Senate Bill 86: Authorize more local “pension obligation bonds”
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 20, 2015, to extend for three years the Dec. 31, 2015 sunset on a law passed in 2012 to allow local governments to borrow money to cover unfunded employee pension liabilities, which is allowed only if the local has closed its traditional “defined benefit” pension system to new employees. The law also allows locals to incur long term debt to pay for future retiree health insurance costs, which unlike pensions are not legally enforceable obligations. This would be the second extension of this deadline.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714132
Senate Bill 103: Reduce “student growth” portion of teacher rating criteria
Passed 22 to 15 in the Senate on May 20, 2015, to delay until the 2018-19 school year the final deadline to establish a teacher “effectiveness” rating system, and reduce from 50 percent to 40 percent the amount of the assessments based on actual state test results of students in a teacher’s classroom, with various exceptions. A school would be prohibited from assigning students to a class in the same subject for two years in a row taught by a teacher rated “ineffective” in that subject two years in a row, but new students could still be assigned. Rigorous evaluation standards prescribed by a 2011 law have been subject to intense resistance and lobbying by the public school establishment, which has a strong presence in every legislative district.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714081
Senate Bill 213: Repeal duplicative worker injury notification requirement
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 20, 2015, to repeal a requirement in state law that employers notify regulators within eight hours of a fatality, or any hospitalization of three or more employees suffering injury from the same accident or illness from exposure to the same employment-related health hazard. The bill asserts that employers would still be subject to an identical federal requirement.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714083
Senate Bill 221: Authorize multi-state distance learning compact
Passed 110 to 0 in the House on May 20, 2015, to authorize the state Department of Education to enter a multistate higher education compact, or enter “reciprocal agreements with public educational agencies in other states” that have the same purpose, which is essentially to hold institutions that provide distance learning courses accountable for basic contractual obligations to students, and provide an administrative process to enforce these obligations. Colleges and universities that want to be “authorized” under this arrangement would have to pay annual fees of $2,000.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714133
Senate Bill 231: Ban selling “e-cigarettes” to minors
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 20, 2015, to ban selling or giving minors electronic vapor cigarettes, or any product or device that delivers nicotine. Violations would be a misdemeanor with a $50 fine, which would also applies to giving a minor regular cigarettes.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714084
Senate Bill 240: Ban powdered alcohol
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 20, 2015, to ban the sale, use or possession of “powdered alcohol” in Michigan.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714085
House Bill 4052: Preempt local employer wage, benefit or labor law mandates
Passed 57 to 52 in the House on May 20, 2015, to preempt local governments, public schools, state colleges and universities, and other governmental authorities from imposing mandatory wage, benefit, or leave time requirements on employers that exceed those required by state or federal law. Also, to prohibit locals from imposing any contractual, zoning, permitting, licensing, or other conditions on an employer’s or employee’s full freedom to act under state or federal labor laws. This includes an employer’s or employee’s right to express views on unionization and other labor issues, to have secret ballots and other procedural protections in unionization votes, to not have to deliver employee information to unions, and more.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714114
House Bill 4070: Revise “incompatible offices” detail
Passed 101 to 9 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise the law on incompatible public offices to allow a person elected or appointed to a public office in a community with less than 30,000 people to also serve as a firefighter, police chief, fire chief, police officer, or public safety officer, as long as the individual is not involved in negotiating government employee union contracts.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714134
House Bill 4075: Cap fees for electronic copy of electronic county documents
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 20, 2015, to cap the fees county treasurers can charge to furnish requested transcripts and records in electronic form when these are already stored in electronic form, at 25 cents per page and a maximum of $1,500 per request.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714082
House Bill 4212: Eliminate sunset on road commission eliminations
Passed 70 to 40 in the House on May 20, 2015, 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.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714130
House Bill 4215: Eliminate sunset on road commission eliminations
Passed 70 to 40 in the House on May 20, 2015, 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.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714131
House Bill 4553: Revise Personal Property Tax reform details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the personal property tax reforms approved by voters in August 2014, which lowered or eliminated this tax for industrial firms and most small businesses, but not for larger commercial enterprises. This bill is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4553 to 4558, and would revise business reporting requirements and extend the new law’s tax exemptions to personal property not yet in use. The “personal property tax” is property taxes that are imposed on business tools and equipment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714124
House Bill 4554: Revise Personal Property Tax reform details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the personal property tax reforms approved by voters in August 2014, which lowered or eliminated this tax for industrial firms and most small businesses, but not for larger commercial enterprises. This bill is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4553 to 4558, and would revise the basis on which a so-called “alternative services” tax is levied, which was a device used to shift the burden of this business tax cut from local governments to the state. The “personal property tax” is property taxes that are imposed on business tools and equipment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714125
House Bill 4555: Revise Personal Property Tax reform details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the personal property tax reforms approved by voters in August 2014, which lowered or eliminated this tax for industrial firms and most small businesses. This bill is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4553 to 4558, and would revise the basis on which a so-called “alternative services” tax is levied, which is a device the 2014 reform to shift the burden of this business tax cut from local governments to the state. The “personal property tax” is property taxes that are imposed on business tools and equipment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714126
House Bill 4556: Revise Personal Property Tax reform details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the personal property tax reforms approved by voters in August 2014, which lowered or eliminated this tax for industrial firms and most small businesses. This bill is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4553 to 4558, and would revise details of a “Local Community Stabilization Authority,” which is a device the 2014 reform used to shift the burden of this business tax cut from local governments to the state. The “personal property tax” is property taxes that are imposed on business tools and equipment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714127
House Bill 4557: Revise Personal Property Tax reform details
Passed 109 to 1 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the personal property tax reforms approved by voters in August 2014, which lowered or eliminated this tax for industrial firms and most small businesses. This bill is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4553 to 4558, and amends details of the law that authorizes local governments to grant property tax abatements to particular businesses so that it conforms with the 2014 reforms. The “personal property tax” is property taxes that are imposed on business tools and equipment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714128
House Bill 4558: Revise Personal Property Tax reform details
Passed 106 to 4 in the House on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the personal property tax reforms approved by voters in August 2014, which lowered or eliminated this tax for industrial firms and most small businesses. This bill is part of a package comprised of House Bills 4553 to 4558, and amends details of the law that authorizes local governments to grant “industrial facility” tax breaks to particular businesses so that it conforms with the 2014 reforms. The “personal property tax” is property taxes that are imposed on business tools and equipment.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714129
Senate Bill 103: Reduce “student growth” portion of teacher rating criteria
The amendment failed 15 to 22 in the Senate on May 20, 2015, to make doing teacher evaluations contingent on adopting detailed and restrictive standards for teacher evaluators and systems.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=714078
Senate Bill 338: Mandate nursing homes have private examination rooms
Introduced by Sen. John Proos (R) on May 19, 2015, to mandate that nursing homes and homes for the aged provide private examination rooms for on-site medical or dental treatment if these services are offered.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169633
Senate Bill 339: Regulate “large scale breeding kennels”
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on May 19, 2015, to regulate and impose additional record keeping requirements on “large scale breeding kennels,” defined as ones where more at least 15 female dogs are housed for purposes of breeding. Also, to prohibit the sale or import into the state of a puppy or kitten less than eight weeks old that has been separated from its mother, add additional vaccination requirements and a “pet health certificate” requirement on dog and cat sales and transfers, and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169634
Senate Bill 340: Increase penalties for tobacco sales to minors
Introduced by Sen. Steve Bieda (D) on May 19, 2015, to increase the penalties for selling tobacco to minors, from $50 to $100 for a first offense, and $500 for a subsequent offense. The increased penalties would also apply to a minor who tries to buy or who possesses tobacco.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169635
Senate Bill 341: Impose motor fuel tax on alternative fuels
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on May 19, 2015, to apply the state gasoline tax to compressed natural gas or hydrogen fuel used to power vehicles, and the diesel tax to liquid natural gas vehicles, at rates equivalent to their equivalent energy per unit according to a formula the bill would prescribe.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169636
Senate Bill 342: Impose vehicle registration tax surcharge on alternative fuel vehicles
Introduced by Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) on May 19, 2015, to impose an annual vehicle registration surtax of $75 on electric cars or plug-in hybrids, a $200 annual surtax on electric trucks over 8,000 lbs., a $25 annual surtax on gasoline/electric hybrid-drive cars, and a $100 surtax on trucks with that power source.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169637
Senate Bill 343: Prorate unfunded university pension “catch up” costs
Introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R) on May 20, 2015, to establish a methodology for assessing to state universities a share of the annual amount required to “catch up” on unfunded pension liabilities. The bill would assess both universities and K-12 school districts with a share of the “catch up” costs based on how much of the unfunded liability was incurred on behalf of their employee over the years, using a formula the bill proposes for determining the value of past and future pension fund contributions, and the projected cost of future pension benefit payments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169638
Senate Bill 344: Revise gas station liquor license provision
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on May 20, 2015, to allow the owner of a gas station that has a license to sell beer and wine to operate a second location under the same license.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169639
Senate Bill 345: Revise gas station liquor license provision
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on May 20, 2015, to allow the owner of a gas station that has a license to sell beer and wine to operate a second location under the same license.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169640
Senate Bill 346: Require auto insurers sell coverage to medical marijuana users
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on May 21, 2015, to repeal a provision of the insurance code that allows auto insurers to choose not to provide coverage for medical marijuana users.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169641
Senate Bill 347: Mandate auto insurers cut rates and more
Introduced by Sen. Coleman Young, II (D) on May 21, 2015, to mandate that auto insurers adopt a pricing model prescribed by the bill that encompasses returns on a company’s other lines of business, and then cut rates by 20 percent. The bill would also impose a “post and hold” type of rate regulation on auto insurance insurers in which rate changes would have to be approved by state regulators and then could not be changed for year; restrict premium differences based on where a vehicle is garaged; and more.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169642
Senate Bill 348: Impose ban on mining landfills
Introduced by Sen. Jim Ananich (D) on May 21, 2015, to impose the equivalent of a “deed restriction” on property used as a landfill, that would prohibit ever mining the property for purposes of land reclamation, to recover soil or recyclables from the landfill, to increase its life or capacity; etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169643
Senate Bill 349: Revise delinquent property tax procedure detail
Introduced by Sen. Jim Stamas (R) on May 21, 2015, to revise the requirement that county treasurers notify a delinquent property owner on a specific date that foreclosure and forfeiture proceedings will begin. Instead, the bill would allow this notice to be sent anytime in the 60 days before specified date.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169644
Senate Bill 350: Revise carrier pigeon licensure mandate
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on May 21, 2015, 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, but preempt locals from banning carrier pigeons outright.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169645
Senate Bill 351: Ban divorce lawyer “ambulance chasing”
Introduced by Sen. Rick Jones (R) on May 21, 2015, to prohibit a lawyer from soliciting business from a party to a divorce action within 21 days after proof of service in the action was filed with the court, punishable by fines of $1,000, and $5,000 for subsequent violations.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169646
Senate Bill 352: Authorize “designated caregivers” for hospital patients
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on May 21, 2015, to require hospitals to give a patient the opportunity to designate a friend or family member as the individual’s “designated caregiver.” Hospitals would have to notify this person when the patient is transferred or released, consult with them about the discharge plan, instruct them about the patient’s needs after discharge, etc..
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169647
Senate Bill 353: Expand autism insurance mandate
Introduced by Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R) on May 21, 2015, to revise the mandate imposed on health insurers to include autism treatment in all policies, so that it would require policies to pay for “access to in-network participating diagnosis and treatment providers a reasonable distance” from the person’s home.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169648
House Bill 4617: Impose ban on ever mining landfills
Introduced by Rep. Pam Faris (D) on May 19, 2015, to impose the equivalent of a “deed restriction” on property used as a landfill, that would prohibit ever mining the property for purposes of land reclamation, to recover soil or recyclables from the landfill to increase its life or capacity; etc.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169649
House Bill 4618: Expand Viet Nam veteran grant eligibility to post-Viet Nam veterans
Introduced by Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D) on May 19, 2015, to extend a state grant that was given to Viet Nam era veterans under a 1974 law, so that the award would also be given to individuals who were in the military between September 1, 1973 and May 7, 1975. The last U.S. combat troops were withdrawn from Viet Nam in August, 1972.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169650
House Bill 4619: Ban state contracts with firms that collect bulk “metadata” on residents
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R) on May 19, 2015, to prohibit giving state contracts to companies that participate in the bulk collection of electronic data and “metadata” on residents without informed consent or a warrant.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169651
House Bill 4620: Revise property tax exemption appeal detail
Introduced by Rep. David Pagel (R) on May 19, 2015, to revise a state (property) Tax Tribunal law to conform with property tax exemption appeal provisions proposed by House Bill 4621.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169652
House Bill 4621: Revise property tax exemption appeal detail
Introduced by Rep. David Pagel (R) on May 19, 2015, to permit but not require county treasurers to reconsider past denials of homeowner’s claim to certain property tax exemptions if the individual has successfully appealed a later denial to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169653
House Bill 4622: Authorize PPOs for human trafficking
Introduced by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D) on May 19, 2015, to explicitly authorize personal protection orders for victims of human trafficking. Specifically, the bill adds human trafficking crimes to the statute that authorizes PPOs.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169654
House Bill 4623: Allow no-reason absentee voting
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on May 19, 2015, to eliminate the requirement that a person give a specific reason for requesting an absentee ballot.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169655
House Bill 4624: Repeal county and legislative candidate filing fee refunds
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on May 19, 2015, to repeal an election law provision that allows unsuccessful primary election candidates for the legislature or certain county offices to get their $100 candidate filing fee refunded.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169656
House Bill 4625: Revise Medicaid nursing home detail
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on May 19, 2015, to establish that if an individual’s application for Medicaid nursing home benefits is not approved or denied within 45 days, the applicant will be considered approved. If the person is eventually determined to be ineligible, benefits would cease but no retroactive “claw back” would be authorized of amounts already paid.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169657
House Bill 4626: Revise nursing home Medicaid detail
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on May 19, 2015, to revise the rules for Medicaid nursing home reimbursements to grant up to three months of retroactive Medicaid benefits after a current nursing home resident applies, and if the individual’s assets exceeded eligibility limits, allow the person to retroactively reduce their assets by buying a prepaid funeral contract whose value does not exceed specified limits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169658
House Bill 4627: Revise Medicaid nursing home benefit detail
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on May 19, 2015, to make nursing home services provided at an adult foster care facility eligible for Medicaid benefits.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169659
House Bill 4628: Mandate auto insurance refund for expired “points” surcharge
Introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lane (D) on May 19, 2015, to require auto insurance companies to give customers a credit for higher premium amounts that were originally charged because of traffic violation “points” incurred by a policy holder, and which the company continued to charge after those “points” expired.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169660
House Bill 4629: Repeal “bond” requirement to contest civil asset forfeiture
Introduced by Rep. Peter Lucido (R) on May 20, 2015, to repeal a requirement for property owner whose property has been seized by police and is subject to “civil forfeiture” to provide a cash “bond” to contest the taking, and if unsuccessful to pay all the expenses of the proceedings. Under civil forfeiture laws, police can seize any property that may be associated with a crime using extremely broad definition, and then keep the property even if the owner is never convicted or even charged with a crime.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169661
House Bill 4630: Repeal striking workers replacement ad disclosure mandate
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on May 20, 2015, 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.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169662
House Bill 4631: Revise electric choice detail
Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on May 20, 2015, to prohibit the Public Service Commission from assessing customers of electricity purchased from an “alternative” generator under the state’s limited electricity customer choice law from being charged for a portion of the “stranded” costs associated with a regulated electric utility retiring a facility.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169663
House Bill 4632: Revise school district annexation detail
Introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D) on May 20, 2015, to revise details of the process by which one school district can annex another with the approval of the voters in the district to be annexed.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169664
House Bill 4633: Revise carrier pigeon licensure mandate
Introduced by Rep. Julie Plawecki (D) on May 21, 2015, 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, but preempt locals from banning carrier pigeons outright.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169665
House Bill 4634: Revise vehicle registration “late fee”
Introduced by Rep. Ben Glardon (R) on May 21, 2015, to not impose an extra fee on vehicle registration renewals after the previous registration had expired if within 120 days the owner brings evidence to a Secretary of State branch office that the vehicle had been in storage.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169666
House Bill 4635: Extend “commercial rehabilitation” tax break law
Introduced by Rep. Kathy Crawford (R) on May 21, 2015, to extend for another five years a Dec. 31, 2015 sunset on a “commercial rehabilitation act” that authorizes property tax breaks for redevelopment projects involving commercial property selected by local governments.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169667
House Bill 4636: Clarify self-storage rental insurance regulation
Introduced by Rep. Bruce Rendon (R) on May 21, 2015, 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. An earlier version of this bill was vetoed in 2014.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=169668