To establish procedures for managers of the state public school employee pension system to select a vendor for the defined-contribution annuity option authorized by a 2017 reform law. That law largely replaced the perennially underfunded “defined benefit” school pension system with one that offers employees 401k accounts with generous employer contributions, or an annuity to be created later. This bill authorizes the actual creation of that annuity option.
To cancel a reduction of annual “registration” fees imposed on “transportation network companies” like Uber and Lyft that under current law goes into effect in March 2023, and instead keep collecting the higher fees until Sept. 30, 2027. The impositions were authorized by a 2016 law establishing a comprehensive regulatory regime on this industry.
To use money from a state “internet gaming fund” to cover the cost of administering regulations on charitable gambling operations that use casino-type games (“millionaire parties”).
To prohibit state or local officials from imposing emergency orders that prohibit or limit a family member or patient representative from visiting a patient or resident in a health care facility or nursing home, subject to reasonable limits on the number of visitors at one time and other precautions.
To revise details of the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans, and reimburse local governments for the foregone revenue this represents, by using a new state income tax credit to deliver the benefit rather than local property tax breaks. Also, to make widows of servicemembers killed in action eligible for these tax breaks, and provide benefits for veterans who are at least 50% but less than 100% disabled.
To extend for another 15 years the generous tax exemptions authorized by lawmakers for the corporate and other beneficiaries of a particular “renaissance zone” in Oakland County.
To grant disabled veterans and their widows a state income tax credit equal to 100% of the local property taxes levied on the taxpayer's homestead. This would replace a current law that authorizes local property tax exemptions.
To require state officials to develop written materials for public school students containing specified information on sexual assault and harassment including available resources and contact information, and require schools to give it to every student in 6th through 12th grade. Schools would also be “encouraged” to provide sexual assault and sexual harassment response training to all school personnel who had contact with students.
To require that a medical assistant or a second licensed professional be present when conducting a medical treatment, procedure, or examination of a minor that involves vaginal or anal penetration, and also that a parent or guardian give permission first, with some exceptions for emergencies, forensic exams and more. Violations would be a crime subject to two years in prison, and five years for multiple offenses.
To extend until 2027 the 2022 expiration of a 2016 law that prohibits local governments from imposing a local fee, registration, franchise, or regulation on an “on-demand automated motor vehicle network” devised for driverless vehicles.
To authorize the Secretary of State to essentially prohibit a person with unpaid bridge or toll-road tolls from selling their car, by denying the transfer registration to a buyer. This is related to efforts by some legislators and developers to authorize
“public/private partnerships” to collect tolls on some bridges and roads.
To move the state’s presidential primary election from the second Tuesday in March to the second Tuesday in February.
To authorize a new form of property tax break for developers who refurbish or build property to be called "attainable housing," and rent out 30% or more of the units to households with incomes less than 120% of the county median, at rates that do not exceed 30% of the household's income. The bill would authorize local governments giving 50% property tax cuts to developers, with state taxpayers ultimately covering the foregone local tax revenue.
To authorize a new selective property tax break that local elected officials can give to certain developers, this one granting a 50% exemption on structures for up to 12 years for residential developments that rent at least 30% of their units at discounted rates to households with income not above 120% of the area median.
To give local governments the authority to grant 15-year property tax exemptions to developers of certain new or rehabbed rental housing projects (dubbed “workforce housing”), which the owners could rent to households whose income is "not greater than the area median income." Rather than property taxes, owners would pay local "service fees" at a rate not exceeding 10% of the owner's "shelter rents," or at tax the tax rate in effect before the rehab project.
To repeal the December 31, 2026 sunset on a 2020 law that lets local governments permit bars and restaurants to serve alcohol in a "commons area" within a “social district… shared by at least two other bars or restaurants."
To establish that the surviving spouse of a person who was a member of the U.S. military or reserves may use and renew a special discounted registration vehicle license plate that was issued to the veteran.
To add $1.003 billion to the state spending already approved for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The largest share, $846 million, will be spent giving subsidies to a handful of corporations and developers selected by officials at a "Michigan Economic Development Corporation" agency. The bill also adds spending on various social welfare programs and on improvements to state armories.
The House vote on the spending bill described above.
To revise the law that authorizes the state health department to impose emergency orders in response to an epidemic, by requiring such orders to identify the epidemic, describe how required procedures or restrictions on gatherings will protect the public health, and disclose the data and information used to justify the order, which could not extend beyond 28 days without legislative consent.
To increase from $2 to $4 the fee charged by a county register of deeds to record deeds and other instruments. The bill cancels an existing provision to lower the fees from the current $4 to $2 starting in 2023.
To require county clerks to update a qualified voter file by canceling registrations of deceased voters at least monthly, and at least weekly starting six weeks before an election, and daily in the last 15 days. The bill would also permit clerks in smaller cities and townships to do certain specific ballot "pre-processing activities" prior to election day.
To require public schools to prominently post in the school board's meeting room the provision from the state Constitution establishing that, "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” This language is from the Northwest Territory ordinance passed by congress in 1787, and has been in Michigan constitution since the state's admission to the union in 1837.
To require the Michigan Public Services Commission to pay a consultant to do a feasibility study on expanding nuclear power generation in the state.
To prohibit a licensed or registered health care provider from providing nonemergency health care to a minor without first obtaining the consent of the minor's parent or guardian.
To prohibit a local government that has an ordinance or charter provision authorizing criminal penalties for public urination, defecation or littering, from repealing the measure (styled by the bill as “decriminalizing public indecency”). Also, to require any local governments that decriminalized this in 2022 to promptly reenact their ordinances.
To prohibit local governments from banning the use of natural gas or propane appliances and heaters in a new or existing residential building or structure. A number of California cities have imposed such bans.
To require schools and child care facilities to develop a “drinking water safety plan” that meets detailed standards and reporting requirements, and have at least one “filtered bottle-filling station” for every 100 occupants. State grants would be authorized, but no funding source is specified.
To no longer name Michigan roads after politicians, living or dead, and instead name them only after individuals who died in service to the state or a local community, or members of the military who were killed or performed acts of great heroism or valor. The bill would assign the duty of naming roads to a state board.
To earmark $15 million in liquor tax revenue to a “secondary road patrol and training fund,” with the intention of increasing subsidies for some local governments that come in the form of having State Police patrol their local roads.
To extend for three more years a law that permits courts to impose a portion of their operating expenses on guilty defendants, such as building maintenance, employee benefit costs and more.
To extend until 2027 the 2022 expiration of a 2016 law that prohibits local governments from imposing a local fee, registration, franchise, or regulation on an “on-demand automated motor vehicle network” devised for driverless cars.
To cap at 28 days the authority of the state health department to impose emergency orders in response to a “menace to public health,” after which legislative approval would be required to extend the order. This is one of a number of Republican bills to add various limits and reporting requirements to state agency emergency response measures.
To make it a civil infraction subject to fines up to $2,000 for a health care provider to falsely certify that an individual has a need for an emotional support animal, for the purpose of allowing the individual to have an animal on or in property where pets are not allowed. A 2015 law requires the Department of Civil Rights to create credentials and vests for service animals to permit bringing them into a rental unit or public accommodations where animals are not allowed.
To require schools and child care facilities to develop a “drinking water safety plan” that meets detailed standards and reporting requirements, and have at least one “filtered bottle-filling station” for every 100 occupants. State grants would be authorized, but no funding source is specified.
To earmark $15 million in liquor tax revenue to a “secondary road patrol and training fund,” with the intention of increasing subsidies for some local governments that come in the form of having State Police patrol their local roads.
T cap at 28 days the authority of the state health department to impose emergency orders in response to a “menace to public health,” after which legislative approval would be required to extend the order. This is one of a number of Republican bills to add various limits and reporting requirements to state agency emergency response measures.
To extend for three more years a law that permits courts to impose a portion of their operating expenses on guilty defendants, such as building maintenance, employee benefit costs and more more.
To make it a civil infraction subject to fines up to $2,000 for a health care provider to falsely certify that an individual has a need for an emotional support animal, for the purpose of allowing the individual to have an animal on or in property where pets are not allowed. A 2015 law requires the Department of Civil Rights to create credentials and vests for service animals to permit bringing them into a rental unit or public accommodations where animals are not allowed.
To extend until 2027 the 2022 expiration of a 2016 law that prohibits local governments from imposing a local fee, registration, franchise, or regulation on an “on-demand automated motor vehicle network” devised for driverless cars.
to no longer name Michigan roads after politicians, and instead name them only after individuals who died in service to the state or a local community, or members of the military who were killed or performed acts of great heroism or valor without regard for their own safety. The bill would assign the duty of naming roads to a state transportation asset management council
To appropriate $1 billion for new corporate subsidies for General Motors to locate electric vehicle and battery plants in Michigan, plus additional spending on epidemic relief and other items.
The Senate vote on the bill described above.
To permit public school teachers and other staff who retire and begin collecting a pension to return to work in a school district and claim both a paycheck and a pension check if at least nine months have passed since the "retirement." Under current law, with some exceptions for hard-to-fill positions, public school retirees who "double dip" get reduced benefits. The bill would also repeal a requirement that a school district must contribute toward paying-down the unfunded state pension liabilities associated with employing a retired teacher.
To give gas station owners an income tax or business tax credit based on the amount of fuel mixed with ethanol they sell, with higher payments for higher levels of ethanol. The state would write a check to the owner for the difference if the ethanol tax credit exceeded the owner’s tax liability. Fiscal analysts estimate this will cause the state to forego $2.3 million in annual revenue.
To prescribe detailed disclosures that “high-volume third-party sellers” (more than 200 'consumer product' sales in a year) would have to make to an "online marketplace" (like eBay) to disclose the seller's full name, full physical address, a working phone number and email address, whether the seller makes, imports or resells consumer products and more. The site would then have to post a phone number on the seller's offerings for reporting "suspicious marketplace activity." The bill appears targeted at larger merchants who present themselves as individuals on sites like eBay, and is supported by broad coalition of large Michigan "brick and mortar" retailers.
To make pulling a false “active shooter alarm” in a public place a misdemeanor punishable up to a year in prison and $1,000 fine. The bill defines “active shooter alarm" as “an alarm system that is designed to alert individuals inside that place, that there is an active shooter on or near the premises, including an alarm system that when activated locks doors, informs local law enforcement of the active shooter, flashes a blue light, and broadcasts a message inside the place indicating the presence of an active shooter.”
To authorize paying individuals in a professional training program that is required to obtain a state social worker, school counselor, psychologist or mental health professional license, a stipend for serving as an intern in various capacities at a public school.
To authorize a selective state subsidy program (dubbed “Great Lakes Maritime” grants) that would give up to $2.5 million annually to developers and corporations who own a port facility, which they could spend on improvements and other things, including promoting their business.
To limit the duration of an emergency order issued by the state health department to 28 days. Note: When in Oct. 2020 the state Supreme Court invalidated a law that claimed to give governors authority to govern through emergency orders with no time limitation, the current Governor issued imposed the same open-ended orders under a provision of the state Public Health Code, which this bill would amend by adding the 28 day limit.
To require emergency orders imposed by the state health department in response to an epidemic to describe how any restrictions on gatherings or procedures will protect the public health, and disclose the information used to justify an emergency order, including data or statistics used to determine if it is necessary.
To raise from 18 to 21 the minimum age to buy tobacco in Michigan.
To raise the minimum age to enter a “cigar bar” or "tobacco specialty products" store from 18 to 21.
To repeal a 2020 law that authorized employee lawsuits against an employer who takes an “adverse employment action” or “retaliates” against an employee who is absent from work during the declared coronavirus epidemic emergency; and that prohibited employees who tested positive for COVID and had symptoms from reporting for work.
To repeal a 2020 COVID epidemic amendment to the state's occupational health and safety law that gave businesses liability exemptions for exposure of an individual to COVID-19 on the premises, unless this was caused by a reckless disregard of a substantial and unnecessary risk that an individual would be exposed, and as long as it can establish that operations were in substantial compliance with the law.
To create a new state government “blockchain and cryptocurrency commission” comprised of specified officials and political appointees including industry representatives, for the purpose of "fostering an expansion of the industry in this state." The commission would also be tasked with examining “the feasibility, validity, risks, and admissibility, including privacy risks and benefits of using blockchain technology in state and local government and Michigan-based businesses;” and identifying “best practices for enabling blockchain technology and cryptocurrency transactions."
To require municipalities with a public beach to post on a website specified information on beach safety and anti-drowning techniques, and require state natural resource regulators to create and promulgate the safety tips.
To prescribe detailed disclosures that “high-volume third-party sellers” (more than 200 'consumer product' sales in a year) would have to make to an online marketplace (like eBay), including the seller's full name, location and contact information, whether the seller makes, imports or resells consumer products, and more. The site would then have to post a phone number on the seller's offerings for reporting "suspicious marketplace activity." The bill is supported by a broad coalition of large retail chains with outlets in this state.
To give state agriculture department regulators the authority to issue “certificates of free sale” if requested by a plant grower or nursery. This would verify their products are “legally sold or distributed in this state and on the open market with the approval of the department.” The bill does not mandate producers get the certificate or ban sales by ones who have not.
To resolve that the Michigan House urges President Joe Biden "to reject radical open border policies and to enforce our nation's immigration laws."
To require the governor to announce the election dates to fill a vacancy in the legislature within 30 days of the seat becoming open.
To add a selective state subsidy program that would give private developers and corporations $2.5 million in “Great Lakes Maritime” grants for a variety of improvements and uses related to port facilities, including pursuing more business.
To revise provisions of the state school code that prescribe a process for a governor exercising the authority granted by the state constitution to remove a local public official from office, in cases when that official is school board member or intermediate school board member. House Bill 4883 would amend the process for removing other local officials, which is authorized for neglect, corruption or malfeasance.
To make it unlawful to record in the county deeds office a property owners’ or condominium association’s governing documents that contain a “restrictive covenant” that violates the federal Civil Rights Act, and establish that existing ones are void and unenforceable. The bill would also require associations that receive a member request to delete the restrictive covenants to act on it, and empower courts to enforce this.
To establish that a police officer or a prosecuting attorney may provide a domestic or sexual violence service agency with the name and pertinent information of a victim of domestic violence for the purpose of offering supportive services.
To give $1,000 annual stipends to public school “mentor teachers” as defined in the bill, and also give $90 daily stipends to prospective teachers who are filling the teacher licensure requirement to obtain a prescribed number "apprenticeship and internship" hours.
To raise the minimum age to buy tobacco in Michigan, from 18 to 21.
To authorize grants up to $1,500 to parents whose children experienced “learning loss” due to school closures during the COVID epidemic, with 40% of the amount based on household income and the rest based on how many days a child’s classrooms were closed.
To make permanent the permission granted to local government employee retirement boards to hold their meetings remotely, which was was granted temporarily by state epidemic response laws enacted in 2020. This is one of a growing number of proposals to
grant this privilege to various public and quasi-public bodies (like agricultural commodity "marketing boards").
To authorize paying individuals in a professional training program that is required to obtain a state social worker, school counselor, psychologist or mental health professional license, a stipend for serving as an intern in various capacities at a public school.
To place in statute authorization for “robo-bartender” alcoholic dispensing machines in restaurants, bars and other establishments with a liquor license. The machines could dispense up to 96 ounces of beer, wine, or mixed spirit drink in a single order, and staff would be required to monitor their use. Rules adopted under an existing law permit a much more limited version of this, which the industry has sought to expand.
To permit establishments with an “on-premises” liquor license that also have a “public swimming pool” and pay an additional $350 license fee, to sell drinks at the pool subject to a broad range of additional regulations and requirements.
To suspend collection of the state’s 27.2 cent-per-gallon "motor fuel tax" on gasoline and diesel fuel sales from June 15 to Sept. 15, 2022. The Senate Fiscal Agency reports this would reduce the amount available for future road and bridge repairs by around $360 million.
To suspend collection of the state’s 6% sales tax on purchases of gasoline and diesel fuel from June 15 to Sept. 15, 2022. The Senate Fiscal Agency reports that suspending sales and use taxes on fuel would reduce state and school revenue around $680 million in the current fiscal year.
To authorize state grants of up to $2.5 million each to developers and owners of shipping ports and related facilities. The bill creates a new state agency to manage the subsidies, and to pursue more projects eligible for them.
To authorize civil fines of $2,500 per day for carnival ride safety violations. The bill would also revise procedures on permit revocations, appeals, reporting and disclosure mandates and more.
To revise state high school graduation requirements by adding a new one, that schools offer and students take a one-semester “personal finance” course, which would also substitute for a portion of the math credits that are currently required. The Michigan Department of Education would be required to develop the personal finance course.
To authorize adoption leave business tax credits for employers, which would be equal to half the annual wages of the employee for up to 12 weeks of adoption leave, up to a maximum of $4,000.
to reduce from a year to four months the time period a former public school employee must be retired to be eligible to collect a paycheck as a substitute teacher while also collecting pension checks
To cut the state income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.0%; authorize a $500 nonrefundable child tax credit; increase the amount the state adds on to a federal earned income tax credit for low-income households that owe no taxes, from 6% to 20% of the federal amount; increase the income tax exemption for individuals age 67 and above from $20,000 to $21,800; authorize tax credits for disabled veterans, and more. The Senate Fiscal Agency estimates the bill would save taxpayers around $2.5 billion annually.
To change a law that prohibits a person younger than age 18 from selling or serving alcoholic drinks. The bill would lower the minimum age to 17.
To revise the state income tax law to authorize a $500 per household "inflation relief payment" plus an extra $100 per dependent, which would be given to households that filed a state income tax return for 2021. This is part of the $2.5 billion Republican income tax cut proposal represented by the "S-1" version of this bill passed by the state Senate on the same day, described above, which the House is expected to approve with some amendments.
To require the Michigan Public Services Commission to do a feasibility study on expanding nuclear power generation in the state.
To place on the November 2022 general election ballot a constitutional amendment to extend legislative term limits to 12 years in either or both the state House and Senate. Under Michigan’s current term limits, state representatives may only be elected for three terms of two-years each, and state senators for two terms of four-years each. The proposal would also place in the constitution a financial disclosure mandate, requiring lawmakers to submit lists each year of all assets, liabilities and more. Michigan's current term limits were placed in the state constitution by voters in a 1992 citizen's initiative that passed 59% to 41%.
The Senate vote on the term limits constitutional amendment described above.
The measure was brought to both bodies on the same day and requires a two-thirds majority from each to be placed on the November ballot, which it received.
To require individuals seeking the license and certificates required to teach in a public school to obtain training in dyslexia, as specified in the bill.
To increase the pay of district court judges to the same rate as probate court judges, which is 84% of the amount set by a state officers compensation commission for Supreme Court justices. Probate and circuit court judges now receive $159,917 per year, and district court judges now get $158,027.
To permit establishments with a public swimming pool and an “on-premises” liquor license to pay an additional $350 license fee that gives them permission to sell drinks at the pool, subject to a broad range of additional regulations and requirements including advanced pool filtration.
To allow a student to meet the foreign language requirement in the state’s high school graduation requirements by taking a computer software class instead.
To prohibit the use in Michigan of electronic voting systems produced or provided by an entity that is listed as a national security risk on the Federal Communications Commission website.
To establish that a pharmacist who receives a prescription from an advanced practice registered nurse prescriber or physician's assistant prescriber in another state or Canada may dispense the drug or device without determining whether the prescriber has the correct licenses. Under current law, Michigan pharmacists may fill such prescriptions written by out-of-state doctors, dentists and veterinarians.
To permit public school teachers and other staff who retire and begin collecting a pension to return to work in a school district and claim both a paycheck and a pension check if at least 12 months have passed since the "retirement." Under current law, with some exceptions for hard-to-fill positions, retirees who "double dip" get reduced benefits. The bill would also repeal a requirement that a school district must pay the unfunded pension benefit liability contributions associated with employing a retired teacher. Also, it would extend for 10 years a 2021 sunset on allowing retirees to fill certain high-demand positions and collect both a paycheck and full pension check.
To prohibit state regulators from requiring unattended self-service gas stations to install measures to prevent public access, including locked dispensers, security fencing or other measures. The bill would instead require daily inspections by an owner or operator, emergency shut-off switches, surveillance cameras, fire extinguishers and more.
To create a segregated state account (“fund”) to hold money extracted from pharmaceutical companies in lawsuits related to their sales of opioid pain killers, and spend it in a manner consistent with the “judgment, settlement, or compromise of claims” in legal settlements with certain drug producers (called the "Janssen settlement" and the "National Prescription Opiate Litigation").
To create a Michigan-Indiana state line commission comprised of the county surveyors of Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale counties, to oversee a survey and remonumentation of the Michigan-Indiana state line. This would be paid for from an existing state account that collects fees on recording deeds. It would be the eighth law passed in the past 20 years related to this task.
To adopt a non-binding resolution asserting that the state Senate opposes "mandates related to COVID-19 at all public and private colleges and universities in Michigan," and send it to the Michigan Association of State Universities, the president of Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities, and the president of the Michigan Community College Association.
To add selling an object specifically designed for ingesting or inhaling nitrous oxide to a 1988 law that banned the sale of drug “paraphernalia,” subject to 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
To increase the subsidies the state gives to railroad companies each year to maintain their active traffic control devices, circuitry, and appurtenances at rail grade crossings. Also, to increase the payments by 6.64% every other year going forward.
To allow "retired" state prison employees to collect a pension while also getting paid to do corrections work. This authorization would expire two years after the bill becomes law.
To prohibit the use of automated, unmanned, photographic traffic signal enforcement system ("photo-cops") to issue traffic citations for violating red lights or stop signs.
To authorize use of a “uniform bar examination” to fill the current Michigan mandate that lawyers be members of the state bar association, but only if Michigan officials choose to also administer this uniform test in this state. The bill would also increase a related bar examination fee.
To reduce from a year to four months the time period a former public school employee must be retired to be eligible to collect a paycheck as a substitute teacher while also collecting pension checks.
To adopt a non-binding resolution that the Michigan Senate calls for an immediate end to public transportation face mask mandates on trains, planes and buses.
To appropriate $4.709 billion for spending on water and wastewater infrastructure programs and grants. Of this $4.133 billion comes from federal “stimulus” and relief dollars, with the rest money collected by the state.
The House vote on the large appropriations bill described above.
To add to the declarations an individual makes when registering to vote, a statement that the individual "understands it is a felony to offer to vote or attempt to vote more than once at the same election, in either the same or another voting precinct.”
To authorize state regulators to issue “certificates of free sale” for food upon request of a "food processor." This would verify a product is registered, is not disapproved by government administrators and is legal to sell. The bill does not mandate producers get the certificate or ban sales by ones who who have not.
To increase from $25,000 to $40,000 the cap on annual sales by a home-based “cottage food” operation, which are exempt from state licensure mandates imposed on commercial food producers. Also, to allow these operations to sell over the internet or by mail-order through a third-party "cottage food delivery platform."
To suspend collecting the state motor fuel tax levied on gasoline and diesel fuel purchases between April 1 and September 30, 2022. The current tax rate is 27.2 cents per gallon on both fuels, and revenue from it pays for state and local road repairs. The House Fiscal Agency projects this would reduce that revenue by $725 million in 2022, leaving an equivalent amount in motorists' pockets.
To encourage (but not require) public schools to offer a program of instruction on free enterprise and entrepreneurship for high school students.
To authorize enhanced penalties for assaulting a hospital "health professional" or volunteer by creating a new crime punishable by 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine or more depending on specific circumstances.
To revise various regulations in the law governing veterinary practices. Among other things the bill would prohibit veterinarians from practicing “unless it is within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship” as defined in the bill; waive certain licensure mandates during a declared emergency or in response to a “to a large-scale animal cruelty case;” authorize the use of specified “therapeutic philosophy and practice that is not considered part of conventional, Western veterinary medicine;” and more.
To prohibit veterinarians from practicing “unless it is within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship” as defined in the bill. See also House Bill 4912.
To exempt diapers and adult incontinence products from sales tax. It is unusual for the House to complete and record a vote to defeat a particular bill, rather than suspending the vote and moving on to the next agenda item. In the background of this vote are ongoing negotiations on some very substantial proposals to cut the state income tax and suspend the state gas tax.
To amend provisions in the state health code that delegate to the state health department the authority to assume extraordinary powers during an emergency, including the statewide “lockdowns” ordered under the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. The bill would prohibit officials from using this law to ban the sale or use of lawfully possessed firearms, ammunition, or other weapons during a declared emergency or disaster.
To prohibit the Secretary of State or local election officials from delivering unsolicited absentee voter ballot applications to registered voters.
To prohibit state or local election officials and bureaus from accepting gifts from individuals or nongovernmental entities for election-related activities, equipment, or staff.
To require public schools to prominently post two state law provisions in specified rooms, including the one where the school board meets. The first provision is the text from section 1 of the Michigan Constitution’s Article 8, which reads, “Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
The bill would also require schools to post the section of the state School Code that reads: “It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil's parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil's intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment.”
To suspend collecting the state gasoline and diesel tax between April 1 and September 30, 2022. The current tax rate is 27.2 cents per gallon on both fuels, and revenue from it pays for state and local road repairs. The House Fiscal Agency projects this would save motorists around $725 million in 2022, with the foregone revenue to "backfilled" from a $4 billion state budget surplus.
To cut the state income tax rate from 4.25% to 3.9% starting Jan. 1, 2022; authorize a $500 nonrefundable income tax credit for a taxpayers' dependents who are age 18 and under; and lower from age 67 to age 62 eligibility for certain income tax exemptions on retirement income.
The Senate vote on the House-passed version of the bill described above, which does not include the business tax cut in an earlier version the Senate approved. With this vote the bill gets sent on to the Governor for signature or veto.
To replace the property tax levied on heavy equipment owned by rental companies with a 2% tax on heavy equipment rentals, to be distributed mostly to local governments.
To cut the state’s business income tax rate from 6% to 3.9% starting Jan. 1 2022.
To extend to COVID-19 treatments a 2014 "Right to Try” state law that lets terminal patients use and drug companies provide non-FDA approved treatments, subject to a broad array of restrictions, conditions and requirements.
To eliminate the $2,000 cap in a law authorizing counties to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a criminal, or the capture of an escaped convict. Under the bill there would be no limit on how large a reward a county could pay.
To require that prior to their adoption any changes made by state officials to a “pupil accounting and auditing manual” must be sent to the chairpersons of the state House and Senate education policy committees. This document is used to set standards for the number of school days and hours provided by public school districts for purposes of determining whether a district meets the qualifications to get state school aid money. As introduced the bill would have required legislative approval for these changes, which have played a role in school districts' decisions to close classrooms during the COVID epidemic.
To increase from $50 million to $100 million the debt cap in a 2008 law that authorized state job training subsidies for particular employers, provided through community colleges. The scheme diverts income tax collected from the new employees to repay the local college for the training.
To cut the state income tax rate from 4.25% to 3.9% starting Jan. 1, 2022; authorize a $600 nonrefundable tax credit for dependents age 18 and below; and reduce the corporate income tax from 6.0% to 3.9%. The bill would also increase the annual income tax deduction allowed for individuals age 67 and above from $20,000 to $30,000, and for couples from $40,000 to $60,000.
To make it a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $2,500 for unauthorized dumping of between 3 cubic feet and 5 cubic yards of refuse or trash, with the fine going up by another $2,500 for each subsequent offense. Employers would be potentially liable, and offenders could also be ordered to clean up the mess. Under current law this is a civil not criminal offense.
To amend a section of the state food law that deals with adulterated food, so as to declare that its prohibitions do not apply to food that contains or has added to it any quantity of "industrial hemp."
To authorize and create a comprehensive regulatory regime for the use of “robo-bartender” dispensing machines for beer, wine and mixed drinks that are located at a customer's table or with use of a secure "key card" in other parts of establishments with a liquor license, including restaurants, certain hotel rooms and more. The machines could not dispense more than 96 ounces in a single order, or dispense spirituous liquor “straight.” Customers would still have to place the order with a human staff member, and staff members would still be required to monitor the service.
To permit local governments that have created joint emergency services agencies including fire departments impose new property taxes and incur long term debt (sell bonds) to acquire buildings and equipment if local voters approve.
To revise a 2002 law that authorized a joint legislative committee inquire into the proposed actions of a state “Certificate of Need” commission, which was created in the 1970s to ration the number of medical providers and facilities in the state. The bill would require this committee to meet annually and review the law’s impact on the availability, quality and the cost of medical services in Michigan. Related bills would establish other transparency requirements for this law and entity.
To repeal criminal sanctions for a person who is ice fishing and fails to attach his or her name and address to tip-ups, or regular fishing with more than the authorized number of lines. These violations would instead be subject to fines up to $150.
To go along with the $8.4 million spending increase approved a day earlier by the House for a Michigan Technological University construction project, and raise the bill's total cost by adding another $4.2 million to cover similar cost overruns at an Oakland University construction project, giving it a new total cost of $44.2 million.
To revise a law that permits the state to “ buy back” commercial housing market bond debt it has assumed. The bill would permit rather than require the state to cancel such “repurchased” bond debt. Such discretion could benefit the state if officials time the market right, but increase costs if their timing is off.
To require the governor to announce the election dates to fill a vacancy in the state House or Senate within 30 days of the vacancy. Under current law governors have discretion in the timing, which can affect legislative outcomes.
To prohibit research that uses organs, tissues, or cells taken from a dead embryo, fetus, or neonate obtained from an abortion. This and related bills would repeal an exception that allows this if the mother gives consent.
To no longer seek competitive bids for state architectural, engineering or land surveying service contracts, and instead let officials assess and rank vendors according to specified (and potentially subjective) criteria, and then try to negotiate a “fair and reasonable” contract with the “highest ranking” firm. The bill does not establish how “fair and reasonable” would be defined in the absence of competitive bidding. If officials don’t get the price they want they would repeat the process with the next firm on their list.
To authorize “automated vehicle roadways" or lanes, use of which would be exclusively reserved for vehicles operating while communicating with an “automated vehicle roadway system.” The bill would permit the state to contract out construction and operation of such roads and permit charging tolls on them.
To establish that a “uniform bar examination” created and administered by a national group would fill the current Michigan mandate that lawyers be members of the state bar association, but only if Michigan officials choose to administer this uniform test in this state. The bill would also increase bar examination fees and related charges.
To establish procedures and standards for selecting a vendor for the defined-contribution annuity option authorized for school retirees by the 2017 pension reform law that largely replaced a persistently underfunded “defined benefit” pension system with 401k account employer contributions, or an annuity to be created later, which this bill would do.
To prohibit the use of a "mobile electronic device" including a cell phone while driving, except for hands-free or voice-activated devices, with violations subject to fines or up to 16 hours of community service for texting-while-driving, and 24 hours for a second offense. This and House Bill 4788 would also increase fines and license penalty points and authorize license suspensions for three or more violations within three years, ban driving with headphones or ear-buds, ban recording, watching or sending a video while driving, ban interacting on social media while driving and more.
To grant $5,000 state income tax exemptions, and $10,000 on joint returns, if the money is deposited in a specialty savings account the bill would authorize for individuals who have not bought or owned a Michigan home in the past three years (dubbed "first time home buyers"). The exemptions could be claimed for up to five years, meaning $50,000 could be exempted from state income tax liability over time by certain households. Fiscal agency analysts estimate the bill will transfer up to $19.8 million in benefits to these households, with an equivalent amount of revenue foregone by the state. A version of this proposal was vetoed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018.
To grant $5,000 state income tax exemptions, and $10,000 on joint returns, if the money is deposited in a specialty savings account for individuals who have not bought or owned a Michigan home in the past three years (labeled by related bills as "first time home buyers"). The exemptions could be claimed for up to five years, meaning $50,000 could be exempted from state income tax liability over time by individuals who can afford to do so. Legislative fiscal agency analysts estimate the bill will provide up to $19.8 million in benefits for these individuals, with an equivalent amount of revenue foregone by the state. A version of this proposal was vetoed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018.
To exempt from state income tax up to $5,000, and $10,000 on joint returns, that is deposited in a specialty savings account the bill would authorize for individuals who have not bought or owned a Michigan home in the past three years (dubbed by the bill a "first time home buyer"). Up to $50,000 could be exempted from state income tax liability by an account owner over time. A version of this proposal was vetoed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018
To appropriate $1 billion for a new corporate subsidy scheme. The money would pay for a “Critical Industry Fund” to give grants and loans to certain companies to create jobs or job training, and a “Strategic Site Readiness Fund” to give others money to create “investment-ready sites” for new plants and facilities. The bill also appropriates $409 million for relief to businesses "afflicted" by the coronavirus epidemic and responses, and $75 million to reduce personal property taxes levied on business tools and equipment.
The House vote to spend $1 billion on the new corporate subsidy program described above.
To double a small business exemption on the value of business tools and equipment subject to property taxes (called the “personal property tax"), from $80,000 to $160,000, and also index this to inflation going forward.
To mandate that “all (public) school personnel” complete seizure recognition and seizure first-aid response training every other year.
To authorize state income tax deductions for gambling losses claimed on an individual’s federal tax returns.
To extend an Open Meetings Act requirement that public bodies hold their meetings in public to the “independent citizens redistricting commission” authorized by a 2018 ballot initiative. The bill was introduced after this controversial commission met behind closed doors to discuss secret legal memos related to its potential federal Voting Rights Act violations.
To create a new corporate subsidy program and account, to be called the “Strategic Site Readiness Fund,” which would give grants and loans to certain companies to create “investment-ready sites” for new job producing plants and facilities.
The House version of the new corporate subsidy program described above as Senate Bill 770.
To create a new corporate subsidy program and account, to be called the “Critical Industry Fund,” which would give grants and loans to certain companies to create jobs or job training.
The House version of the new corporate subsidy program described above as Senate Bill 771.
To revise a "brownfields" law used to give subsidies to particular developers by stripping-out provisions requiring that the transfer of state revenue to a developer “result in an overall positive fiscal impact to this state.” The bill would authorize subsidies of up to $10 million to each beneficiary, which recipients could collect by essentially getting a portion of employees' or residents’ income tax.
To change the terms of county commissioners to four years, instead of the current two years “concurrent” with state representative" terms.
To eliminate the criminal penalties for a minor who tries to buy or possesses tobacco. A first offense would be a civil offense with a $50 fine (as in current law), and community service and participation in a government approved “health promotion and risk reduction” program. Subsequent offenses would also be civil offenses subject to a $100 fine on a second offense and $150 on subsequent offenses.
To authorize a state government “community crisis response grant program” that would give state grants to local governments related to 9-1-1 call responses, with the amount in part determined by a particular social-welfare organization selected by the state. This would include in 911 call responses "community crisis responder clinicians...or peers,” for "stabilization, de-escalation, harm reduction, screening and assessment, and connection to mental health, substance use disorder, social, health, or other services and supports as needed.”
To authorize Michigan’s entry into a multi-state psychology interjurisdictional compact that permits psychologists licensed in one member state to also practice in other member states. The bill would prescribe rules and definitions for this.
To double the a small business exemption on the value of business tools and equipment subject to property taxes (called the “personal property tax"), from $80,000 to $160,000, and also index this to inflation going forward.
