Column Descriptions
Senate Bill 589: Billboards
Approve an "interim" billboard permit in Saginaw County under specific conditions. Conservative vote is yes.
• Senate Roll Call 648 on Dec. 3, 2010.
House Bill 4961: DRIC
Discharge from committee legislation creating a public-private partnership framework by which the Department of Transportation could move forward on the proposed Detroit River International Crossing project.
• Senate Roll Call 600 on Dec. 2, 2010.
House Bill 5640: Energy Loan
Would all local governments to create a clean energy efficiency improvement program where homeowners could pay for the cost of energy efficiency projects through higher property taxes.
• Senate Roll Call 457 on Apr. 27, 2010.
House Bill 6363: Toxic Cleanup
Part of a multi-bill package the business community pushed to allow them to better work with state regulators on toxic cleanup. Included a provision that state rules could not be more stringent than federal standards.
• Senate Roll Call 576 on Nov. 30, 2010.
House Bill 4493: Multiple Passengers
Bans first-year drivers under 18 from having more than one passenger in the car who is a minor unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, except for driving to school. It also bans young drivers from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are going to or from work.
• Senate Roll Call 619 on Nov. 30, 2010.
House Bill 5858: Capital Outlay
Allows the state to use $383 million in space under the bond cap to authorize the spending of $968 million on new state, university and college buildings and upgrades. It includes $15 million for a Detroit crime lab.
• Senate Roll Call 643 on Nov. 30, 2010.
Senate Bill 1561: Fetus Disposal
Created a three-year, $5,000 felony for anyone who doesn't properly dispose of an aborted fetus.
• Senate Roll Call 535 on Nov. 3, 2010.
Senate Bill 610: Property Lien
Allows commercial real estate brokers to put a lien on any property from which they are owed money for a sale or lease without having to go to court.
• Senate Roll Call 490 on Sep. 29, 2010.
House Bill 5409: JET Program
Add $6.5 million to the state budget for the welfare-to-work program called "JET Plus."
• Senate Roll Call 494 on Sep. 29, 2010.
Senate Bill 1177: Hydraulic Fracturing
Creates a rebuttable presumption that if any of the chemicals used to extract natural gas using "hydraulic fracturing" are found in nearby groundwater, the gas driller is liable.
• Senate Roll Call 481 on Sep. 28, 2010.
Senate Bill 1515: Hotel Tax
Increase from 2 to 5 percent the amount of room tax hotels and motels can impose for its local convention and tourism marketing bureau.
• Senate Roll Call 524 on Sep. 28, 2010.
Senate Bill 1226: Employee Contribution
Makes state employees contribute 3 percent of their salary into their pension fund as a part of budget-cutting passage.
• Senate Roll Call 180 on Mar. 11, 2010.
House Bill 6426: Liquor Reforms
Allow liquor companies to attach instant rebate coupons, mixers or soda products to bottles for marketing purposes; authorize $50,000 wine auction licenses; and increase bootlegging penalties and enforcement measures as a way to raise money for the budget.
• Senate Roll Call 448 on Sep. 21, 2010.
House Bill 6224: Sunday Sales
Allows alcohol to be sold on Sunday morning, among other reforms favorable to those in the industry of selling beer, wine and liquor.
• Senate Roll Call 528 on Sep. 14, 2010.
Senate Bill 1475: Sidewalk Crack
Extend to cities the rule that a pedestrian can not sue a county for injury costs related to tripping over a sidewalk crack less than two inches in depth.
• Senate Roll Call 519 on Sep. 7, 2010.
Senate Bill 1284: Bullying
Legislatively link an education reform to one requiring all public school districts to develop anti-bullying policies.
• Senate Roll Call 360 on Jul. 21, 2010.
Senate Bill 1402: Gun Safety
Encourages elementary schools to adopt an "Eddie Eagle" gun safety program at the suggestion of the NRA.
• Senate Roll Call 351 on Jun. 23, 2010.
Senate Bill 1158: Fatherhood Initiative
Strip out of the budget $3.8 million for a "marriage and fatherhood initiative" program in the Department of Human Services budget.
• Senate Roll Call 263 on May. 19, 2010.
House Bill 5884: Ergonomics
Strip out a provision from the state budget prohibiting the administration from using money in this budget to create "ergonomics" regulations on businesses.
• Senate Roll Call 243 on May. 18, 2010.
Senate Resolution 158: Milk Spill
Urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind rules that would require dairy farms to have oil spill prevention plans for milk storage tanks.
• Senate Roll Call 303 on May. 13, 2010.
Senate Bill 1283: Ultrasound
Requires that facilities that perform abortions use the most technically advanced equipment possible when conducting an ultrasound.
• Senate Roll Call 489 on Apr. 22, 2010.
Senate Bill 647: Stem Cell Regs
Creates new regulations dealing with embryo stem cell research.
• Senate Roll Call 195 on Jun. 18, 2009.
House Bill 5017: Rental Car Tax
Discharge from committee a bill raising rental car fees as a way to raise money for the Pure Michigan campaign.
• Senate Roll Call 160 on Mar. 25, 2010.
Senate Bill 389: Parks Passport
Creates a new $10 annual parks "passport" drivers can purchase when renewing their tabs as opposed to regular state parks fees.
• Senate Roll Call 163 on Mar. 25, 2010.
Senate Bill 1152: Minority Health Grants
Adds funding for certain immunization grants and programs, "minority health grants," chronic disease prevention programs, and other public health projects.
• Senate Roll Call 146 on Mar. 24, 2010.
House Bill 4394: Texting & Driving
Banning drivers from sending text messages while driving.
• Senate Roll Call 170 on Dec. 9, 2009.
House Bill 4410: Tenure Reform
Allows school administrators to remove tenure from teachers if the teacher is rated "ineffective."
• Senate Roll Call 581 on Sep. 9, 2009.
Senate Bill 980: Snowplow
Mandates that snowplows operate with a flashing light.
• Senate Roll Call 34 on Nov. 10, 2009.
Senate Bill 751: School Election Dates
Restricts when school districts can hold elections to even-year August or November dates.
• Senate Roll Call 186 on Aug. 19, 2009.
House Bill 5033: Indigent Defense
Changes a House bill to create an "Indigent Defense Council" to study and make recommendations for overhauling the state's system for courts appointing a lawyer for criminal defendant's who can't afford to hire one.
• Senate Roll Call 642 on Jun. 11, 2009.
Senate Bill 800: Medical Examiner
Provides immunity from civil liability for a person performing medical examiner duties in good faith.
• Senate Roll Call 94 on Sep. 10, 2009.
Senate Bill 1579: Zoo Taxes
Allows county zoo to double from .1 mil to .2 mils the maximum property tax that a county zoo authority is empowered to impose.
• Senate Roll Call 564 on Nov. 4, 2010.
