HB 6181 and 6182 Require Parole Check Upon Arrest
These bills would require that LEIN checks be done before an arrest warrant is issued and when a person is arrested, and that DOC be notified if the person named in the warrant or arrested is on parole. Both bills passed 102-0.
HB 6275 Revise Parole Requirements for Violent Criminals
This bill would require home visits, quarterly LEIN checks, and mandatory bi-monthly substance abuse testing of parolees convicted of a violent felony. Bill passed 102-0.
HB 6291 Create State-wide Cord Blood Stem Cell Network
This bill would require the Department of Community Health to establish a statewide cord blood stem cell network. Cord blood stem cells are used to treat various blood disorders that until recently have been treated primarily by bone marrow transplants. Cord blood stem cells should not be confused with embryonic stem cells which may have the potential to treat a wider array of diseases, but their use is more controversial and currently illegal in Michigan. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6292 Tax Credit for Cord Blood Stem Cell Donations
This bill would provide for a refundable income tax credit for a donation to either the statewide network of cord stem cell banks (established by HB 6291), or a qualified cord blood stem cell banks within the network. For monetary donations, a credit could be received for 50% of the amount of the donation, limited at $100 for individual tax returns and $200 for joint tax returns. A tax credit of $100 could be taken for a donation of cord blood to a cord stem cell bank as provided by HB 6291. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6293 Educational Promotion of Cord Blood Stem Cells
This bill would require the Department of Community Health to develop and disseminate educational materials on the uses and benefits of cord blood stem cells and cord blood banking options, to make those materials available on their website, and to provide copies of the materials at no charge to health facilities, health agencies, cord blood banks, and health professionals. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 6295 Allow Cord Stem Cell Research Under the Michigan Strategic Fund
This bill amends the Michigan Strategic Fund Act to add "umbilical cord blood" as part of the definition of life sciences under "biotechnology." The purpose of this amendment would be to appropriate funds from the Michigan Strategic Fund for establishing the cord blood cell network. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6294 Appropriate $5 million for Cord Stem Cell Network
This bill would appropriate $5 million from the $400 million allocated to the Michigan Strategic Fund from the 21st Century Trust Fund to the Department of Treasury budget, for distribution to the Department of Community Health to establish a statewide cord blood stem cell network. Many Democrats opposed the bill because it used a restricted fund to pay for a general fund purpose. Bill passed 74-32.
SBs 912-914 Create the "Qualified Forestry Program"
This package of bills authorize a property tax exemption for certain forestland that produces wood products and is managed and harvested according to approved good forestry principles through a development rights agreement. Property meeting the specified requirements would be exempt from 18 mills of local school operating taxes, and instead the state would pay the amount of foregone revenue to the local school district out of its general fund revenue. Senate Bill 913 requires all or part the tax savings to be repaid if the property is removed from forestry. All the bills passed unanimously.
SB 917 Create "Sustainable Forest Conservation Easements"
This bill would establish an annual specific tax for commercial forestland that is subject to a sustainable forest conservation easement which would be 15 cents less than for commercial forestland not subject to the sustainability agreement. The bill would also require nonrefundable application fee to enter land into the program of $2 per acre, subject to a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $1,000, and impose penalties if the sustainability agreement were violated. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5454 Update the Commercial Forestry Act
This bill raises the specific tax rate on property that falls under the Commercial Forestry Act (CFA) to $1.20/acre on January 1, 2007 and by five cents every five years after that, and it freezes the state payment on CFA property at $1.20/acre until December 31, 2012 and then it is increased five cents every five years after that. Without this bill, the specific tax on CFA property would have jumped from $1.10/acre to $4.00/acre. In addition, the bill modifies the method by which a financial penalty is imposed on property that is withdrawn from the Commercial Forest Act. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5455 Modify Eligibility for the Commercial Forestry Act
This bill would amend the eligibility criteria for the Commercial Forest Act (CFA) by specifying that a parcel of land must be at least forty contiguous acres, and a landowner would have to apply by April 1 to be eligible for CFA benefits for the following tax year. The bill also repeals the section of law that provides for a ten-year payment adjustment ratio for the state's payment rate. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 5761 Tax Exemptions for Masonic Lodges
This bill would provide real and personal property tax exemptions for Masonic lodges. Rep. Meisner offered two amendments; one which would protect school millage dollars, and the other amendment ensured that the exempted property could only be used for nonprofit uses. Rep. Condino offered an amendment that makes the exemption only available to groups that comply with the Elliott-Larsen Bill passed 104-1.
SB 877 Anhydrous Ammonia Security Act
This bill would require the Michigan Commission on Agriculture to issue anhydrous ammonia safety and security standards in consultation agricultural and industry experts, law enforcement agencies and end users. The safety and security standards would have to include the use of tank locks or the use of a dye added to the anhydrous that will stain objects it comes into contact with in a highly visible manner. Anhydrous ammonia is a common ingredient used in the production of methamphetamines. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 4108 Anhydrous Ammonia Storage
This bill would provide immunity from tort liability for farmers, suppliers and other end users who use tank locks or dye additives, and comply with other established safety practices to prevent the theft of anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is a common ingredient used in the production of methamphetamines. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 4861 Allow "Pepper Foam"
This bill would allow law enforcement officers to use "pepper foam" in addition to pepper spray that is currently used by law enforcement. Additionally, the bill allows law enforcement officers to use a higher strength spray or foam under certain circumstances. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 6238 Increase Insurance Fraud Penalties
This bill doubles the penalty for insurance fraud, from four years in prison and a $50,000 fine to eight years and a $100,000 fine. Representative Condino offered an amendment that would have doubled the civil penalties for an insurance company engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices. His amendment was defeated 48-57; the bill passed 100-5.
HB 5193 Provide Address of Recently Released Sex Offenders
This bill requires the Department of Corrections to notify local law enforcement agencies of proposed domiciles and residences of soon-to-be paroled or discharged inmates who are required to register as sex offenders. Bill passed 104-0.
HB 5194 and HB 6135 Require Sex Offenders to Provide Address Prior to Release
These bills require soon-to-be paroled or discharged prison inmates, subject to the Sex Offender Registry, to provide the Department of Corrections with proposed residence and address information prior to being released. Both bills passed unanimously.
HB 5719 Prohibit Possession of Public Safety Badges and Uniforms
This bill would prohibit the sale or possession of firefighter or emergency medical service providers uniforms, patches, and badges. The bill passed 104-1.
SB 848 and 849 Insurance Wellness Coverage
These bills would allow insurance companies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and Blue Cross Blue Shield to offer wellness coverage, which could include premium rebates or reductions, or reduced co-payments or deductibles. The bills were opposed by some Members because the bills did not include protections for workers who an employer decides are "unhealthy." Bills passed 74-32 and 73-33, respectively.
SB 1016 Real Estate Appraiser Licensure Standards
This bill would replace the current real estate appraiser licensure standards with professional standard created by the appraiser qualifications board of the Appraisal Foundation, which are the standard used by the federal government. Bill passed 101-5.
HB 6310 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Highway
This bill would name a portion of M-81 in Tuscola County as the "Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Highway". Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6239 Revise Allowable County Fiscal Year
This bill would allow counties to begin their fiscal years on either July 1, or October 1. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6322 Allow Charitable Donation of Confiscated Bicycles
This bill would allow abandoned bicycles in the possession of a local law enforcement agency to be donated to a licensed charity. This applies to stolen bicycles that have not been claimed by the proper owner. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 6325 Allow Drain Commissioners to Appoint Desgnees
This bill would allow a county drain commissioner to appoint a designee to attend county parks and recreation commission meetings (rather than having to go himself or herself). Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6011 Expand Lobbyist Reporting Requirements
This bill expands the reporting requirements when lobbyists pay for the food and travel of state officials. Generally speaking, allexpenditures for travel and lodging and for food and beverages provided to a public official would have to be reported. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5172 Require Financial Disclosure of "Robo-calls"
This bill would require automated election campaign phone calls to voters ("robo-calls") that relate to a candidate to include disclosure of who is paying for the call, how much they paid for the call, whether or not the call is not authorized by a candidate committee, and require disclosures to the Secretary of State. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6129 Random Audits of Campaign Statements
This bill would require the Bureau of Elections to randomly audit at least nine campaign committees each election cycle, including three candidate committees, three ballot question committees, and three independent political action committees (PACs). The bill also requires the Secretary of State to publish a list of candidates who owe late campaign finance disclosure filing fees, increases late filing fees. Bill passed 103-3.
HB 6130 Increase Campaign Finance Committee Reporting
This bill requires that an independent expenditure by an independent committee or political committee (PAC) be reported within 48 hours of the expenditure if made within 45 days before the election. Bill passed 103-3.
HB 6131 Increase Campaign Finance Reporting
This bill would require persons or organizations that aren't PACs to report within 48 hours any independent campaign expenditures over $100 on behalf of a candidate or ballot issue. Under current law, they have 10 days. Bill passed 102-4.
HB 6132 Prohibit Candidate Payments from Campaign Committee
This bill prohibits the payment of wages, salary or other employment compensation to a candidate from his or her candidate committee (violation may result in a misdemeanor). Bill passed 104-2.
HB 6133 Require Candidate Approval for TV and Radio Ads
This bill would require the tag line "I am (name of candidate) and I approve this message" to paid radio and TV advertisements. Bill passed 105-1.
HB 6017 Prohibit Out-of-state, Lobbyist-paid Trips
This bill would prohibit public employees and officers from accepting out-of-state travel expenses paid by lobbyists. Bill passed 104-2.
HB 6128 Campaign Finance Disclosure
This bill revises the state campaign finance disclosure law to require non-profit "527" organizations to follow the same disclosure rules as a political action committees, and requires these disclosures (including amount spent and who contributed the money) for "electioneering communications," defined as ones that clearly identify a candidate or ballot issue, and that are made 30 days before a primary and 60 before a general election. Democrats opposed the bill because it infringes upon free speech because it would ban certain organizations from advocating for issues for several months before elections. Bill passed 56-50.
HB 4983 Require Legal Defense Fund Disclosure
This bill would establish financial disclosure and reporting requirements similar to campaign finance reporting for legal defense funds created to defend a Michigan elected official against criminal, civil, or administrative actions. The bill would prohibit anonymous contributions, and require regular contribution reports to be filed with the Secretary of State. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5985 Prohibit Honorariums for Any Elected State Officeholders
This bill would prohibit any elected state officeholders from accepting honorariums. Currently only legislators are prohibited. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 1167 Create Agricultural Value-added Roundtable
This bill creates an Agricultural Value-added Roundtable to discuss all facets of taking agricultural products from research to market. Representative McDowell offered an amendment that would require the roundtable to have at least two members from the upper peninsula. The amendment failed 51-55. The bill passed 100-2.
HB 4431 Expand Definition of First Degree Murder
This bill amends the definition of first-degree murder to also include the murder committed in the perpetration of aggravated stalking or torture. Bill passed 101-0.
HB 5672 Create Cancer Drug Repository Program
This bill would create the Cancer Drug Repository Program to allow individuals to donate unused prescription cancer drugs and supplies for use by uninsured, underinsured, and other cancer patients in Michigan. Bill passed 101-0.
SBs 1168 and 1169 Revise Grant Program for Agricultural Ventures
These bills establish new criteria and a new process for the awarding of grants, loans and loan guarantees under the Julian-Stile Act. It creates an Agriculture Development Review Committee, appointed by the Agriculture Commission to provide recommendations or to identify projects for grants or loans. The Agriculture Commission would approve any grants or loans. Under current law, the Director of the Department of Agriculture (MDA) approves any grants from the Agricultural Development Fund. The bills passed 99-3 and 98-4, respectively.
HB 6004 ReviseIntermediateSchool District Elections
This bill revises the procedures for the election of Intermediate School District (ISD) boards. Most ISD boards are selected by the boards of the constituent school districts. The bill revises the timing of those votes, the procedures for contested and non-contested votes, and for when more than three members of a particular school board are selected (not more than three can serve prohibited). The bill also adds additional conflict of interest provisions for ISD administrators. Finally, the bill changes the audit procedures for ISDs. Bill passed 102-0.
HBs 6288 and 6289 Revise Approval Process for Ballot Statements
These bills would provide that the statement of purpose for a ballot question prepared by the State Director of Elections would be considered to be approved, unlessthe Board of State Canvassers disapproved the statement by a majority vote of the members. This would give one political party control over ballot statements instead of the current system which requires that both political parties must agree on the wording of ballot statements. The bills passed 57-45 and 56-45, respectively.
SB 1267 Revise Definition of Low-speed Vehicle
This bill would eliminate the current definition of "low-speed vehicle" in the Michigan
Vehicle Code and replace it with the federal definition. Bill passed 101-0.
SB 1290 Update Driver's Education Laws
This bill revises and updates the state law regulating and licensing driver's education courses. Among other things the bill would certify driver education providers and instructors, rather than license driver training schools and instructors. It would also require criminal history check of instructors, create a "Driver Education Provider and Instructor Fund" to cover administration of the certification and oversight, funded by increased application fees and administrative fines collected under the bill. In addition, the bill would require an additional one hour of behind the wheel instruction for teenagers. The bill was opposed by many Democrats because it would increase costs too much to obtain a driver's license. Bill passed 65-37.
HB 6253 Extend Temporary Licenses for Canadian Nurses
This bill would extend sunset provisions for granting a temporary license to Canadian registered nurses, which allows them to practice as a nurse in Michigan, for five additional years, until 2012. Bill passed 101-0.
SB 875 Municipal Investment Pools
This bill would allow local governments and authorities to pool or coordinate funds they have to be invested with the funds of other local governments, for the purpose of seeking a higher rate of return. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 6430 and HB 6431 Prohibit Certain Sex Offenders from Accessing Social Networking Websites
These bills would prohibit people convicted of certain sexual offenses involving victims under the age of 18 from being allowed to access "commercial social networking websites" (such as "MySpace.com') and include penalties of up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1000 for a first offense and up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000 for second and subsequent offenses. Both bills passed 107-0.
HBs 6403-06 Authorize Personal Protection Orders for Schools
The bill would allow schools to seek a student body protection order (similar to a personal protection order (PPO)) to prevent a person accused or convicted of a crime that would place them on the sex offender registry from entering or within 1000 feet of school property. All four bills passed 107-0.
HB 6481 Allow Drug-Testing of Public Assistance Recipients
The bill would allow suspicion based substance abuse testing of public assistance recipients by the Department of Human Services. Bill passed 82-25.
HB 6457 Create a Credit Activity List for Consumers
This bill would establish a "Credit Activity List" administrated by the Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS).Consumers would pay a fee of up to $5 to have their name on the list in order to receive quarterly reports from consumer reporting agencies of any "new activity" on their credit reports over the past quarter, including if someone applies for a new credit card under the consumers name. Bill passed 105-1.
HB 6458 Protect Consumers Who Have Checks Stolen
This bill would require that when a bank customer provides the bank with a copy of a police report indicating that the person has been the victim of identity theft, the bank would have to notify a merchant who presents a stolen check why there is a stop-payment order, and notify the customer of the name of the merchant who presented the check. Bill passed 103-3.
HB 6459 Prohibit Retention of Credit Card Data
This bill would prohibit a business from retaining all or any part of a consumer's credit card or account number for more than four years after a credit card purchase was completed unless the consumer agrees to an extended period of time. Bill passed 105-1.
HB 6455 Revise Crime Victims Restitution Law
This bill would allow sheriffs to deduct an administrative fee from prisoner accounts, to require notices to a victim when a defendant is assigned to youthful trainee status, and to require, at a victim's request, a notice if a defendant's probation is terminated earlier than previously ordered. Bill passed 106-0.
SB 1375 Freeze Revenue Sharing Payments
The bill would freeze FY 2007 revenue sharing payments at the FY 2006 levels per the 2007 budget target agreements and the enacted FY 2007 General Government budget. Bill passed 94-12.
HB 6359 Revise Medicare Supplement Insurance Law
This bill revises the state law regarding Medicare supplement insurance policies to conform with federal law changes. The bill is based the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model regulation for bringing states into compliance with provisions of the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 5389 Create Single Points of Entry for Long Term Care
This bill would establish a system of access to long term care options in Michigan through local or regionally based single point of entry agencies. The Department of Community Health (DCH) would oversee this statewide system, designed to focus on consumer choice, and the provision of effective access and quality options. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6478 Establish Long Term Care Partnership Program
Require the Department of Community Health (DCH), OFIS, and the Department of Human Services (DHS), to establish a long term care partnership program in Michigan that would provide incentives for individuals to insure against the costs of providing for their long term care needs, provide a mechanism for individuals to qualify for coverage for their long term needs under Medicaid without being required to first exhaust their resources, and alleviate the financial burden on the state's medical assistance program through private initiatives. Bill passed 105-1.
HB 5349 Long-term Care Insurance Policies
This bill outlines regulations under which insurers will be allowed to offer long-term care policies. Bill passed 101-5.
HB 6267 Revise Real Estate Licensure Enforcement Fund
This bill establishes that money from the state real estate enforcement fund is to be used by the Attorney General directly for the investigation and enforcement of licensure law violations and real estate fraud, including mortgage fraud. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6432 and HB 6433 Increase Penalties for Mortgage Fraud
These bills would make an act of residential mortgage fraud a felony. It is currently a misdemeanor. Both bills passed 105-1.
HB 6434 Prohibit Real Estate Appraisers from Inflating Appraisals
This bill prohibits real estate appraisers from developing an appraisal that will be used to justify a real estate loan with the understanding that the outcome of the appraisal will determine whether the appraiser gets future business from the client, or with the understanding that payment for the appraisal is dependent on attaining a minimum value desired by the client. Violations would be subject to up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Bill passed 105-1.
HB 6435 Prohibit Coercion of Real Estate Appraisers
This bill would prohibit mortgage brokers from coercing or inducing a real estate appraiser to inflate an appraisal developed in connection with a particular loan by performing a number of acts, including representing or implying that a real estate appraiser will not be selected for future appraisal work or will not receive payment. Bill passed 105-1.
HB 6358 Require Review of Utility Mergers and Acquisitions
The bill would require notice to the Public Service Commission of proposed mergers, sales, acquisitions and certain other transactions relating to regulated gas and electric utilities. The bill would authorize the Commission to hold hearings and issue advisory comments regarding the impact of the proposed action on ratepayers and the public interest. Bill passed 101-5.
HB 6436 Protect Consumers from Mortgage Fraud
This bill establishes that it is a violation of the state consumer protection act to commit mortgage fraud. Bill passed 105-1.
SB 1290 Update Driver's Education Laws
This bill revises and updates the state law regulating and licensing driver's education courses. Among other things the bill would certify driver education providers and instructors, rather than license driver training schools and instructors. It would also require criminal history check of instructors, create a "Driver Education Provider and Instructor Fund" to cover administration of the certification and oversight, funded by increased application fees and administrative fines collected under the bill. The bill was amended by Rep. Condino to strip-out the one hour extra of behind-the-wheel instruction required for teenagers. Bill passed 96-10.
SB 1371 Expand Nursing Scholarship Program
The bill would allow master's nursing students to be eligible for the Nursing Scholarship program, which is currently only open to undergraduate students. Bill passed 107-0.
SB 435 Revise Bingo Prizes and Licenses
This bill will increase the total value of all prizes that may be awarded through large bingo and delete restrictions on the number of bingo licenses issued for the same day at one location as well as the number issued to a qualified organization for one day. Bill passed 90-16.
SB 1052 Prohibit Racing Commissioner from Betting
This bill would prohibit the Racing Commissioner, an employee of the Office of the Racing Commissioner (ORC), or their immediate family members from betting on horse races licensed under Michigan law. Bill passed 103-0.
SB 1226 Allow Random Breathalyzer Tests for Minors Convicted of Alcohol Violations
The bill would allow a sentencing court to order a minor under 21 years of age convicted of purchasing, consuming, possessing or drinking alcohol to submit to a random or regular preliminary chemical breath analysis. In the case of a minor under 18 and not legally emancipated, the minor's parent, guardian, or custodian could request a random or regular preliminary chemical breath analysis as part of the probation. Bill passed 103-1.
SB 1128 Modify Child Support Payments for Active National Guard Members
This bill authorizes temporary reductions in child support orders for individuals in the National Guard or Reserves who are called to active duty and have a reduction in income as a result. The temporary reduction would have to end when the payer was discharged from active duty. Bill passed 105-0.
HB 6039 Health Care Information Technology and Infrastructure Development Fund
This bill would establish a government Health Care Information Technology and Infrastructure Development Fund to give grants to established regional health information organizations to develop ways for patient medical records to be stored and transmitted electronically. Bill passed 100-6.
HB 5003 Freeze Rates for CountyMedical Care Facilities
This bill extends until 2012 a freeze on "maintenance of effort" rates for county medical care facilities. Counties providing nursing home services in county-owned facilities for residents covered by Medicaid must reimburse the state according to a county "maintenance of effort" rate determined on an annual basis for each patient day of Medicaid nursing home services. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6303 Clarify Browfield Redevelopment Law
The bill specifies that the beginning date for capturing local and school property taxes for financing environmental cleanup or other eligible activities related to brownfield redevelopment must be no later than 3 years following the date that a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority passes a resolution adding a property to a brownfield plan. Bill passed 106-0.
HB 6318 Expand Eligible Parties in Licensure Hearings
This bill allows a license applicant to be named and admitted as a party in any contested administrative hearing or judicial review of a case involving the application for a state license or license itself. Bill passed 106-0.
HBs 6162 and HB 6165 Streamline Wetland Permits
These bills would streamline the process for obtaining, transferring, or making minor revisions to a wetlands permit. The bills passed 107-0.
HB 6055 Create State Authority to Operate Superior Dome
This bill would create a state authority within the Department of Treasury to operate the Superior Dome, located on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Bill passed 101-6
HBs 6014 and 6016 Exempt a BibleCollege from State Regulations
These bills exempt Grace Baptist "college" from state regulations for institution of higher education, thus allowing Grace Baptist to use the terms "college" and "degree". The bills passed 74-32 and 76-30, respectively.
SB 1284 Allow a Specific Industrial Facility Tax Exemption
The bill is designed to allow a specific company, Majeske Machine, to gain an industrial facility tax exemption for a new building in Livonia. Apparently due to a misunderstanding, construction work began at the new location in September 2005, but the Livonia City Council did not designate the location as an industrial development district until December 2005. The bill corrects an apparent error and facilitates business expansion in Livonia. Bill passed 102-4.
HB 5278 Disseminate Information about Microchip Identification for Dogs
This bill would require local officials to inform dog owners about microchip implantation and registration. Bill passed 85-22.
HB 6440 Move Children's Ombudsman to Legislative Branch
This bill would move the Office of the Children's Ombudsman from the Department of Management & Budget, in the executive branch, to the Legislative Council. Representative Spade offered an amendment that would have established a nine member board with appointments from the Governor's office and each legislative caucus that would appoint and oversee the Children's Ombudsman. The Spade amendment failed 48-58, and the bill passed 67-40.
HBs 6365 and 6366 Revise Probate Law
These bills revise a provision of the law establishing the criteria by which a person who is a potential heir is determined to have or have not predeceased a person with an estate, by removing a reference to a rule against perpetuities in the state probate law. Both bills passed 102-5 and 106-1, respectively.
HB 6299 Clarify Bank Trust Fees
This bill would broaden a bank's investment authority and establish a rebuttable presumption that a trust fee is reasonable if the fee schedule was in effect when at the time the trust was established. Bill passed 107-0.
SB 1004 ExemptLand in a Conservation Easement from the "Pop-up Tax"
The bill would exempt land that is subject to a conservation easement from the property tax "pop up". Bill passed 106-1.
HB 5820 Eminent Domain Compensation
This bill would exempt residential dwellings from provisions in the state eminent domain condemnation law that requires cost recovery from the owner of a polluted or contaminated property. Since most environment contamination is caused by industrial property owners, not residential owners, this bill would allow residential property owners to be justly compensated for property taken under eminent domain without responsibility for environmental cleanup. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5821 Property Owner Rights in Eminent Domain Cases
This bill would require a government agency taking a property under eminent domain to outline for the owner his or her rights in the process. The bill also revises the deadlines and procedures for a property owner making a claim that the compensation is not adequate. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5942 Allow Expansion of Renaissance Zones
This bill would allow a local government with a renaissance zone to designate distinct geographic areas, or "subzones,"as part of the zone, with the approval of the board of the Michigan Strategic Fund, and the bill allows local governments to extend the duration of one or more portions of a renaissance zone by up to 15 years if additional capital investment and job creation would occur as a result. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 6209 Clarify Tax Exempt Status for Certain Health Organizations
The bill would clarify that certain health-related, 501(c) (3) organizations are tax exempt. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 5408 Transporting Firearms During Deer Season
This bill would allow a person without a hunting license to carry a firearm, bow and arrow or a cross bow during the firearms deer season if the weapon is unloaded and in a location that is not readily accessible to any occupants of the vehicle. Bill passed 107-0.
HB 4042 Waive Fingerprint Requirement for Concealed Weapon Permit Renewals
This bill would eliminate the fingerprinting requirement for those renewing an existing concealed pistol license (CPL) if the state police establish a fingerprint database and a licensee's prints are in it. Bill passed 106-1.
SCR 54 Waive Legislative Notice for State Police Pay Increases
In this Senate concurrent resolution the Michigan Legislature waives the prior notice requirement to permit increases in rates of compensation for certain members of the Department of State Police as set in the contract settled between the Michigan State Police Troopers Association and the state and the Civil Service Commission. The resolution was adopted 101-5.
HB 4086 Allow CountyClerks to Perform Marriages
This bill would allow county clerks in all counties to perform marriages. Bill passed 104-2.