Senate Concurrent Resolution 10: Adjourn 2013 legislature immediately so Medicaid expansion can begin Jan. 1
Failed by voice vote in the Senate on October 1, 2013, to adjourn the 2013 legislative session immediately (rather than the usual time in the last week of December, so that the federal health care law (Obamacare) Medicaid expansion can go into effect at the start of 2013. When the legislature approved the approved the expansion in August they did not give the measure “immediate effect,” which means it cannot go into effect for three months after the legislature adjourns for the year.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=160927
Senate Bill 404: Revise landfill performance bond detail
The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to increase the state “tipping fee” tax imposed on dumping in landfills, from 12 cents per-cubic yard to $2.50 pwer yard, (a 20-fold increase).
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=159828
Senate Bill 404: Revise landfill performance bond detail
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to revise details of the financial instruments that may used by a landfill operator to satisfy the performance bond-like “perpetual care fund” requirements related to the future upkeep of closed landfills.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672950
Senate Bill 428: Ban governments placing foreign-made American flags on veterans’ graves
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to prohibit local governments from buying American flags made outside this country to place on veteran’s graves, unless no competitively-priced American-made flags are available.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672951
House Bill 4355: Revise condominium audit standards
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 2, 2013, to allow a majority of a condominium association’s members to choose not to obtain an annual audit if the association has annual revenues of less than $20,000, and instead only require that a certified public accountant review the books.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=672952
Senate Bill 25: Revise principal residence property tax exemption appeal detail
Passed 102 to 6 in the House on October 3, 2013, to provide property owners with a process to appeal to the Department of Treasury for any year that a principal residence property tax exemption was erroneously not applied, regardless of when the exemption was claimed. Under current law appeals can only cover the past three years, and this would still apply if an owner erroneously received the credit due to an error by the local government.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673010
Senate Bill 351: Clarify fertilizer use restrictions
Passed 94 to 14 in the House on October 3, 2013, to clarify that use of fertilizers and other soil conditioners prior to a 1981 law, and which followed “generally accepted” agricultural and management practices at the time of use, does not constitute a “release” of hazardous substances in violation of state regulations, which could trigger extremely burdensome cleanup requirements.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673009
Senate Bill 372: Exclude certain farm property sales from property tax assessment basis
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on October 3, 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=672989
House Bill 4194: Increase cap on local “rainy day” funds
Passed 107 to 1 in the House on October 3, 2013, to increase the amount that local governments are allowed to place in a “rainy day fund,” from 15 percent to 20 percent of most recent general fund annual budget.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673008
House Bill 4633: Mandate license plate replacement after 10 years (as-passed version)
Passed 74 to 33 in the House on October 3, 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=673006
House Bill 4811: Revise “military family relief fund” details
Passed 107 to 0 in the House on October 3, 2013, to expand the conditions and revise procedures for military families applying for assistance from a state “military family relief fund” created by a 2004 law for families who are suffering financial stress as a result of the military service, or who have an emergency. Also, to allow $50,000 from the fund to be used for annual advertising and marketing. The money comes from an income tax checkoff.
See Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No” at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=673007