Wednesday, September 24th, 2025:

I voted NO on HB 4522 (Rep. Bruck) would amend the Michigan Vehicle code to prohibit trucks from driving in the left lane on freeway with three or more lanes.

EXPLANATION: It is improper to burden truck drivers with additional traffic citations. Enforcement of this legislation would disrupt the flow of traffic, making the bill counterproductive to its intended purpose. Truck drivers are already not supposed to drive in the left lane and should not be saddled with the risk of more penalties, fines, and fees.

PASSED: 92-8

I voted YES on HB 4596 (Rep. Wortz) would change the required timeline for dismissal of criminal charges against a defendant determined incompetent to stand trial. 

EXPLANATION: Defendants who are deemed incompetent are required to undergo treatment if there is reason to believe the defendant can regain competency. Currently, the timeline for this process begins as soon as the court rules the defendant incompetent. This bill changes the timeline to when the treatment actually starts, instead of when the defendant is deemed incompetent. There were concerns about pretrial incarceration rates as a result of this legislation, but the defendant and their attorney don’t have to claim incompetence in court, and if they legitimately are innocent they can build their defense without seeking incompetent status.

PASSED: 64-36

I voted YES on HB 4160 (Rep. Johnsen) would reinstate provisions removed by SB 14 of last session which prohibited a state agency from adopting rules more stringent than the applicable federal standard with certain exemptions.

EXPLANATION: In 2023, the Democrat trifecta repealed the law that established no stricter than federal standards for state agencies. SB 14 granted government agencies a blank check in the promulgation of their rules, which primarily interfere with the people through burdensome red tape and imposition of fees. It is critical to restrict the power of unelected bureaucrats, especially given Michigan’s presently business-hostile environment. As bureaucrats at state agencies are not elected, they are sorely lacking in accountability. Establishing what is in bounds for the rulemaking process will help keep state government in check.

PASSED: 59-41

Thursday, September 25th, 2025:

I voted YES on HB 4042 (Rep. T. Carter) would exempt rental halls that do not have a kitchen or food preparation area from the Food Law.

EXPLANATION: Rental halls are classified as food establishments despite not all rental halls preparing food or even having a kitchen. Rental halls that do not prepare food should not be subject to onerous licensing requirements.

PASSED: 99-0

I voted YES on HB 4736 (Rep. Smit) would clarify the process for when a political party’s nominated candidate for County Commissioner and County Executive can be replaced if she or he should die prior to the election.

EXPLANATION: There are currently procedures in place for many local offices in the event of a candidate’s death. However, there is no such procedure for county commissioners or county executives, so in the event of a tragedy for one of these positions, the Secretary of State has increased latitude to decide how the county should proceed with the replacement candidate process. The executive committee of the county party is better suited to determine how to proceed. The death of a candidate is both an emergency and a tragedy, so it is best to have clear contingencies in place so that the electoral process can run as smoothly as possible in the event of a candidate’s death.

PASSED: 78-21

I voted NO on HB 4107 (Rep. Harris) would amend “The Revised School Code,” modifying standards for health education.

EXPLANATION: It is not government’s place to recommend certain programs for first aid in schools. Even if it is not a mandate, government should not be “strongly encouraging” what school districts should and should not implement in this circumstance. Local schools should have autonomy in adopting their own first aid training and procedures without pressure from the state.

PASSED: 96-3

I voted YES on HB 4108 & 4847 (Reps. Prestin, Frisbie) would amend Public Act 17 of 1963, known as the “Good Samaritan” law to limit liability for bystanders applying emergency bleeding control.

EXPLANATION: In the event of an emergency where an individual is bleeding profusely, bystanders should not be punished for attempting to help the wounded. Granting civil immunity to “Good Samaritans” is a great way to protect courageous men and women who operate in good faith to try to help someone in their time of need.

PASSED: 99-0, PASSED: 99-0

I voted NO on HB 4968 (Rep. VanWoerkom) would bring the Insurance Provider Assessment in compliance with CMS proposed rules and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by taxing Medicaid managed care organizations and commercial insurance providers at an equal rate.

EXPLANATION: The equal rate established ensures more revenue is brought in by the state, not to mention healthcare should be determined by free market processes and not government formulations.

PASSED: 95-4

I voted NO on HB 4961 (Rep. Bollin) would apply tax credits from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act to state income taxes and decouple provisions of the state tax code from the federal tax code.

EXPLANATION: Had Michigan not chosen to decouple, our tax burden would have decreased. Breaking away from the Big Beautiful Bill and reverting to how things would have been prior erodes good elements of federal income tax reform enacted by the Big Beautiful Bill that would have lowered taxes for Michiganders by hundreds of millions of dollars. Additionally, allocating exorbitant amounts of money for democrat policies does not help reduce the size and scope of government. Government needs to become leaner so the people of Michigan retain more of their hard-earned money.

PASSED: 95-4

I voted NO on HB 4951 (Rep. Steckloff) would create the Comprehensive Road Funding Tax Act and levies a 24% wholesale excise tax on marijuana.

EXPLANATION: Punishing marijuana consumers for their lifestyle choices in order to increase funding for roads is an abuse of power. Marijuana already faces a 10% sin tax on retail, and adding a 24% wholesale tax only creates an additional tax burden for millions of people in Michigan.

PASSED: 78-21