2009 House Bill 5640 / 2010 Public Act 270

Authorize government energy efficiency loan program

Introduced in the House

Dec. 2, 2009

Introduced by Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-53)

To give local governments the power to create a voluntary program in which they would lend a property owner money for “energy efficiency improvements” or a “renewable energy system,” and also levy a special assessment on the property from which the loan would be repaid. Local governments would be able to incur new debt to pay for the improvements, for repayment of which they could pledge the special assessment revenue but not general tax revenue.

Referred to the Committee on Great Lakes and Environment

Feb. 16, 2010

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

April 22, 2010

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises various details, but does not change its substance. This version was subsequently superseded by another substitute with more changes.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-53)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Arlan Meekhof (R-89)

To exempt energy efficiency products purchased with money from the loans proposed by this bill from property tax.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Joseph Haveman (R-90)

To establish that a government's lien on the property of a borrower would not have special priority over all other liens.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 66 to 41 (details)

Received in the Senate

April 27, 2010

Referred to the Committee on Local, Urban, and State Affairs

Sept. 22, 2010

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Sept. 23, 2010

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 28 to 8 (details)

To give local governments the power to create a voluntary program in which they would lend a property owner money for “energy efficiency improvements” or a “renewable energy system,” and also levy a special assessment on the property from which the loan would be repaid. Local governments would be able to incur new debt to pay for the improvements, for repayment of which they could pledge the special assessment revenue but not general tax revenue.

Received in the House

Sept. 23, 2010

Nov. 30, 2010

Amendment offered by Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-53)

To limit the program to commercial or industrial electricity customers.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 63 to 37 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, with an amendment limiting the program to commercial and industrial electricity customers.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 1, 2010

Passed in the Senate 31 to 5 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which limited the program to commercial or industrial electricity customers.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dec. 14, 2010