecuting attorneys to report to the State Police all animal abuse charges (not just convictions), and require the State Police to enter these into the state’s criminal records database. Senate Bill 603 would mandate that animal shelters must check individuals who want to adopt a pet against this online database.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161025

Senate Bill 606: Repeal ocularist registration
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 9, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a registration mandate on ocularists and ocularist apprentices, who design, fabricate, and fit “ocular prosthetic appliances,” or artificial eyes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161043

Senate Bill 607: Repeal ocularist registration
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 9, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a registration mandate on ocularists and ocularist apprentices, who design, fabricate, and fit “ocular prosthetic appliances,” or artificial eyes. Senate bill 606 repeals the registration and this bill repeals the associated fee.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161044

Senate Bill 608: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 9, 2013, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161045

Senate Bill 609: Appropriations: Supplemental school aid budget
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 9, 2013, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental school aid appropriation for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161046

Senate Bill 610: Revise state ban on short-barreled rifles and shotguns
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on October 9, 2013, to revise a state ban on short-barreled rifles or shotguns to state that it bans guns that are banned under federal law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161047

Senate Bill 611: Increase penalty on delinquent hotel convention tax
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on October 9, 2013, to require a hotel or motel owner who is late paying a room tax of up to 5 percent imposed to pay for regional marketing schemes to also pay the attorney and court costs incurred collecting the tax, in addition to the 1.5 percent “delinquency charge” and 1.5 percent per month interest charge already authorized under current law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161048

Senate Bill 612: Trim mandated barber license instruction hours
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on October 10, 2013, to reduce from 2,000 to 1,800 the hours of instruction at a “licensed barber college” that an individual must accumulate before he or she is allowed by the state to earn a living at this trade.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161051

Senate Bill 613: Permit keeping road kill
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on October 10, 2013, to allow a driver who kills or injures a game animal other than bird on the road to keep it. The Department of Natural Resources would be required to issue a “salvage tag” if requested. The driver would have to keep a record of the circumstances until the game is consumed or discarded.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161052

Senate Bill 614: Allow transit buses to be used as school buses
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on October 10, 2013, to allow transit agency buses to be used as school buses, subject to conditions specified in the bill.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161053

Senate Bill 615: Revise local “angle parking” restrictions
Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on October 10, 2013, to allow local governments to permit angle parking on a state “trunkline highway” if the state Department of Transportation allows it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161054

House Bill 5059: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on October 8, 2013, to create a permanent legislative council “local government mandate panel” to implement the provisions of House Bill 5060.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161028

House Bill 5060: Institute Headlee Amendment unfunded mandate restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on October 8, 2013, to prohibit any bill that potentially imposes a mandate on local governments from becoming law unless a “local government mandate panel” comprised of the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies and members representing local government and public school interests, create a “fiscal note” that quantifies how much the mandate will cost. If funding is not made available or the specified “fiscal note” process is not followed then locals would not be required to implement the mandate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161029

House Bill 5061: Mandate criminal background check to adopt a pet
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on October 8, 2013, to mandate that animal shelters must check a government criminal records database before letting person adopt an animal, and prohibit adoptions the records show a person committed an animal cruelty offense in the past five years.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161030

House Bill 5062: Mandate criminal background check to adopt a pet
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on October 8, 2013, to authorize animal shelters to access the government “internet criminal history access tool” (ICHAT) for purposes of performing the background check House Bill 5061 would mandate that they do on an individual who wants to adopt an animal.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161031

House Bill 5063: Mandate criminal background check to adopt a pet
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on October 8, 2013, to require prosecuting attorneys to report to the State Police all animal abuse charges (not just convictions), and require the State Police to enter these into the state’s criminal records database. Senate Bill 603 would mandate that animal shelters must check individuals who want to adopt a pet against this online database.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161032

House Bill 5064: Name I-75 after Tuskegee airmen
Introduced by Rep. David E. Rutledge (D) on October 8, 2013, to designate Interstate I-75 in Michigan as “Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Trail”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161033

House Bill 5065: Revise ambulance licensure detail
Introduced by Rep. Scott Dianda (D) on October 8, 2013, to allow a licensed ambulance service that serves a low density rural area to only provide advanced life support services on a part time basis (meaning less than 24 hours a day seven days a week).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161034

House Bill 5066: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on October 9, 2013, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161035

House Bill 5067: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on October 8, 2013, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161038

House Bill 5068: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on October 8, 2013, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161039

House Bill 5069: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 8, 2013, to establish that the usual restrictions and penalties on a landlord interfering with a tenant’s legitimate possession of a rented residence do not apply in the case of “squatters,” defined by the bill as a person who took possession by “forcible entry, holds possession by force after a peaceable entry, or came into possession by trespass.” House Bill 5070 authorizes criminal penalties for some squatting violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161040

House Bill 5070: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 8, 2013, to authorize up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for a “squatter” who illegally occupies a residence with a market value of at least $100,000. “Squatter” is defined by the bill as someone who “at any time during that period of occupancy, occupied the property with the owner’s consent for an agreed-upon consideration” but not a “guest or a family member of the owner or a tenant”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161041

House Bill 5071: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 8, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 5070 of “squatting,” defined as illegally occupying a residence with a market value of at least $100,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161042

House Bill 5072: Change scenic road PR label
Introduced by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R) on October 10, 2013, to change the label applied to roads deemed by a 1993 law to be “heritage routes” because of their scenic, recreational, or historic associations, instead calling them “Pure Michigan Byways”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161057

House Bill 5073: Revise local “angle parking” restrictions
Introduced by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R) on October 10, 2013, to allow local governments to permit angle parking on a state “trunkline highway” if the state Department of Transportation allows it.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161058

House Bill 5074: Revise delinquent property tax interest detail
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Denby (R) on October 10, 2013, to give counties discretion over whether to impose an interest rate that is lower than the 1 percent per month currently imposed on amounts due to county delinquent tax revolving funds.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161059

House Bill 5075: Authorize “junior achievement” income tax checkoff
Introduced by Rep. Phil Potvin (R) on October 10, 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 local “Junior Achievement” organizations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161060

House Bill 5076: Authorize “junior achievement” income tax checkoff
Introduced by Rep. Phil Potvin (R) on October 10, 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 local “Junior Achievement” organizations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161061

House Bill 5077: Establish statutory right to breastfeed in public
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) on October 10, 2013, to establish in law that a woman has a right to breastfeed a baby in a “place of public accommodation” or public facility. A woman would be entitled to “the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations” in this places, and if denied them could sue for actual damages or up to $200 in “presumed” damages.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161062

Senate Bill 277: Revise commercial vehicle regulation detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 15, 2013, to eliminate a requirement that commercial vehicles weighing more than 5,000 pounds must carry the owner’s name on the cab. Wrecker trucks and road service vehicles would still be subject to the mandate.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673667

Senate Bill 418: Exempt travel agents from insurance agent licensure mandate
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 15, 2013, to exempt travel agents from the licensure mandate imposed on insurance agents. Travel agents often sell trip insurance that is incidental to the planned travel.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673665

Senate Bill 427: Revise unemployment insurance payroll tax detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 15, 2013, to not consider certain oil, gas and mineral extraction contract negotiators (“landmen”) who are independent contractors to be “employees” of an energy or mining company for purposes of assessing unemployment insurance payroll taxes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673668

House Bill 4121: Exempt property bought from school district from property tax
Passed 62 to 44 in the House on October 15, 2013, to give owners of property purchased from a public school district a five year property tax exemption. Local tax-collecting units (including local governments, taxing authorities, taxing “districts,” etc.) could opt out of providing the exemption.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673703

House Bill 4289: Restrict use of “indirect” unclaimed property law audits
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 15, 2013, to establish minimum standards for state audits and “indirect audits” of a person or business related to unclaimed property “escheated” to the state, and require such audits to conform with generally accepted government auditing standards published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673669

House Bill 4622: Revise drain code district procedures
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on October 15, 2013, to revise details of the procedures for changing drainage district boundaries (and imposing the cost of new or repaired drains on particular property owners), including notice requirements and procedures for challenging proposed changes, plus details of the drainage district’s interaction with the state transportation and agriculture departments.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673705

House Bill 4636: Clarify criminal restitution detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 15, 2013, to clarify wording in a law that requires convicted criminals to pay restitution to the victim, or if the victim dies, to his or her estate.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673666

House Bill 4740: Revise county medical care facility board of trustees detail
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on October 15, 2013, to revise the details governing appointments by county boards to the board of trustees of the Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in the Upper Peninsula, a joint county medical care facility for Menominee, Dickinson, and Delta Counties.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673700

House Bill 4793: Update eminent domain provisions
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on October 15, 2013, to repeal eminent domain property condemnation provisions in the state Drain Code and replace them with the provisions of a 1980 “Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act.” This would codify in statute what is already the current practice.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673706

House Bill 4821: Revise motor carrier safety law detail
Passed 105 to 1 in the House on October 15, 2013, to revise details of how a state “motor carrier safety” law applies to certain categories of buses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673701

House Bill 4831: Clarify prescription drug sales tax exemption
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on October 15, 2013, 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=673704

House Bill 4866: Authorize new bicycle rider hand signals
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on October 15, 2013, to establish new signals for bicycle riders. Left turns would be indicated by extending the left arm straight out; right turns by either extending the right arm, or the left arm with forearm raised (which is the current standard), and slowing or stopping by “extending the left hand and arm downward”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673702

House Bill 5080: Increase penalties for harming “vulnerable roadway user”
Introduced by Rep. Edward McBroom (R) on October 15, 2013, to authorize enhanced penalties for a driver who commits a moving violation that causes injury or death to a “vulnerable roadway user” (who is not violating the rules of the road), meaning a pedestrian, someone using a non-motorized device like a bicycle or skateboard, a wheelchair or electric wheelchair user, or the rider of an electric bicycle with less than one horsepower (but not a gasoline-powered bicycle with less than one horsepower). The additional penalties would be $1,000 and 93 days in jail if the violation causes “serious impairment;” $2,000 and one year if it causes death; and up to 15 years and $7,500 for a death caused by reckless driving.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161160

Senate Bill 312: Revise college scholarship “promise zone” criteria
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to revise a 2008 law authorizing “promise zone” tax increment financing authorities (TIFA) to subsidize college tuition for students in low educational attainment areas, by allowing these subsidies for vocational education or training; allowing an authority to also pay for books and supplies; and giving authorities more latitude in setting academic performance standards they may or may not require students to meet. The bill would also expand the power of an authority to reset the “base year” for determining its future tax increment “capture” amounts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673820

Senate Bill 332: Exempt “natural fertilizer” from phosphate content restrictions
Passed 102 to 6 in the House on October 17, 2013, to exempt “natural fertilizer” from restrictions imposed by a 2010 law restricting spreading a fertilizer containing more than 0.5 percent of the plant nutrient “available phosphate” (p2o5) on a lawn, golf course or other grass.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673864

Senate Bill 358: Authorize certain manufacturing & mining electrician licensure exemptions
Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to exclude certain work in manufacturing and mining operations, or at an “independent power producer” facility, from a state licensure mandate that prohibits an individual from earning a living as an electrician without a state license (which among other things requires at least four years of apprenticeship in which 8,000 hours of experience must be accumulated).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673819

Senate Bill 476: Repeal auctioneer registration mandate
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a registration (licensure) mandate on auctioneers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673821

Senate Bill 477: Repeal auctioneer registration mandate
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a registration (licensure) mandate on auctioneers. This bill repeals various fee mandates.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673822

Senate Bill 478: Repeal auctioneer registration mandate
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to revise references to snowmobile dealers in the state environmental law so as to reflect the provisions of Senate Bill 476, which would repeal a law that imposes a registration (licensure) mandate on auctioneers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673823

Senate Bill 489: Revise “personal property tax” reform details
Passed 82 to 26 in the House on October 17, 2013, to revise details of a 2012 law that exempts from property tax up to $80,000 ($40,000 in “taxable value”) worth of tools and equipment owned or leased by a business in a particular jurisdiction. (This so-called “personal property tax” imposes annual property taxes on business tools and equipment.) The bill would empower local assessors to retroactively deny exemptions for the three past years; authorize criminal penalties for claiming the exemption on ineligible property; revise details of the definition of what property is eligible; revise procedures for claiming the exemption; impose new record-keeping requirements on businesses; and more. It is considered a “clean up” of provisions in that 2012 law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673878

Senate Bill 490: Revise “personal property tax” reform details
Passed 81 to 27 in the House on October 17, 2013, to revise details of a 2012 law that gradually phases out a so-called “personal property tax” that imposes annual property taxes on tools and equipment owned by “industrial” firms. The bill would revise details of the definition of what property is taxable and what business operations are considered “industrial”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673879

Senate Bill 494: Repeal licensure of “community planners”
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to repeal the registration mandate imposed on “community planners.” This bill repeals the registration, application, and examination fees, and a bill to be introduced later repeals the mandate itself.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673824

House Bill 4949: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to increase the potential sanctions for taking unemployment benefits to which a person is not entitled. However, the bill would require, rather than just permit, the state unemployment benefits agency to waive recovery of improperly paid benefits when the payment was not the recipient’s fault and repayment would be “contrary to equity and good conscience”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673826

House Bill 4950: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 34 to 4 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to potentially increase the unemployment insurance assessments (payroll tax) on an employer who fails to provide a timely notice to the state unemployment agency that a person has been fired rather than laid off, and so is not eligible for benefits.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673827

House Bill 4951: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to revise the allocation of money recovered from unemployment benefit fraud investigations to various government funds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673828

House Bill 4952: Halt unemployment benefits for failed drug test
Passed 28 to 10 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to make a person ineligible to collect unemployment benefits if a prospective employer requires a drug test as a condition of a job offer and the individual either refuses to take the test or fails it. The proposed law would “sunset” the drug testing one year after it goes into effect.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673829

House Bill 4953: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to potentially increase the unemployment payroll tax on an employer who fails to provide a timely notice to the state unemployment agency that a person has been fired, not laid off, and so is not eligible for benefits. This is a companion to House Bill 4950.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673830

House Bill 4954: Unemployment insurance reform package
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 17, 2013, to revise the allocation of money recovered from unemployment benefit fraud investigations to various government funds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673831

House Bill 4966: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 17, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to non-public information in the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673873

House Bill 4967: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 17, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to non-public information in the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673875

House Bill 4968: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 17, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to non-public information in the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673876

House Bill 4969: Expand prisons’ access to the state’s criminal information database
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 17, 2013, to give the Department of Corrections access to non-public information in the state’s LEIN criminal information database for use “in the performance of their duties” rather than just for employee screening purposes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673874

House Bill 5048: Revise drunk or stoned doctor penalties
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 17, 2013, to revise the penalties for a health care professional practicing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill would establish a maximum fine of $2,500 for second or subsequent offenses; under current law there is a minimum penalty of $1,000 (plus up to 180 days in jail) but no maximum fine (which is unusual in Michigan’s criminal code). The bill would also slightly expand access to non-public records of first offenses where the sentence was deferred if offender meets conditions and terms imposed by the court.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673877

Senate Bill 616: Appropriations: Supplemental budget
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 15, 2013, to provide a template or “place holder” for a potential supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161150

Senate Bill 617: Create government “brain injury services and prevention council”
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on October 15, 2013, to create a government “brain injury services and prevention council” comprised of individuals representing various agencies and interests, with the task of developing a “comprehensive statewide plan” and recommending specific expansions of current social welfare programs to “address the needs of individuals” with brain injuries.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161151

Senate Bill 618: Revise security guard and alarm installer regulations
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 15, 2013, to revise details of the law establishing a comprehensive regulatory and licensure regime for private security services and security alarm installers, in part to reflect the provisions of a 2012 law that imposed similar regulations on providers of “internet-protocol enabled premises security systems”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161152

Senate Bill 619: Revise security service and security alarm installer regulations
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 15, 2013, to revise details of the law establishing a comprehensive regulatory and licensure regime for private security services and security alarm installers, in part to reflect the provisions of a 2012 law that imposed similar regulations on providers of “internet-protocol enabled premises security systems”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161153

Senate Bill 620: Revise security guard and alarm installer regulations
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 15, 2013, to revise references to security alarm providers in the Michigan vehicle code to reflect regulatory changes proposed by Senate Bills 618 and 619.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161154

Senate Bill 621: Revise security guard and alarm installer regulations
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 15, 2013, to revise references to security alarm providers in the state personal identification card law to reflect regulatory changes proposed by Senate Bills 618 and 619.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161155

Senate Bill 622: Clarify real estate improvement use tax provision
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on October 15, 2013, to clarify the applicability of the state use tax on “a manufacturer that affixes its product to real estate”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161156

Senate Bill 623: Revise nonprofit corporations law
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on October 16, 2013, to revise and update details of many provisions in the state law governing nonprofit corporations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161162

Senate Bill 624: Revise nonprofit corporations law
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 16, 2013, to revise and update details of many provisions in the state law governing the dissolution or merger of “domestic charitable purpose corporations”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161163

Senate Bill 625: Revise nonprofit corporations law
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on October 16, 2013, to revise references to nonprofit corporations in the Michigan law governing limited liability companies to reflect changes proposed by Senate Bill 623.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161164

Senate Bill 626: Repeal criminal penalties for marijuana possession
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young (D) on October 16, 2013, to repeal criminal sanctions on possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, and instead authorize a civil penalty of $25, and $50 to $100 for subsequent violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161165

Senate Bill 627: Require hospitals to post their “prices”
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on October 17, 2013, to require hospitals to place on their website or make available in other ways a copy of their “charge description master,” defined as “a uniform schedule of charges represented by the hospital as its gross billed charge for a given service or item, regardless of payer type”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161172

Senate Bill 628: Revise crime victim rights detail
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 17, 2013, to revise the law that allows crime victims to receive notices and provide input regarding the prosecution of the perpetrator, including providing a victim “impact statement.” Under current law, this applies to the parents or guardian of a victim who is a minor, and the bill would change this so that it defines “victim” as someone who was less than 18 “at the time of the commission of the crime”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161173

Senate Bill 629: Allow local governments to extend debt refinancing duration
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 17, 2013, to allow local governments to refinance debt with new loans that have maturities extending through 2043, rather than 2039 as currently, and exempt refinancings done before 2020 from a 2001 law that restricts these if they increase the total debt service payments over the life of the loan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161174

Senate Bill 630: Allow local governments to extend debt refinancing duration
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 17, 2013, to allow certain “tax increment finance authorities” to refinance debt with new loans that have maturities extending through 2043, rather than 2039 as currently, and exempt refinancings done before 2020 from a 2001 law that restricts these if they increase the total debt service payments over the life of the loan.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161175

Senate Bill 631: Revise carrier pigeon licensure mandate
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on October 17, 2013, to prohibit a person from getting a state-mandated carrier pigeon license if his or her facilities do not meet regulations imposed by the local government.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161176

House Bill 5078: Create criminal sentencing commission
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on October 15, 2013, to create a sentencing commission in the legislative council to collect, prepare, analyze, and disseminate information regarding sentencing practices for felonies and the use of prisons and jails.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161158

House Bill 5079: Let more cities impose additional public safety property tax
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on October 15, 2013, to allow cities with more than 15,000 residents impose “special assessment” property taxes to pay for police and fire services. These taxes would be imposed over and above regular property taxes, and would require a vote of the community.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161159

House Bill 5081: Require law enforcement property seizure reports
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on October 16, 2013, to require law enforcement agencies to file detailed reports on their criminal asset seizures (which in many cases involve individuals charged with a crime but not convicted). The reports would have to include details about the alleged crime and pre-seizure investigations, whether the person was convicted, descriptions of the seized or forfeited assets, whether the property was returned if the person was not convicted, the disposition of the property including any fees charged to the owner, how the agency used money from the sale of the assets and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161167

House Bill 5082: Authorize child custody “parenting time coordinator”
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 16, 2013, to authorize the appointment in child custody disputes of a “parenting time coordinator” to help implement court orders related to parenting time, if the parties agree.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161168

House Bill 5083: Facilitate “land banks” obtaining tax-reverted property
Introduced by Rep. David E. Rutledge (D) on October 16, 2013, to allow certain tax-reverted property to be transferred to a government “land bank” authority if it is not sold at the first of two required auctions after a tax foreclosure, and if no local government wants to purchase the property.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161169

House Bill 5084: Give name to U.P. portion of I-75
Introduced by Rep. Greg MacMaster (R) on October 17, 2013, to designate the portion of I-75 in the Upper Peninsula as the “Michigan Military Veterans Highway”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161181

House Bill 5085: Revise restrictions on minors shooting pistols
Introduced by Rep. Phil Potvin (R) on October 17, 2013, to revise the law that requires minors shooting a pistol to do so only under the supervision of a parent or guardian, so as to allow this supervision to be provided by an adult age 21 or older who has successfully completed a pistol safety training course that meets the requirements of the state’s concealed pistol law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161182

House Bill 5086: Revise homestead income tax credit
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Denby (R) on October 17, 2013, to establish that a person who is blind is considered equivalent to “disabled” for purposes of eligibility for an income tax credit against property taxes imposed on a person’s primary residence.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161183

Senate Bill 89: Vehicle trade-in “sales tax on the difference” only
Passed 99 to 9 in the House on October 22, 2013, to exempt from sales tax the value of a trade-in when buying a new motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle, but phase this tax break in over 24 years. House Bill 4234 would halt the phase-in if the federal health care law (”Obamacare”) Medicaid expansion authorized by House Bill 4714 is rescinded, but legal experts are divided over whether this would be allowed.
The buyer would only pay sales tax on the difference between the value of the trade-in and the purchase price of the new car. Initially, the tax break would only apply to $2,000 of the price difference, and this would increase $500 per year. When fully implemented the tax break’s value would reach $226 million (in 2013 dollars).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673980

Senate Bill 221: Increase sex offender registry fees
Passed 103 to 5 in the House on October 22, 2013, to require individuals on the public sex offender registry to pay $50 each year, rather than just a one-time $50 fee.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673973

Senate Bill 435: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 22, 2013, to require a credit union that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a welfare benefits “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673935

Senate Bill 436: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 22, 2013, to require a bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a welfare benefits “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673937

Senate Bill 554: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at race track
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 22, 2013, to require horse racing tracks to “work with” state agencies to figure out a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash at the track. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673938

Senate Bill 555: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at liquor stores
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 22, 2013, to require liquor stores to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash from an ATM on the store’s premises. This would not apply to grocery stores that also sell liquor. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673940

Senate Bill 556: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at liquor or “adult” store
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on October 22, 2013, to require state agencies to “work with” ATM cash machine suppliers to establish a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash in a liquor store or “adult entertainment establishment.” “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673942

House Bill 4234: Vehicle trade-in “sales tax on the difference”
Passed 101 to 7 in the House on October 22, 2013, to exempt from sales tax the value of a trade-in when buying a new motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle, but phase this tax break in over 24 years, and halt the phase-in if the federal health care law’s Medicaid expansion authorized by House Bill 4714 is rescinded. (Note: Legal experts are divided over whether the state would be allowed to rescind the “Obamacare” Medicaid expansion.) Under this bill and Senate Bill 89, the buyer would only pay sales tax on the difference between the value of the trade-in and the purchase price of the new car. Initially, the tax break would only apply to $2,000 of the price difference, and this would increase $500 per year. When fully implemented the tax break’s value would reach $226 million (in 2013 dollars).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673976

House Bill 4234: Vehicle trade-in “sales tax on the difference”
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 22, 2013, to exempt from sales tax the value of a trade-in when buying a new motor vehicle, titled watercraft or recreational vehicle, but phase this tax break in over 24 years, and halt the phase-in if the federal health care law’s Medicaid expansion authorized by House Bill 4714 is rescinded. (Note: Legal experts are divided over whether the state would be allowed to rescind the “Obamacare” Medicaid expansion.) Under this bill and Senate Bill 89, the buyer would only pay sales tax on the difference between the value of the trade-in and the purchase price of the new car. Initially, the tax break would only apply to $2,000 of the price difference, and this would increase $500 per year. When fully implemented the tax break’s value would reach $226 million (in 2013 dollars).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673944

House Bill 4259: Extend “Obsolete Property” tax break for particular developer
Passed 97 to 11 in the House on October 22, 2013, to revise the criteria in the law that authorizes tax breaks for the rehabilitation and reuse of “obsolete structures” in a way that will allow granting these tax breaks to a particular Detroit developer.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673990

House Bill 4889: Increase drug trafficking penalties
Passed 100 to 8 in the House on October 22, 2013, to authorize more rigorous sentencing guidelines for illegal drug convictions involving travel from another state with the intent to deliver.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673974

Senate Bill 235: Revise state-approved fire safety system inspector detail
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674028

Senate Bill 471: Restrict releasing juvenile criminal history record information
Passed 106 to 1 in the House on October 23, 2013, to restrict law enforcement agencies from disseminating juvenile criminal history record information, except in response to a fingerprint-based search. This would make the information available to employers subject to government-mandated criminal background checks on employees, but not to journalists reporting on subsequent crimes a juvenile may later commit as an adult.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674065

Senate Bill 479: Repeal interior designer registration
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to repeal a law that establishes a government interior designer registry and makes it available to state or local government agencies, and rescind related administrative regulations. To be included on the registry a designer must have passed a test created by a national organization of incumbent interior designers. This organization has sought repeatedly in this state to impose a full licensure and regulatory regime on interior designers, with several bills introduced in previous legislatures.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674035

Senate Bill 480: Repeal “proprietary school solicitor” regulations
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to repeal state regulations on “proprietary school solicitors.” This refers to private trade schools, business schools and correspondence schools.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674037

House Bill 4327: Allow “tax increment finance” scheme reset to make up for property value declines
Passed 86 to 21 in the House on October 23, 2013, to allow “corridor improvement authorities” to “reset” their tax increment financing schemes (TIF) to reflect declining property assessments, which undermine the ability of these schemes to divert property tax revenue from local government and other taxing units to pay for the authority’s debt-funded spending projects. A TIF “captures” the “increment” of extra local property tax revenue that supposedly will result from its spending on various projects or subsidies; this money is then used to repay debt incurred to accommodate that spending.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674071

House Bill 4344: Revise special Detroit powers population threshold
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on September 26, 2013, to establish that the Detroit Chief of Police is automatically deemed to be a state certified peace officer, and extend certification to an person employed as a police officer in another state within the past year if that state has certification standards substantially the same as Michigan’s.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=155949

House Bill 4352: Mandate schools have “epi-pens”
Passed 106 to 0 in the House on October 23, 2013, to allow physicians to prescribe epinephrine auto injectors for schools to have in their facilities under a mandate proposed by House Bill 4353, and except for gross negligence, waive the legal liability of the physician and pharmacist in the event that use of these “epi-pens” causes an injury.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674059

House Bill 4353: Mandate schools have “epi-pens”
Passed 96 to 10 in the House on October 23, 2013, to require public schools to have at least two staffers who are trained in the administration of an epinephrine auto injector, and to have at least two of these “epi-pens” on site. This is a syringe prefilled with epinephrine which is used to treat anaphylactic reactions. This bill and House Bill 4352 extend legal immunity to school districts, boards, officials, staff and pharmacists for harm arising from use of the devices, except for gross negligence.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674062

House Bill 4382: Allow guardians to execute do-not-resuscitate orders
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to revise various court procedures and definitions to reflect the guardian-signed do-not-resuscitate orders proposed by House Bill 4384.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674032

House Bill 4383: Allow guardians to execute do-not-resuscitate orders
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to revise statutory references to reflect the guardian-signed do-not-resuscitate orders proposed by House Bill 4384.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674033

House Bill 4384: Allow guardians to execute do-not-resuscitate orders
Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to essentially grant the court-appointed guardian of an incapacitated person the authority to sign a do-not-resuscitate order, subject to various restrictions and procedures, including expanded provisions allowing any interested person who objects to petition for a court review. When appointing a guardian for a individual who does not have a lawyer he or she has selected, a court-appointed “guardian ad litem” would have to inform the individual that the actual guardian would have this power.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674034

House Bill 4930: Repeal club emblem vehicle display ban
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on October 23, 2013, to repeal a law that bans displaying the emblem or insignia of any organization, association, fraternity, lodge or club on a vehicle unless the vehicle owner belongs to the organization.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674031

House Concurrent Resolution 11: Authorize adoption of “Common Core” school standards
Passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to authorize the State Board of Education and the Michigan Department of Education to spend money to implement “Common Core” curriculum promoted by an entity associated with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, subject to various restrictions and conditions specified in the resolution. The authorization does not apply to an associated student testing regime, and directs the state board and the department to make implementation of the standards contingent on local districts retaining the ability to adopt a different curriculum.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160886

Senate Bill 146: Extend enterprise zone tax breaks to a particular development
Passed 32 to 4 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to revise a law that authorizes tax breaks for property owners in a “neighborhood enterprise zone” in a way that will allow granting these tax breaks to a particular developer’s project.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674141

Senate Bill 318: Repeal mandatory life sentences for minors
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to repeal Michigan’s mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for certain very serious crimes committed by minors, and replace it with a system in which prosecutors could request a genuine lifetime sentence. If this request was not made or denied, a judge would have to impose a minimum sentence of between 25 and 40 years, and a maximum of at least 60 years. These provisions would only apply prospectively, to cases still open as of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Miller v Alabama decision in June, 2012.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674133

Senate Bill 319: Repeal mandatory life sentences for minors
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to repeal Michigan’s mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for certain very serious crimes committed by minors, and replace it with a system in which prosecutors could request a genuine lifetime sentence. If this request was not made or denied, a judge would have to impose a minimum sentence of between 25 and 40 years, and a maximum of at least 60 years. These provisions would only apply prospectively, to cases still open as of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Miller v Alabama decision in June, 2012.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674135

Senate Bill 352: Exempt disabled veteran’s home from property tax
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on October 22, 2013, to also grant the exemption to veterans deemed by the federal government to be “individually unemployable”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159142

Senate Bill 352: Exempt disabled veteran’s home from property tax
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 23, 2013, to exempt the principal residence of a totally disabled veteran from property tax. This expands a current exemption.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674068

Senate Bill 547: Revise consumer loan law details
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to revise details of a law that governs consumer loans and related transactions. The changes involve enforcement of payment provisions under various circumstances.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674136

Senate Bill 548: Revise consumer loan law details
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to revise details of a law that governs consumer loans and related transactions. The changes involve enforcement of payment provisions under various circumstances.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674137

Senate Bill 549: Revise financial institutions check processing rule detail
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to revise and update details of the law that governs how financial institutions process checks.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674138

Senate Bill 550: Revise financial institutions electronic fund transfer detail
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to revise and update details of the law that governs how financial institutions process electronic fund transfers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674139

Senate Bill 551: Revise secured loan default details
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 24, 2013, to revise details of a law that governs secured loan defaults to specify limitations on the recovery available for loss to a debtor, and extend these rules to consumer transactions.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674140

Senate Bill 442: End automatic tax increases to pay union contract lawsuit judgments
Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to revise a provision that requires school property taxes be raised to pay off lawsuit-related judgments against a school district, by establishing that this does not apply if the lawsuit was to enforce a school employee union contract or other contract that specifically relates to school operations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674322

Senate Bill 443: End automatic tax increases to pay union contract lawsuit judgments
Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to revise a provision that requires school property taxes be raised to pay off lawsuit-related judgments against a school district, by establishing that this does not apply if the lawsuit was to enforce a school employee union contract or other contract that specifically relates to school operations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674323

Senate Bill 652: Establish state Appeals Court as venue for suits against the state
Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to establish that the state “court of claims” which is the venue all claims against state agencies, commissions, boards, etc., will no longer be the Ingham County circuit court, but will instead be the state Court of Appeals (which consists of 24 judges elected in four regional elections).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674317

Senate Bill 653: Revise judgeship details
Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to increase the number of number of judgeships in some circuits and districts, and decrease the number in others, resulting in no net change in the number of judges statewide.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674318

House Bill 4570: Exempt college students from jury duty
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on October 30, 2013, to require the chief judge of a judicial circuit or district to postpone jury duty for a full time student in a college or other educational institution until the end of the current school term, if the student provides evidence the duty will interfere with his or her class schedule.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674332

House Bill 4605: Establish that military experience meets EMT licensure requirements
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to establish that having recent and relevant military medical experience meets the criteria for obtaining an emergency medical technician license, and also waive the license fees for these applicants.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674313

House Bill 4713: Require schools to post emergency drill info on website
Passed 82 to 26 in the House on October 30, 2013, to revise the number and scheduling of required school safety drills, and establish reporting requirements, so that 10 drills would be required each year: five fire drills; two tornado drills; and three school “lockdown” drills. This would mean one fewer fire drill and one additional lockdown drill. Also, schools would have to post documentation of completed school safety drills on their websites within five business days.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674334

House Bill 4731: Waive commercial road test for certain recent veterans
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 30, 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=674314

House Bill 4736: Authorize sexually transmitted disease “expedited partner therapy”
Passed 90 to 18 in the House on October 30, 2013, to authorize the use of “expedited partner therapy” to limit the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, which means a health professional giving a person diagnosed with gonorrhea or chlamydia a single-dose antibiotic for the partner who has not been seen by the health professional. The bill would also extend limited legal immunity to health professionals providing this, except for gross negligence.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674333

House Bill 4752: Establish that military experience meets boiler operator requirements
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to establish that having recent and relevant military training and experience meets the criteria for obtaining a stationary steam engineers and boiler operators registration (license), and also to waive the initial license fees for these applicants.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674316

House Bill 4754: Establish that military experience meets mechanical contractor licensure requirements
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 30, 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=674319

House Bill 4756: Establish that military experience meets residential builder licensure requirements
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to waive certain training and industry experience requirements to obtain a license to earn a living as a residential builder, maintenance and alteration contractor, 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=674320

House Bill 4937: Revise utility regulation detail
Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to repeal a requirement that gas and electric utilities must periodically disburse money from an “uncollectibles allowance recovery fund” they are required to maintain to a state fund that is supposed to make air pollution reduction grants. According to the House Fiscal Agency the “uncollectibles” funds never accumulated much money, and so the state fund has not made any grants.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674312

House Bill 4970: Require license to install residential lifts
Passed 58 to 50 in the House on October 30, 2013, to require a licensed “residential maintenance and repair” contractor to get a separate license to install a “residential lift.” The contractor would have to be certified by the manufacturer, pay fees to be determined by the state’s occupational licensure bureau, and be deemed by that agency to be “qualified.” Residential lifts can include one-story stair-climbing machines for elderly or handicapped individuals. This is connected to House Bill 4971 which would exempt residential lift installers from the more comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime that applies to regular elevator contractors.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674328

House Bill 4971: Require license to install residential lifts
Passed 58 to 50 in the House on October 30, 2013, to exempt residential lift installers from the comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime that applies to regular elevator contractors. Residential repair contractors would be subject to a less onerous regulatory regime imposed by House Bill 4970. 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=674329

House Bill 5020: Eliminate sunset on “sobriety court interlock project”
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on October 30, 2013, to make permanent the “sobriety court interlock project” pilot program authorized by a 2010 law intended to “reduce recidivism among alcohol offenders”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674330

House Bill 5021: Eliminate sunset on “sobriety court interlock project”
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on October 30, 2013, to make permanent the “sobriety court interlock project” pilot program authorized by a 2010 intended to “reduce recidivism among alcohol offenders”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674331

Senate Bill 632: Revise certain delinquent property tax interest payments
Introduced by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on October 22, 2013, to reduce from 1 percent to 0.5 percent the monthly interest rate imposed on certain delinquent property tax amounts, and eliminate an additional interest charge levied on redemptions of tax-foreclosed property.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161184

Senate Bill 633: Allow community service to cover some “bad driver” fees
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on October 22, 2013, to allow a person to do 10 hours of “community service” in lieu of paying a state “bad driver fee” for certain offenses, including accumulating seven or more “points” within a two-year period, driving without a license and failing to produce proof of insurance. These very high, revenue-raising fees were originally imposed in 2003 to avoid spending cuts in that year’s and subsequent state government budgets. The bill would also earmark some of the revenue from these levies to a drunk-driver vehicle “interlock” program.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161185

Senate Bill 634: Allow “advance deposit” internet horserace betting
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 22, 2013, to allow online “advance deposit account wagering” on horse races. The bill would establish a comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime for providers, and impose a tax on wagers, most of which would be given to or spent on programs that benefit in-state horse race entities.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161186

Senate Bill 635: Mandate nursing home medical and dental exam rooms
Introduced by Sen. John Proos, IV (R) on October 22, 2013, to mandate that nursing homes must provide private examination rooms for on-site medical or dental treatment.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161187

Senate Bill 636: Facilitate “land line” phone service transition to cell phones
Introduced by Sen. Mike Nofs (R) on October 22, 2013, to reduce the regulatory restrictions on “landline” telephone service providers transitioning their customers to a wireless (cell phone) system, and allow them to discontinue landline service after 2016.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161188

Senate Bill 637: Establish drunk driver vehicle interlock device regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 23, 2013, to establish regulations, procedures and fees for drunk driver vehicle interlock device vendors and installers, and give the Secretary of State the authority to oversee these programs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161203

Senate Bill 638: Establish drunk driver vehicle interlock device regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 23, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for violations of the regulatory regime proposed by Senate Bill 637 for drunk driver vehicle interlock device vendors and installers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161204

Senate Bill 639: Establish drunk driver vehicle interlock device regulatory regime
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on October 23, 2013, to revise references in the state law regulating vehicle repair and service providers, to reflect the regulatory regime proposed by Senate Bill 637 for drunk driver vehicle interlock device vendors and installers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161205

Senate Bill 640: Facilitate “land bank” property acquisitions
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R) on October 23, 2013, to allow “land bank” authorities to purchase tax-foreclosed the property for the “minimum bid” required (which is the amount back taxes, fees, interest and penalties), unless the state or a local government want to buy it. The bill would also repeal a requirement that local governments must hold two separate tax-foreclosed property auctions instead of just one. Note: According to recent news reports, some local governments have avoided the auction requirement by selling tax-foreclosed property to government “land bank” authorities, which turn around and sell the parcel at a profit.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161206

Senate Bill 641: Revise real estate license details
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on October 23, 2013, to allow inactive real estate salespersons and brokers to renew their license within three years, subject to conditions and requirements specified in the bill. Also, to revise a six-hour annual “continuing education” mandate to instead allow licensees to take 18 hours spread over three years.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161207

Senate Bill 642: Revise unclaimed property law (“escheats”) detail
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on October 23, 2013, to revise details of the disposition of funds taken under an ”escheats law” that lets the state government take possession of unclaimed property if the owner does not claim it within three years. Specifically, the bill amends references in this law to a “senior care respite fund” to reflect the 2013 law authorizing conversion of Blue Cross to non-profit “regular” insurance company.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161208

Senate Bill 643: Revise beer and wine store quota details
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on October 23, 2013, to revise details of certain quotas on the number of stores in a community that can sell beer and wine to go.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161209

Senate Bill 644: Revise “strict discipline academies” detail
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 24, 2013, to allow “strict discipline academies” (which provide “boot camp” type alternative schooling for students expelled for certain criminal offenses and juvenile offenders under a criminal sentence diversion agreement) to enroll students from high- or medium-security juvenile facilities, mental health facilities, or child caring institutions that are operated by a private agency.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161218

Senate Bill 645: Authorize Boy Scouts income tax checkoff
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 24, 2013, to revise the state “Girl Scouts Fund” created to receive contributions made through the tax checkoff proposed by a 2010 law, so that the checkoff would also apply to Boy Scout contributions as proposed by Senate Bill 646, and then distribute them to the Michigan Boy Scouts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161219

Senate Bill 646: Authorize Boy Scouts income tax checkoff
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 24, 2013, to allow an individual to choose to automatically contribute $5 or more from his or her state income tax refund to a revised scouts fund proposed by Senate Bill 645, which currently collects contributions for the Michigan Girl Scouts.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161220

Senate Bill 647: Expand auto theft prevention authority duties
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 24, 2013, to expand the duties of a state automobile theft prevention authority to include insurance fraud related to unlimited medical benefits provided by Michigan’s no-fault law, overhaul its structure, and authorize $21 million in assessments (taxes) on insurers to pay for this.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161221

Senate Bill 648: Authorize state grants to certain doctors
Introduced by Sen. John Moolenaar (R) on October 24, 2013, to create a state scholarship that would pay the full cost of medical school for a student who agrees to provide specified primary care services in an area of the state deemed to have a shortage of such providers. Also, to create a student loan repayment grant program that would give a health care professional up to $100,000 for providing such services in an area, depending on how long the person stays. Up to $4 million in annual grants and scholarships for up to 40 individuals would be authorized during the three fiscal years starting in October, 2013. The proposal contains “clawback” provisions to get back the scholarship or grant money from a recipient who does not honor the agreement to stay. Different parts of these provisions are contained in a package comprised of this and Senate Bill 649.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161222

Senate Bill 649: Authorize state grants to certain doctors
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau (R) on October 24, 2013, to create a state scholarship that would pay the full cost of medical school for a student who agrees to provide specified primary care services in an area of the state deemed to have a shortage of such providers. Also, to create a student loan repayment grant program that would give a health care professional up to $100,000 for providing such services in an area, depending on how long the person stays. Up to $4 million in annual grants and scholarships for up to 40 individuals would be authorized during the three fiscal years starting in October, 2013. The proposal contains “clawback” provisions to get back the scholarship or grant money from a recipient who does not honor the terms of the agreement to stay. Different parts of these provisions are contained in a package comprised of this and Senate Bill 648.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161223

Senate Bill 650: Revise brewer regulation details
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on October 24, 2013, to allow very small commercial brewers (ones that produce fewer than 1,000 barrels per year, labeled by the bill “qualified micro brewers”) to sell directly to a retail merchant, rather than being mandated to sell through a member of a state beer wholesaler cartel created by current liquor control laws. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 651, and House Bill 4277.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161224

Senate Bill 651: Revise brewer regulation details
Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune (R) on October 24, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that places a brewer under state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. more burdensome regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000 barrels. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 650, and House Bill 4277.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161225

Senate Bill 652: Establish state Appeals Court as venue for suits against the state
Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate on October 30, 2013, to establish that the venue for all legal claims against state agencies, commissions, boards, etc. (the state “court of claims”), will no longer be the Ingham County circuit court, and instead will be the state Court of Appeals (which consists of 24 judges elected in four regional elections).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674317

House Bill 5087: Require law enforcement serious crash next of kin notification
Introduced by Rep. Charles Brunner (D) on October 22, 2013, to require a law enforcement officer who responds to a traffic crash that results in death or serious bodily impairment to notify the victim’s next of kin (if they can be determined), to tell the kin that they should notify the person’s insurance company, and within 30 days notify the insurance company directly.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161193

House Bill 5088: Revise pseudoephedrine buyer “background check” mandate
Introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D) on October 22, 2013, to revise details of a law that requires retailers to perform ephedrine and pseudoephedrine buyer “background checks” using a federal drug “precursor” database containing information on individuals involved in methamphetamine crimes. Specifically, the bill would require information in a state “internet criminal history access tool” (ICHAT) database to be reported to that federal database; non-prescription sudaphed sales would then be prohibited to individuals whose names are on that state database.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161194

House Bill 5089: Create new pseudoephedrine “straw man” buyer crime
Introduced by Rep. Robert Genetski (R) on October 22, 2013, to authorize up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for purchasing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine while knowing that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161195

House Bill 5090: Create new pseudoephedrine “straw man” buyer crime
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R) on October 22, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 5089 of purchasing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine while knowing that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161196

House Bill 5091: Establish that open firearms carry is not “brandishing”
Introduced by Rep. Joel Johnson (R) on October 22, 2013, to establish that carrying a firearm which is holstered or carried on a sling is not considered illegal “brandishing,” which means to display or wave a firearm in a menacing or threatening manner.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161197

House Bill 5092: Establish that open firearms carry is not “brandishing”
Introduced by Rep. Brandon Dillon (D) on October 22, 2013, to define “brandish” as “to point, wave about, or display in a threatening manner.” Under current law “brandishing” a firearm is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. See also House Bill 5091.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161198

House Bill 5093: Repeal legislature candidate filing fee refunds
Introduced by Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D) on October 22, 2013, to repeal an election law provision that allows unsuccessful primary election candidates for the legislature to get their $100 candidate filing fee refunded.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161199

House Bill 5094: Require hospitals to post their “prices”
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on October 23, 2013, to require hospitals to place on their website or make available in other ways a copy of their “charge description master,” defined as “a uniform schedule of charges represented by the hospital as its gross billed charge for a given service or item, regardless of payer type”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161210

House Bill 5095: Ban large puppy breeders
Introduced by Rep. Michael McCready (R) on October 23, 2013, to prohibit commercial puppy breeding operations that have more than 50 female dogs over four months of age, and impose a number of other new regulations on animal breeders, shelters and pet shops. Among other new regulations shelters would have to hold an animal for at least one week and make efforts to identify the owner before euthanizing it, selling it, making it available for adoption, etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161211

House Bill 5096: Cap road right-of-way work permit fees
Introduced by Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R) on October 23, 2013, to extend to individuals, companies and organizations the same cap on permit fees that is currently granted only to government agencies for road commission permits that are needed to perform work projects within the right-of-way of a county road (such as laying pipelines, constructing drains, work by utilities, etc.). The capped fees are $300 per permit or $1,000 total for all permit requirements imposed on a particular project.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161212

House Bill 5097: Exempt public safety employees from ban on certain automatic pay hikes
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on October 23, 2013, to exempt law enforcement and fire department employees from a 2011 law that banned automatic seniority-based automatic pay hikes for individual government employees (“step increases”) during the time when a government employee union contract has expired and no replacement has been negotiated. Specifically, the bill would exempt public safety workers covered by a 1969 compulsory arbitration law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161213

House Bill 5098: Liberalize school debt repayment requirements
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on October 23, 2013, to revise details of the amount school districts are required to increase their millage rate if the current rate is not sufficient under a 2005 law to repay principal and interest on all the district’s School Bond Loan Fund debt before a “final repayment date” determined by the state Treasurer. This relates to a provision in that law (which overhauled the School Bond Loan Fund) which requires districts to calculate these “sufficient amounts” using a specified methodology starting Oct. 1, 2013. House Bill 5099 would repeal that “final repayment date” provision, which was instituted to fix the problem of districts extending debt on old projects by combining it with additional borrowing for new projects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161214

House Bill 5099: Liberalize school debt repayment requirements
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on October 23, 2013, to eliminate a requirement that school districts must pay back their debt to a state School Bond Loan Fund by a “final repayment date” determined for each district by the state treasurer. The requirement was instituted by a 2005 law to fix the problem of districts extending debt on old projects by combining with additional borrowing for new projects.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161215

House Bill 5100: Liberalize school debt repayment requirements
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on October 23, 2013, to require school districts that want to borrow from a state School Bond Loan Fund to certify that their superintendent, chief financial official and board members have participated in a financial training program about these loans which is approved by the Department of Treasury. See also House Bills 5098 and 5099.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161216

Senate Bill 269: Make permanent $75 million in annual corporate subsidy spending
Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to extend through 2019 a sunset on an annual $75 million earmark to a “21st Century Jobs Fund” created by the previous administration, which provides various subsidies to particular firms or industries chosen by a board of political appointees. (The subsidies can include the state taking partial ownership of selected companies.) This money comes from a tobacco company lawsuit settlement, which the legislature may otherwise appropriate for any state spending, or use for tax cuts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674633

Senate Bill 372: Exclude certain farm property sales from property tax assessment basis
Passed 103 to 4 in the House on October 31, 2013, to require tax assessors to exclude sales of certain agricultural property that will be used by the new owner for non-agricultural use from the “sales ratio studies” that determine the property tax assessments for other farm property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674598

Senate Bill 553: Extend already-extended renaissance zone tax breaks longer
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to allow an eight year extension of the extensive tax breaks granted to residents and businesses in a particular “renaissance zone” located in Saginaw County. This would be in addition to a previous seven-year extension.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674639

Senate Bill 580: Revise renaissance zone details
Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to revise various details of the law authorizing the extensive tax exemptions of a “renaissance zone” to better accommodate “Next Michigan Development Corporations,” authorized by a 2010 law to give tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations or developers for projects meeting extremely broad “multi-modal commerce” criteria (basically, any form of goods-related commerce). In addition to allowing more businesses to receive these benefits, the bill would make changes intended to facilitate actually generating eligible “multi-modal” projects, which apparently have not come about since that 2010 law was passed. The bill is also related to Senate Bill 397, which would authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation” to be located in the Upper Peninsula.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674640

Senate Bill 611: Increase penalty on delinquent hotel convention tax
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to require a hotel or motel owner who is late paying a room tax of up to 5 percent imposed to pay for regional marketing schemes to also pay the attorney and court costs incurred collecting the tax, in addition to the 1.5 percent “delinquency charge” and 1.5 percent per month interest charge already authorized under current law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674648

Senate Bill 629: Allow local governments to extend debt refinancing duration
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to allow local governments to refinance debt with new loans that have maturities extending through 2043, rather than 2039 as currently, and exempt refinancings done before 2020 from a 2001 law that restricts these if they increase the total debt service payments over the life of the loan.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674649

Senate Bill 630: Allow local governments to extend debt refinancing duration
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to allow certain “tax increment finance authorities” to refinance debt with new loans that have maturities extending through 2043, rather than 2039 as currently, and exempt refinancings done before 2020 from a 2001 law that restricts these if they increase the total debt service payments over the life of the loan.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674652

House Bill 4593: Expand scrap metal regulatory regime
Passed 98 to 9 in the House on October 31, 2013, to expand a scrap metal dealer regulatory regime authorized by a 2008 law that imposed new regulations and record keeping requirements on sales of nonferrous scrap metal, so that it also applies to sales of scrap iron (ferrous metals). This and House Bill 4595 would also add new regulations, including a three-day delay on payments to individuals selling “scrapped” catalytic converters, air conditioners and stripped copper wire; require dealers to examine the identification of individual sellers; require dealers to keep photographs of the purchased scrap metal; and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674600

House Bill 4595: Expand scrap metal theft law scope
Passed 99 to 8 in the House on October 31, 2013, to expand penalties authorized for stealing nonferrous metals such as copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, or nickel, so they apply to any scrap metal theft.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674601

House Bill 4704: Restrict legal challenges to county budget
Passed 29 to 8 in the Senate on October 31, 2013, to restrict legal challenges to the spending levels in a county’s annual budget, establishing that only “an elected official heading a branch of county government” and the chief judge of a court funded by a county have standing to bring such a challenge in court. Also, to establish that the state Court of Appeals is the only venue for such suits, and establish a legal presumption that the amount appropriated is sufficient. This relates to a recent challenge by the Wayne County Prosecutor over the amount of money the county board appropriated for that office.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674636

Senate Bill 654: Mandate front and rear license plates
Introduced by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on October 29, 2013, to mandate that vehicles have both a front and rear license plate starting in 2016.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161230

Senate Bill 655: Impose licensure on “applied behavioral analysis”
Introduced by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on October 29, 2013, to impose licensure and regulation on the practice of “applied behavioral analysis,” with $90 annual license fees, apprenticeship mandates and more. Among others this would impact individuals who provide treatment for autism spectrum conditions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161231

Senate Bill 656: Require certain drug price limits in medical welfare programs
Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R) on October 29, 2013, to require the state’s medical welfare programs to use a “maximum allowable cost” scheme to limit reimbursement rates for generic drugs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161232

Senate Bill 657: Establish rental unit bedbug procedures
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on October 29, 2013, to prohibit a landlord from renting a unit that he or she knows is infested with bedbugs; prohibit tenants from moving items out of an infested unit or attempting to apply control treatments to the unit; and require tenants to grant reasonable access to professional pest management personnel and comply with the control protocols established by the landlord. Tenants who cause an infestation would be responsible for treatment costs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161233

Senate Bill 658: Impose “Amazon tax” on internet purchases
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on October 31, 2013, to essentially impose sales tax on many catalog or internet purchases made from sellers outside the state, by placing in statute a broad definition of “nexus,” or affiliation with a different business that located in Michigan, in the manner pioneered by internet retailer Amazon.com.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161290

Senate Bill 659: Impose “Amazon tax” on internet purchases
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on October 31, 2013, to essentially impose use tax on many catalog or internet purchases made from sellers outside the state, by placing in statute a broad definition of “nexus,” or affiliation with a different business that located in Michigan, in the manner pioneered by internet retailer Amazon.com.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161291

Senate Bill 660: Authorize and regulate medical marijuana cultivation and distribution
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on October 31, 2013, to establish a comprehensive regulatory regime for the cultivation, distribution, and sale of “pharmaceutical-grade cannabis,” and for issuing purchase permits to individuals with a debilitating medical condition. Reportedly this would apply should the federal government repeal prohibition of medical marijuana.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161292

Senate Bill 661: Increase political contributions limits
Introduced by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R) on October 31, 2013, to increase the maximum campaign contributions allowed by state election law, index these to inflation, and require additional finance reports from candidates.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161293

House Bill 5101: Ban smoking in car with minor
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on October 29, 2013, to ban smoking in a vehicle with a minor present, subject to a $500 civil fine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161235

House Bill 5102: Replace paper tax rolls with electronic
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on October 29, 2013, to eliminate a requirement that local governments keep a hard (paper) copy of tax rolls if the information is maintained on computerized database.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161236

House Bill 5103: Stagger snowmobile council member terms
Introduced by Rep. Bruce Rendon (R) on October 29, 2013, to stagger the ending dates of political appointees on a state “snowmobile and trails advisory council”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161237

House Bill 5104: Authorize medical “marijuana infused products”
Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on October 29, 2013, to authorize the use of “marijuana infused products” under the state’s medical marijuana law, Initiated Law 1 of 2008 .
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161238

House Bill 5105: Extend legal liability to martial arts contest doctors
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on October 29, 2013, to extend liability from lawsuits to doctors and emergency medical technicians who give emergency treatment to a contestant in a boxing and mixed martial arts contest, except for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161239

House Bill 5106: Increase auto insurance tax
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 29, 2013, to increase from $1 to $2 a tax imposed on auto insurance policies to pay for an anti-theft program, and extend the tax to commercial truck policies.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161240

House Bill 5107: Revise seawall repair permit mandate
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Graves (R) on October 29, 2013, to authorize less restrictive permit requirements for the repair or replacement of a failed seawall than the requirements which apply to erecting a new seawall.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161241

House Bill 5108: Repeal ban on ticket scalping
Introduced by Rep. Tim Kelly (R) on October 29, 2013, to repeal a state law that bans ticket “scalping” at sports and entertainment events.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161242

House Bill 5109: Revise electric utility regulation detail
Introduced by Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (R) on October 29, 2013, to establish that for purposes of state utility regulation, the money paid for electric service by campground or marina customers is considered a “reimbursement” to the proprietor.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161243

House Bill 5110: Mandate cell phone providers disclose user location info in emergencies
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 29, 2013, to require cell phone companies to disclose call location information when requested by law enforcement because the information is needed in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or injury. The bill would grant legal immunity to cell phone companies for making the disclosures.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161244

House Bill 5111: Ban social promotions of third graders
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on October 29, 2013, to prohibit public schools from advancing third grade students to the next grade unless the student has achieved a score of “proficient” on the state reading test.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161245

House Bill 5112: Create “letter grade” rating system for schools
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on October 29, 2013, to require the Department of Education to create a system of assigning letter grades (“A” to “F”) to each public school, based on its performance and student growth. The bill would also allow districts to make a particular school exempt from the rating by designating it as an “alternative education campus,” if most of the students are very low performing, have a history of serious psychological behavioral disorders, are homeless, or meet certain other criteria.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161246

House Bill 5113: Authorize university employee contract self-dealing exception
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on October 29, 2013, to add exceptions to a law prohibiting self-dealing by government employees in contracts with a government entity for which they are an officer or employee. Specifically, employees of state colleges and universities would be allowed to benefit from a contract for “the purchase of goods or services that are available for purchase at the same price by the general public”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161247

House Bill 5114: Dock pay of lawmakers until Medicaid expansion begins
Introduced by Rep. Jon Switalski (D) on October 30, 2013, to “dock” or suspend the pay of legislators and the Governor until federal health care law’s (”Obamacare”) Medicaid expansion authorized by House Bill 4714 goes into effect in late March or early April (depending on when the 2013 legislative session ends). The expansion does not begin on Jan. 1 because the Senate did not provide sufficient votes for “immediate effect”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161249

House Bill 5115: Require school tax votes be in August or November
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on October 30, 2013, to require that school elections on measures which impose a higher property tax millage rate to create a “sinking fund” or to pay for increased borrowing (“bonding”) must be held on the regular August or November election dates.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161250

House Bill 5116: Require school tax votes be in August or November
Introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on October 30, 2013, to require that school elections on measures which impose a higher property tax millage rate to create a “sinking fund” or to pay for increased borrowing (“bonding”) must be held on the regular August or November election dates.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161251

House Bill 5117: Eliminate sunset on road commission eliminations
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on October 31, 2013, to eliminate a Jan. 1, 2015 sunset on a 2011 law that provides procedures for eliminating a county road commission and transferring its duties to the county board.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161281

House Bill 5118: Eliminate sunset on road commission eliminations
Introduced by Rep. Roger Victory (R) on October 31, 2013, to eliminate a Jan. 1, 2015 sunset on a 2011 law that provides procedures for eliminating a county road commission and transferring its duties to the county board.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161282

House Bill 5119: Revise consumer loan law details
Introduced by Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R) on October 31, 2013, to revise and update definitions and details of a law that governs consumer loans and related transactions.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161283

House Bill 5120: Expand “consumer protection” law regulations to health care
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R) on October 31, 2013, to revise the state Consumer Protection Act in a way that apply its many regulations, mandates and restrictions to medical goods and services. Specifically, this law exempts professions that are already governed by a comprehensive state regulatory regime, and the bill would create an exception to that so it would apply to health care.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161284

House Bill 5121: Revise judgeships
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on October 31, 2013, to increase the number of judgeships in the 16th circuit court in Macomb County.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161285

House Bill 5122: Revise judgeships
Introduced by Rep. Klint Kesto (R) on October 31, 2013, to increase the number of judgeships in the sixth circuit court in Oakland County.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161286

House Bill 5123: Revise judgeships
Introduced by Rep. Kevin Cotter (R) on October 31, 2013, to increase the number of judgeships in the 17th circuit court in Kent County and the fifth district court in Berrien County.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161287

House Bill 5124: Revise judgeships
Introduced by Rep. Tom Leonard (R) on October 31, 2013, to consolidate and reduce the number of judgeships in a number of circuit and district courts around the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161288

House Bill 5125: Revise judgeships
Introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise (R) on October 31, 2013, to consolidate and reduce the number of judgeships in a number of district courts around the state.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161289

Senate Bill 68: Create new ORV regulation category
Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on November 5, 2013, to create a new category of off-road vehicle in the statute authorizing ORV regulations, to be called an “ROV,” defined as “a vehicle with four or more wheels that is designed for off-road use, has nonhighway tires, is more than 50 inches but not more than 65 inches in width, and is powered by a 50cc to 1,000cc gasoline engine, an engine of comparable size using other fuels, or an electric motor of comparable power.” Current law bans travel on designated forest pathways by vehicles wider than 50 inches.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674689

House Bill 4996: Exempt some small stock offerings from state registration
Passed 108 to 0 in the House on November 5, 2013, to exempt certain small company stock offerings from state registration requirements if they meet various conditions specified in the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674723

Senate Joint Resolution V: Call for “Article V” U.S. balanced budget amendment convention
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to submit an application to Congress to call an “Article V” constitutional convention, limited to proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the federal government from spending more in any fiscal year than it collects in tax and other revenue (balanced budget amendment). Legislatures representing two-thirds of the states must request this to get a convention, and three-quarters of the states must approve any amendment proposed by an “Article V” convention for it to become part of the constitution. The resolution names 17 states that have submitted applications.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674868

Senate Bill 504: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to establish that rules, orders, bulletins, declaratory rulings, or other administrative directives issued by the state Liquor Control Commission are void and not enforceable if they are not consistent with state liquor control laws, or do not “protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens.” This is somewhat more restrictive on the commission than the current instruction that it construe the statute “liberally,” meaning in a way that gives the commission more discretion.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674861

Senate Bill 505: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to codify in law an administrative prohibition on alcohol manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of alcohol giving bars and restaurants items that promoted brands and prices of their products, including things like glasses with brand logos, etc.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674862

Senate Bill 506: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit requiring brewers and beer wholesalers from having to pay a state beer tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674863

Senate Bill 507: Revise liquor license law details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit requiring wineries, liquor makers or their wholesalers from having to pay a state wine or liquor tax more than once every three months. The bill also revises details of which entities are required to deliver the tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674864

Senate Bill 575: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to prohibit a member of a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee from participating in disciplinary procedures if he or she has a conflict of interest. It would also eliminate a provision related to hearings on “community service” as a sanction for violations, and revise investigation procedures.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674857

Senate Bill 576: Prohibit licensure discipline board conflicts of interest
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require members of a government board, commission, or committee that has authority in regulatory actions concerning private individuals or entities, to disclose any personal or financial interest in a matter before the board, refrain from board discussions on the matter and not participate in any related votes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674858

Senate Bill 577: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require (rather than just “allow”) the state agency in charge of occupational licensure in the health care field to investigate allegations that grounds exist for disciplinary action against a health care professional. Also, to explicitly include any conduct with a patient that is sexual in any way in the grounds for investigation and disciplinary action, and increase potential administrative penalties (in addition to any criminal sanctions a prosecutor may seek).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674859

Senate Bill 578: Revise licensure discipline board procedures
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to establish specific procedures to be followed by a health profession occupational licensure board’s disciplinary subcommittee in making a final decision on disciplinary action against a health care professional.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674860

Senate Bill 650: Revise brewer regulation details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to allow very small commercial brewers (ones that produce fewer than 1,000 barrels per year, labeled by the bill “qualified micro brewers”) to sell directly to a retail merchant, rather than being mandated to sell through a member of a state beer wholesaler cartel created by current liquor control laws. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 651, and House Bill 4277.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674865

Senate Bill 651: Revise brewer regulation details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that places a brewer under state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. more burdensome regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000 barrels. This is part of a package of modest liquor law reforms comprised of Senate Bills 504 to 507, 650, and House Bill 4277.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674866

House Bill 4277: Require expeditious liquor license issue
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 7, 2013, to require the Liquor Control Commission to issue a conditional liquor license for a new beer-and-wine retail merchant, or the transfer of an existing restaurant or bar’s license, within 20 days of an applicant submitting all the necessary paperwork, fees, “proof of financial responsibility,” etc. This license would cost a business an extra $300 and expire after one year, or when the regular license is approved or denied, whichever comes first.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674867

House Bill 4484: Cap rental self-storage late fees, revise liability
Passed 89 to 20 in the House on November 7, 2013, to cap rental payment late fees to a self-storage space rental facility at $20 per month or 20 percent of the monthly rental amount, whichever is greater (with certain exceptions), allow additional means of disposing of property subject to sale for non-payment of rent, and revise details of the facility owner’s liability for stored documents or other media that is sold or destroyed when a tenant defaults on a rental agreement.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674923

House Bill 4858: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require a bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to ensure it does not allow a person to use a welfare benefits “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674919

House Bill 4859: Require financial institutions help enforce welfare benefit restrictions
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require a savings bank that operates automatic teller machines in a casino, liquor store, or “adult entertainment establishment” to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” to withdraw cash from those ATMs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674920

House Bill 5008: Revise business income tax details
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise the details of certain definitions in the business income tax law. The bill affects deductible losses in certain situations where a firm acquires another corporation.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674914

House Bill 5010: Revise business income tax details
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to exempt “domestic international sales corporations” from the state’s corporate income tax.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674916

House Bill 5011: Revise past business tax credit detail
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise details of “claw back” provisions for a business that was granted a selective tax break under the repealed Michigan Business Tax in return for acquiring a certain asset, but which later sells that asset.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674917

House Bill 5014: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at liquor stores
Passed 106 to 3 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require liquor stores to “work with” state agencies to find a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash from an ATM on the premises. This would not apply to grocery stores that also sell liquor. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674921

House Bill 5015: Ban welfare “bridge card” ATM cash at race track
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to require state agencies to “work with” ATM cash machine suppliers to establish a way to stop a welfare recipient’s “bridge card” from being used to withdraw cash at a horse racing track. “Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and cash welfare.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674922

House Bill 5050: Ban credit card fraud “skimming” devices
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to authorize criminal penalties for the use of a “skimmer” device to gain access to a person’s financial accounts (for example, when a person is using an ATM machine). This and other bills in a legislative package would authorize the same penalties as a 2012 law banning “automated sales suppression devices” for falsifying electronic cash register records, called “zappers” or “phantom-ware”: Five years in prison and a $25,000 fine for a first offense, increasing to 15 years for a third and subsequent offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674927

House Bill 5051: Clarify identity theft penalties
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to increase the penalties provided in the state criminal code for identity theft so they match those called for in a 2004 identity theft law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674928

House Bill 5052: Clarify identity theft penalties
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased identity theft penalties proposed by House Bill 5051.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674929

House Bill 5053: Clarify cash register “zapper” crime jurisdiction
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to clarify jurisdiction details of a 2012 law banning the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device for falsifying the records of electronic cash registers (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”).
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674930

Senate Bill 662: Revise seawall repair permit mandate
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on November 5, 2013, to authorize less restrictive permit requirements for the repair or replacement of a failed seawall than those which apply to erecting a new seawall.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161296

Senate Bill 663: Waive automaker liability for “automated vehicle” modifications
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on November 6, 2013, to waive the liability of a vehicle or parts manufacturer for damages resulting from a person trying to retrofit a vehicle into an automated vehicle (“driverless car”). See also Senate Bill 169.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161300

Senate Bill 664: Revise “debt management services” regulations
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on November 6, 2013, to revise and update various definitions and prescribed procedures in a law that imposes licensure and regulations on “debt management services”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161301

Senate Bill 665: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R) on November 6, 2013, to require the legislature to create a commission to employ a manager and staff that would take over the functions of maintaining, restoring and improving the state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site.” The bill would also require appointment of a “capitol architect” and create several statutory “funds” (accounts) to hold money for these purposes, but does not itself appropriate or earmark any specific revenue. Currently, these functions are generally performed by an existing staff using annual appropriations that are not mandated by statute.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161302

Senate Bill 666: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R) on November 6, 2013, to revise the current “legislative council” law to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to take over management of the facility.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161303

Senate Bill 667: Ban use by minors of “e-cigarettes”
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on November 7, 2013, to ban the use by minors of electronic cigarettes.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161324

Senate Bill 668: Ban selling “e-cigarettes” to minors
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on November 7, 2013, to ban the sale to minors of electronic cigarettes or any device that delivers nicotine.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161325

Senate Bill 669: Ban monkeys and apes as pets
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on November 7, 2013, to prohibit the ownership, possession, breeding, sale, or importation of nonhuman primates (monkeys and apes) as pets. The bill authorizes exemptions for possession by zoos, veterinarians or specified officials, and “grandfathers” existing owners.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161326

Senate Bill 670: Revise pre-term limits legislative pension detail
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on November 7, 2013, to repeal a statutory earmark of a small portion of court fees to a legislative retirement system. Conventional pensions for legislators were ended after term limits imposed by a popular initiative went into effect in the 1990s, but many surviving members of pre-term limits legislatures still collect pension benefits. Current lawmakers get 401(k) contributions instead.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161327

Senate Bill 671: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Introduced by Sen. John Moolenaar (R) on November 7, 2013, to waive fees charged for state-imposed occupational licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged military veteran.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161328

Senate Bill 672: Waive some licensure fees for veterans
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R) on November 7, 2013, to waive fees charged for a state-imposed security guard or security system contractor licensure mandates if the applicant is an honorably discharged military veteran.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161329

House Bill 5126: Earmark some fees to school security measures
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on November 5, 2013, to create a segregated state fund to receive the criminal penalty surcharges proposed by House Bill 5127, and require the Department of Education to distribute the money to school districts for a variety of specified security-related purposes, including school metal detectors, guards, bullet-proof windows, security audits and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161305

House Bill 5127: Earmark some fees to school security measures
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on November 5, 2013, to create a segregated state fund to receive the criminal penalty surcharges proposed by House Bill 5127, and require the Department of Education to distribute the money to school districts for a variety of specified security-related purposes, including school metal detectors, guards, bullet-proof windows, security audits and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161306

House Bill 5128: Require teacher turnover reports
Introduced by Rep. Ken Yonker (R) on November 5, 2013, to require public schools to file and post on the internet annual reports of the number of teachers employed and the amount of teacher turnover since the preceding year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161307

House Bill 5129: Require schools disclose ratio of students to teachers, counselors, etc.
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on November 5, 2013, to require public schools to file regular reports with the state on the number of students per teacher, per school nurse, per school counselor, per school psychologist and per school social worker.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161308

House Bill 5130: Revise school board meeting rules
Introduced by Rep. Jim Townsend (D) on November 5, 2013, to impose the same Open Meetings Act rules on charter school board of directors meetings as apply to the elected boards of conventional school districts, and require both kinds of boards to post meeting agendas on their websites at least 72 hours beforehand, post the meeting minutes within 72 hours afterwards, and hold meetings in a school or at a “readily accessible” location with sufficient capacity that is within two miles of a district school.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161309

House Bill 5131: Revise “Brownfields” authority board detail
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on November 5, 2013, to allow “brownfield” authority board members to be an elected or appointed government official, with their board membership ending at the same time their term or official position ends. These authorities were originally created to facilitate redevelopment of polluted industrial sites, but the law has been gradually revised to let them deliver more conventional direct and indirect “economic development” subsidies to particular developers.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161310

House Bill 5132: Revise local “economic development” authority board detail
Introduced by Rep. Harvey Santana (D) on November 5, 2013, to allow regional “economic development” agency board members to be an elected or appointed government official, with their board membership ending at the same time their term or official position ends. These agencies are essentially the local arms of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state agency through which tax breaks and subsidies are delivered to particular companies and developers selected by political appointees on the MEDC board.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161311

House Bill 5133: Require agencies disclose federal aid requests to legislature
Introduced by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on November 5, 2013, to require state agencies that apply for any form of federal or other financial assistance to notify legislative leaders, relevant committees and the legislature’s fiscal agencies within 10 days, with the notice including any conditions or stipulations associated with receiving the assistance.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161312

House Bill 5134: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Rep. Sam Singh (D) on November 5, 2013, to revise a “Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Act” to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to maintain, restore and improve the Michigan state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161313

House Bill 5135: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Introduced by Rep. Jim Stamas (R) on November 6, 2013, to revise the law that establishes the duties of the state Department of Management and Budget to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to take over the functions of maintaining, restoring and improving the Michigan state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site”.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161314

House Bill 5136: Create standardized medical welfare mental health release form
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on November 6, 2013, to require the state Department of Community Health to develop a standard release form for exchanging confidential mental health and substance abuse information between any public and private agency, department, corporation, or individual involved with treatment of a person with mental health or substance abuse problems.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161315

House Bill 5137: Authorize enhanced penalties for prison guard assaults
Introduced by Rep. Matt Lori (R) on November 6, 2013, to include prison and jail guards in a law that authorizes enhanced penalties of an extra two years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines for committing an assault in which the victim is a health care professional, peace officer, conservation officer, etc. who is acting within the scope of their official duties.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161316

House Bill 5138: Authorize breast cancer “awareness” specialty license plate
Introduced in the House on November 6, 2013, to authorize a specialty license plate for “breast cancer awareness,” and give the net revenue from its sale to a state government breast and cervical cancer control program.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161317

House Bill 5139: Authorize parenting time “right of first refusal”
Introduced by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on November 6, 2013, to establish that if a court awards parenting time in a child custody dispute (or orders joint custody), it may give one or both parents a “right of first refusal” to provide child care if the other parent intends to leave the child with a substitute child care provider for a significant period of time during his or her specified parenting time.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161318

House Bill 5140: Revise package liquor store quotas
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R) on November 7, 2013, to gradually phase-in a modest relaxation of package liquor store quota rules, to facilitate a store moving from one community to another community in the same or a neighboring county.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=161333

Senate Bill 21: Revise DDA-subsidized “historic” building change procedures
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on November 12, 2013, to revise details of the procedures required to make exterior changes to a structure owned by a downtown development authority, or one whose owner was subsidized by a DDA, if the property is on the state or national register of historic sites.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675007

Senate Bill 22: Revise DDA-subsidized “historic” building change procedures
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on November 12, 2013, to revise details of the role of a “state historic preservation office” in the procedures required to make exterior changes to a structure owned by a downtown development authority, or one whose owner was subsidized by a DDA, if the property is on the state or national register of historic sites.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675008

Senate Bill 539: Revise “Miss Dig” regulatory regime
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to establish that, under the MISS DIG notification system for underground excavation, the law under which the operations of governmental agencies are generally immune from tort liability would not apply to liability for damage caused by their excavation work.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674924

Senate Bill 540: Revise “Miss Dig” regulatory regime
Passed 109 to 0 in the House on November 7, 2013, to update the regulatory regime established by the “Miss Dig” notification system for underground excavation and blasting, which was created in the 1970s to avoid damage to cables, pipes and other underground “facilities.” The bill codifies many procedures and protocols that have grown up since this system was created.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674925

Senate Bill 622: Clarify real estate improvement use tax provision
Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate on November 12, 2013, to clarify the applicability of the state use tax on “a manufacturer that affixes its product to real estate”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675005

House Bill 4133: Revise “gun free zone” CPL exception
Passed 91 to 19 in the House on November 12, 2013, to exempt retired county and state corrections officers from the “gun free zone” provision of the concealed pistol permit law. This provision prohibits regular citizens who have received a permit after meeting the background check and training requirements, from carrying a pistol in schools, day care facilities, sports stadiums or arenas, bars, bar/restaurants, places of worship, college dorms and classrooms, hospitals, casinos, large entertainment facilities and courts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675095

House Bill 4350: Revise “gun free zone” CPL exception
Passed 81 to 29 in the House on November 12, 2013, to exempt current and former county prosecutors, assistant prosecutors, and certain former police or sheriff auxiliary or reserve officers, from the “gun free zone” provision of the concealed pistol permit law. This provision prohibits citizens who have received a permit from carrying a pistol in specified places.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675096

House Bill 4485: Clarify self-storage rental insurance regulation
Passed 58 to 51 in the House on November 7, 2013, to establish that a person whose only sale of insurance is for property stored in a self-service storage facility is not required to obtain an insurance agent license.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674926

House Bill 4715: Ban felons having ammo
Passed 91 to 19 in the House on November 12, 2013, to extend current prohibitions on certain convicted felons having a gun, so that their possession of ammunition is also banned.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675098

House Bill 4716: Ban felons having ammo
Passed 89 to 21 in the House on November 12, 2013, to revise the state sentencing guidelines to reflect the prohibition proposed by House Bill 4715 on convicted felons possessing ammunition.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675099

House Bill 4768: Restrict DEQ groundwater discharge sodium limits
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on November 12, 2013, to restrict the Department of Environmental Quality from imposing limitations beyond a level specified in the bill on the amount of sodium in groundwater discharges that allowed under state water pollution regulations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675006

House Bill 4878: Establish “super voting precinct” pilot project
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on November 12, 2013, to allow city or township clerks to make agreements with the state Bureau of Elections or with their county clerk to perform duties related to maintaining their “qualified voter file,” and letting their county clerk perform certain election-related duties. The “super voting precinct” pilot program originally proposed by the bill is not included.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675083

House Bill 4907: Revise arson law details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on November 12, 2013, to clarify wording in the state’s law against arson. The revisions do not make any substantive changes to this law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675087

House Bill 4908: Revise arson law details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on November 12, 2013, to revise and update details of state sentencing guidelines for the crime of arson. The revisions do not make any substantive changes to this law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675094

House Bill 4920: Delay certain mandated large retailer use and sales tax prepayments
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on November 12, 2013, to postpone until 2015 a new law that increases the amount of use tax and sales tax prepayments large retailers are required to pay in advance to the state.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675086

House Bill 4941: Revise nurse license reciprocity detail
Passed 96 to 14 in the House on November 12, 2013, to repeal a January 1, 2012 expiration date for the state nursing licensure board to extend reciprocity to a nurse licensed by an equivalent licensing board or authority in Canada.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675085

House Bill 5009: Revise business income tax details
Passed 108 to 1 in the House on November 7, 2013, to revise the details of certain definitions in the business income tax related to taxing members of “unitary business group” arrangements.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=674915

Senate Bill 2: Revise nurses licensure
The amendment failed 17 to 21 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to prohibit advanced practice registered nurses from providing health care services except as part of a “patient care team” and “as delegated” by a physician who is on that team.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675171

Senate Bill 2: Revise nurses licensure
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to revise nursing licensure regulations to provide a wider “scope of practice” for “advanced practice registered nurses,” potentially allowing these health care professionals to provide some services that current law only permits physicians to perform, subject to numerous restrictions and specific requirements.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675176

Senate Bill 171: Increase fine for illegally shooting deer with big racks
Passed 108 to 2 in the House on November 13, 2013, to increase the amount of restitution a person must pay for shooting a deer out of season or without a proper license if the animal has big antlers, with the penalty amount based on the size of the antlers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675216

Senate Bill 285: Increase penalties for certain animal abuse crimes
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to revise a 2008 law that increased the penalties for abusing animals in cases of multiple animals, by increasing the penalties even more, especially for violations involving 25 or more animals, or when the violator has multiple prior offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675162

Senate Bill 286: Increase penalties for certain animal abuse crimes
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the increased animal cruelty penalties proposed by Senate Bill 285.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675163

Senate Bill 329: Ease certain winery and distiller restrictions
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to ease current restrictions on a wine maker, distiller or brandy manufacturer possessing real estate that is occupied by another vendor, which would make these restrictions the same as ones that now apply to brewers.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675168

Senate Bill 660: Authorize and regulate medical marijuana cultivation and distribution
The amendment failed 13 to 25 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to tie-bar the bill to House Bill 4271, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 4271 would authorize and regulate medical marijuana “dispensaries,” and allow municipal licensure or prohibition.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675164

Senate Bill 660: Authorize and regulate medical marijuana cultivation and distribution
Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate on November 13, 2013, to establish a comprehensive regulatory regime for production and sale by pharmacies of “pharmaceutical-grade cannabis” to individuals with a debilitating medical condition, contingent on the federal government reclassifying marijuana from an illegal drug to a prescription drug. Michigan’s voter-initiated medical marijuana law, Initiated Law 1 of 2008, establishes a regulatory framework for patients or authorized caregivers growing their own; companies seeking “commercialized” distribution lobbied for this bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675167

House Bill 4688: Repeal some occupational licensure mandates
Passed 71 to 39 in the House on November 13, 2013, to repeal a law that imposes a licensure mandate on dietitians and nutritionists.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675215

House Bill 4893: Revise child abuse investigation database details
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 13, 2013, to revise the rules for maintaining or expunging records of investigations contained in a central state registry of serious child abuse cases. The state would have to send a notice to a person being placed on the list, who would have 180 days to request a hearing. If an investigation did not provide a “preponderance of evidence” then a person could not be placed on the list, and except for very serious offenders, names would be removed from the list after 10 years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675218

House Bill 5005: Revise solid waste detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 13, 2013, to exempt “waste diversion centers” from certain landfill regulations. These centers separate certain items from household garbage, including hazardous waste, pharmaceuticals, electronics, batteries, light bulbs, pesticides, thermostats and other devices that contain mercury, medical waste and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675219

House Bill 5073: Revise local “angle parking” restrictions
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 13, 2013, to allow local governments to permit angle parking on a state “trunkline highway” if the state Department of Transportation allows it.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675214

House Bill 5103: Stagger snowmobile council member terms
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 13, 2013, to stagger the ending dates of political appointees on a state “snowmobile and trails advisory council”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675221

Senate Bill 35: Authorize criminal penalties for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize additional penalties for failing to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law, with some exceptions. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property. The bill would authorize additional fines of $500, 93 days in jail for a second offense, and up to a year for a third offense.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675385

Senate Bill 36: Authorize penalties for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to ban giving an approval required under a local zoning ordinance to a property owner who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property. Senate Bill 35 would also authorize jail time for second offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675386

Senate Bill 37: Authorize penalties for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to ban giving an approval required under a building code ordinance to a property owner who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675387

Senate Bill 38: Authorize wage garnishment for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 95 to 15 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to garnish the wages of a property owner who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675388

Senate Bill 39: Authorize foreclosure for nonpayment of “administrative hearing bureau” fines
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a local government to foreclose on property owned by a person who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus” that most cities are allowed to create for enforcing “blight violations” under a 2003 law. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the property. Senate Bill 35 would also authorize jail time for second offenses.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675390

Senate Bill 169: Allow driverless car testing
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to allow the operation on highways of an automated “driverless” vehicle for testing purposes, subject to narrow conditions. A human operator would have to to be present to monitor performance and intervene if necessary. Gov. Rick Snyder called for this in his 2013 State of the State address.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675314

Senate Bill 171: Increase fine for illegally shooting deer with big racks
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675295

Senate Bill 172: Increase trespass while hunting penalties
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 13, 2013, to increase the restitution to a property owner for trespassing while hunting. Under current law, an owner can seek restitution of $250 or the amount of any property damage, whichever is greater. The bill would increase the former amount to $750.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675217

Senate Bill 174: Mandate credit agency “security freeze”
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to require credit reporting agencies to honor a “security freeze” request made by a consumer or on behalf of a minor under age 16 or an incapacitated individual, which prohibits the release of information to a third party without prior express authorization from the consumer. The bill controls the prices the agencies may charge for this service.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675377

Senate Bill 396: Expand ban on replacement construction assessment hikes
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to revise a provision restricting property tax assessment increases on construction that replaces parts of a structure damaged by accident or an act of God, so that no assessment would be imposed as long as the construction is of substantially the same materials and square footage. This cap would also apply to value-increasing improvements required to meet current health, sanitary, zoning, safety, fire, or construction codes and ordinances.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675306

Senate Bill 441: Let counties create electronic campaign finance disclosure systems
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to allow counties to establish electronic versions of the local government campaign finance reporting requirements they are required to operate, and to require election campaigns that raise or spend an amount over either $1,500 or $5,000 (the county may choose one of these) to file mandated campaign finance reports by electronic means rather than on paper.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675288

Senate Bill 491: Restrict licensing golf carts for on-road travel
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to prohibit licensing a vehicle that is manufactured exclusively for off-road use for on-road travel, including golf carts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675309

Senate Bill 610: Revise state ban on short-barreled rifles and shotguns
Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to revise a state ban on short-barreled rifles or shotguns to state that it bans guns that are banned under federal law.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675307

Senate Bill 612: Trim mandated barber license instruction hours
Passed 31 to 7 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to reduce from 2,000 to 1,800 the hours of instruction at a “licensed barber college” that an individual must accumulate before he or she is allowed by the state to earn a living at this trade.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675310

Senate Bill 641: Revise real estate license details
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to allow inactive real estate salespersons and brokers to renew their license within three years, subject to conditions and requirements specified in the bill. Also, to revise a six-hour annual “continuing education” mandate to instead allow licensees to take 18 hours spread over three years.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675311

Senate Bill 661: Increase political contributions limits
Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to increase the maximum campaign contributions allowed by state election law, index these to inflation, and require additional finance reports from candidates. The bill would also establish that third party “issue ads” that do not expressly advocate the election of a candidate or issue need not include a disclosure of who paid for the ad, and allow the Republican and Democratic caucuses in the legislature to raise and spend money promoting their preferred candidates in primary elections.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675293

Senate Bill 663: Waive automaker liability for “automated vehicle” modifications
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to waive the liability of a vehicle or parts manufacturer for damages resulting from a person trying to retrofit a vehicle into an automated vehicle (“driverless car”). See also Senate Bill 169.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675315

Senate Bill 665: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to require the legislature to create a commission to employ a manager and staff that would take over the functions of maintaining, restoring and improving the state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site.” The bill would also require appointment of a “capitol architect” and create several statutory “funds” (accounts) to hold money for these purposes, but does not itself appropriate or earmark any specific revenue. Currently, these functions are generally performed by an existing staff using annual appropriations that are not mandated by statute.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675312

Senate Bill 666: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to revise the current “legislative council” law to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to take over management of the facility.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675313

House Bill 4257: Revise liquor license detail
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on November 14, 2013, to extend to counties, villages and townships the provisions of a law that authorizes “redevelopment project area liquor licenses” over and above a particular city’s liquor license quota if the local government’s “redevelopment project area” a meets certain capital investment thresholds.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675399

House Bill 4513: Revise public housing project allocation detail
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to require the commissions that run government housing projects to offer current disabled tenants a right of first refusal to relocate to an available dwelling accommodation on a lower floor of the same project.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675380

House Bill 4546: Increase marketing “assessments” imposed on potato growers
Passed 73 to 37 in the House on November 14, 2013, to increase the maximum “assessment” that can be levied on growers under a government potato marketing scheme, with exceptions for smaller growers, and revise the constituents represented on the board of political appointees authorized to determine the level of assessments.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675407

House Bill 4624: Allow multi-department firefighter employment
Passed 59 to 51 in the House on November 14, 2013, to prohibit fire department from prohibiting its firefighters from also working as a volunteer, part-time or paid on-call firefighter with another department, if this does not conflict with the original employment. Also, to make this issue a prohibited subject of collective bargaining between a fire department and an employee union.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675379

House Bill 4633: Mandate license plate replacement after 10 years (as-passed version)
Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate on November 14, 2013, to mandate that vehicle owners must replace their license plate after 10 years, even if it is still legible. Under current law the state imposes a $5 extra charge to replace a plate.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675305

House Bill 4642: Repeal striking workers replacement ad disclosure mandate
Passed 59 to 51 in the House on November 14, 2013, to repeal a law that prohibits an employer from soliciting or advertising for replacements for striking workers unless the solicitation discloses that there is a strike.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675378

House Bill 4709: Revise beer brewer regulations
Passed 107 to 3 in the House on November 14, 2013, to increase the maximum production level that subjects a brewer to state “microbrewer” regulations (vs. regular brewer regulations), from 30,000 barrels annually to 60,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675394

House Bill 4710: Revise beer brewer regulations
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to increase the number of “brewpubs” in which a single owner can have an interest, from three to six, with a maximum capacity between them of 18,000 barrels of beer per calendar year.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675395

House Bill 4711: Revise beer brewer regulations
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on November 14, 2013, to revise a law that prohibits a brewer from having more than one brewery in the state that sells beer at retail for on-premises consumption. The bill increases this to two.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675396

House Bill 4782: Expand another corporate/developer subsidy regime
Passed 87 to 23 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize creation of a sixth “Next Michigan Development Corporation,” which is a government agency that gives tax breaks and subsidies to particular corporations or developers selected by political appointees on the entity’s board for projects meeting extremely broad “multi-modal commerce” criteria (basically, any form of goods-related commerce). The new entity would be in the Upper Peninsula.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675391

House Bill 4788: Authorize fund-raising veterans license plate
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize a fund raising “collector” license plate recognizing Michigan veterans, with the proceeds going to various state veterans programs and tuition subsidies.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675402

House Bill 4918: Ban paying “bounties” to local parking enforcement “volunteers”
Passed 102 to 8 in the House on November 14, 2013, to prohibit local governments from paying “bounties” to individuals participating in local volunteer parking meter enforcement programs.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675381

House Bill 5046: Allow customer’s wine in restaurants
Passed 105 to 5 in the House on November 14, 2013, to allow a customer to bring his or her own bottle of wine to a restaurant that has a liquor license, and let the restaurant set and charge a fee for this.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675397

House Bill 5069: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Passed 89 to 21 in the House on November 14, 2013, to establish that the usual restrictions and penalties on a landlord interfering with a tenant’s legitimate possession of a rented residence do not apply in the case of “squatters,” defined by the bill as a person who took possession by “forcible entry, holds possession by force after a peaceable entry, or came into possession by trespass.” House Bill 5070 authorizes criminal penalties for some squatting violations.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675382

House Bill 5070: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Passed 91 to 19 in the House on November 14, 2013, to authorize criminal penalties for a “squatter” who illegally occupies a residence, including up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for second and subsequent violations. “Squatter” is defined by the bill as someone who “at any time during that period of occupancy, occupied the property with the owner’s consent for an agreed-upon consideration” but not a “guest or a family member of the owner or a tenant”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675383

House Bill 5071: Authorize penalties on rental property “squatters”
Passed 91 to 19 in the House on November 14, 2013, to establish sentencing guidelines for the crime proposed by House Bill 5070 of “squatting,” defined as illegally occupying a residence.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675384

House Bill 5086: Revise homestead income tax credit
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to establish that a person who is blind is considered equivalent to “disabled” for purposes of eligibility for an income tax credit against property taxes imposed on a person’s primary residence.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675401

House Bill 5134: Transfer state Capitol upkeep to new commission
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on November 14, 2013, to revise a “Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Act” to reflect the proposal in Senate Bill 665 to create a “Michigan Capitol State Commission” to maintain, restore and improve the Michigan state Capitol building, grounds and parking as a “historic site”.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675400

House Bill 5140: Revise package liquor store quotas
Passed 103 to 7 in the House on November 14, 2013, to gradually phase-in a modest relaxation of package liquor store quota rules, to facilitate a store moving from one community to another community in the same or a neighboring county.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=675398

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