Wednesday, May 20th, 2026:

I voted YES on HB 5872-79 (Reps. Bollin, Frisbie, Linting, Bohnak, Kuhn, Robinson, Schriver, Thompson) would eliminate the “pop-up” tax that occurs after the transfer of a property. Would eliminate the State Education Tax by repealing the State Education Tax Act. Would eliminate the Real Estate Transfer Tax Act by repealing the State Real Estate Transfer Tax Act. Would amend the Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act to reflect the elimination of the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Would amend PA 122 of 1941 to reflect the elimination of the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Would amend the Estates and Protected Individuals Code to reflect the elimination of the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Would amend the General Property Tax Act by exempting the remaining personal property tax that wasn’t previously exempted. Would amend 1939 PA 3, the enabling act for the Michigan Public Service Commission by reducing residential utility rates due to the exemption of utility personal property tax.     

EXPLANATION: Property taxes are a massive burden on people who should not have to pay taxes whatsoever for the property that they own. This package is a big step in the right direction. Returning money to the hardworking people of Michigan should be a primary focus of government, which has grown far too big and intrusive.

PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-45, PASSED: 57-44

I voted YES on HB 5504&05 (Reps. Kelly, Kuhn) would create a Digital Service Office under DTMB. Would create a Digital Oversight Office under the Legislature. 

EXPLANATION: The Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB)  is primarily responsible for procuring IT contracts for state departments and agencies. Recently, state IT operations have been a disaster. Systems do not work as promised, costs run rampant, and accountability is currently lacking. Repeated IT failures reflect an unacceptable waste of taxpayer dollars. Diligent oversight is needed to ensure that DTMB runs its IT operations with an emphasis on efficiency. 

PASSED: 57-46, PASSED: 57-46

Thursday, May 21st, 2026:

I voted NO on SB 304 (Sen. Damoose) would allow the City of Mackinac Island to regulate all aspects of the ferry, including all fees. 

EXPLANATION: The City of Mackinac Island’s charter already authorizes the city to regulate ferry transportation fees. Expanding the authority of the city to license and regulate all aspects of the ferry industry would usher in bigger government. There certainly is a problem with the current monopoly but other solutions should be tried.

PASSED: 91-16

I voted YES on HB 5552 (Rep. Tisdel) would allow prepayment penalties for commercial mortgage loans. 

EXPLANATION: If a commercial buyer is interested in a mortgage for a single family home, the lender should have the right to assess prepayment penalty fees. These terms should be negotiated by the parties of the contract.

PASSED: 81-26

I voted NO on HB 5150 (Rep. Thompson) would modify respiratory therapist licensure by requiring continuing education, creating a limited license and adjusting scope of practice stipulations. 

EXPLANATION: Adding new continuing education requirements for respiratory therapy licensure creates more government-imposed burdens on these professionals.

PASSED: 103-3

I voted NO on HB 5717 (Rep. Wortz) would amend Michigan election law to allow township boards to contract with an individual accredited to conduct elections when there is an absence of a township clerk or deputy township clerk. 

EXPLANATION: It is prudent to establish procedures in the event of an emergency township clerk vacancy. However, these procedures should have careful parameters to prevent opportunistic actions from parties interested in manipulating elections. Allowing the township board to appoint any resident of this state who is accredited to conduct elections is too broad of a scope for this contingency plan and opens the door to centralizing our elections in a dangerous way. 

PASSED: 104-2