I have recently received some questions regarding HB 4991, so I wanted to provide some insight into this legislation recently passed by the House. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. that states could charge sales tax on purchases made from out-of-state sellers. Because of this decision, Michigan is receiving unexpected sales tax revenue from online sales, and under HB 4991, this additional funding will be used to help clean up contaminated sites and fight PFAS along with boosting local recycling programs.

The apprehension over this legislation was the idea it would hurt school funding due to shifts in revenue streams. I understand the concern, but the Legislature has taken careful steps to protect school funding and make sure the increased investments our schools expect are delivered as promised. The Legislature has been consistently increasing school funding, and it will again reach new record highs this year. The school funding system is complicated, and while this Supreme Court decision raised even more complications, the Legislature is committed to protecting our schools from a setback. This bill will ensure they receive this record funding in full while still devoting additional revenue to cleaning up pollution and fighting PFAS.

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I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with your family and friends. As we head into the new year, I want to thank you for allowing me to serve you in Lansing, and I remain committed to working hard for you over the next two years. May you have a safe, happy, and blessed 2019!

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If you have any ideas, comments or questions for my office, please do not hesitate to call us at 517-373-8835 or send an email to [email protected]. We are happy to hear from you!