HB 4331:  Allows greater use of Michigan’s fire insurance escrow program by increasing the residential withholding amount to match the current cost of demolitions, and allowing cities to use abandoned funds for repairs.

Sponsor: Rep. Whitsett (D)
Passage: 100-9 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  The bill wouldn’t solve the underlying issues causing properties to be abandoned in the first place.

– – –

HB 4332:  Establishes penalties for failing to correct blight violations and amends how cities send notice to blight offenders.

Sponsor: Rep. Whitsett (D)
Passage: 71-38 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  This creates just another revenue generator for cities that could be abused.

– – –

SB 268:  Untethers pre-need funeral insurance costs from rises in the Consumer Price Index.

Sponsor: Sen. Hertel (D)
Passage: 95-14 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  Without a healthy market for pre-need funeral insurance, there are fewer affordable options for families preparing for funeral expenses.

– – –

HB 4021:  Would alter definitions in various sections of the state’s ORV laws, replacing the term “law enforcement officer” with “peace officer.”

Sponsor: Rep. VanderWall (R)
Passage: 95-14 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Some may argue that “peace officers” who generally don’t have experience in this area of the law may be ill-prepared or inadequately trained to enforce these laws.

– – –

HB 4356:  Would repeal the prohibition on including contracting of noninstructional services to a third party by a school from collective bargaining agreements.

Sponsor: Rep. Carter (D)
Passage: 56-54 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Allowing these services to be bargained and subject to a CBA could prevent schools from achieving necessary costs savings in the future.

– – –

HB 5004:  Amends the public health code to delete outdated references, modify definitions, update fees, and extend or eliminate the October 1, 2023, sunset for various fees.

Sponsor: Rep. Morse (D)
Passage: 56-54 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  These costs will likely get passed town to users of the health care system and could increase costs.

– – –

SB 397:  Would increase the cap on outstanding bonds that may be issued by MSHDA from the current $5 billion level to $10 billion. As passed the Senate, the bills only increased the cap to $7 billion, but an amendment in House Committee increased it to $10 billion.

Sponsor: Sen. Cavanagh (D)
Passage: 57-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  The expansion of subsidized housing programs will keep driving up home prices and will perpetually keep creating the problem of needing to increase MSHDA’s cap because of inflation within the housing market.

– – –

HB 4183:  Extends the period of use for historic vehicles on Michigan roads from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.

Sponsor: Rep. Roth (R)
Passage: 106-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  As the “motor state,” we should encourage the use of vehicles that signify our state’s heritage.

– – –

HB 4308:  Amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the Secretary of State (SOS) to create a Sickle Cell Anemia fundraising plate as well as the Sickle Cell Awareness Fund within the department of Treasury. It also strikes the existing statute from when this legislation was passed and signed in 2020.

Sponsor: Rep. O’Neal (D)
Passage: 106-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  This would give Sickle Cell Anemia another opportunity due to potential confusion that prevented them from getting the required funding.

– – –

HB 4337:  Designates a portion of highway M-50 in Charlotte (Eaton County) as the “Ensign Francis Flaherty Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Highway”.

Sponsor: Rep. Witwer (D)
Passage: 110-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  This highway naming allows us to express our gratitude and appreciation for Ensign Francis Flaherty for his service to our nation.

– – –

BILL PACKAGE HB 4511 & 4512:  Amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to adjust the current car seat requirements for children aged 13 and below as well as expand the ability to waive civil infractions for violations. 

Sponsor: Reps. Rheingans (D) & Fitzgerald (D)
HB 4511 Passage: 68-42 with Immediate Effect

HB 4512 Passage: 74-36 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Some believe that continually changing car seat laws are hard for parents to follow and the increased specificity of these changes, while well intended, may make it more confusing for parents trying to protect their children based on their vehicle and child’s development stage.

– – –

SB 43:  Would require the use of concrete barriers around workers during nighttime construction work in work zones.

Sponsor: Sen. Cherry (D)
Passage: 75-35 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  This could add additional costs and potential time to construction projects undertaken of freeways across the state.

– – –

HB 4717:  Amends the Occupational Code by revising continuing education requirements for real estate brokers to include training on fair housing laws.

Sponsor: Rep. Grant (D)
Passage: 93-17 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Real estate brokers should be able to choose the electives they want to take that best suit them and what best helps them succeed in their career.

– – –

HB 4210:  Allows the spouses of military members or merchant marines to return their absent ballots electronically if they are absent from the United States due to their spouse’s active-duty service.

Sponsor: Rep. Glanville (D)
Passage: 56-54 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Removing the “Common Access Card” is ignoring the risks of voter security when allowing people to vote online.

– – –

HB 4926:  Amends the General Property Tax Act by taxing personal property that is located in another location to be assessed at its normal location for each tax year.

Sponsor: Rep. B. Carter (D)
Passage: 105-5 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  Calculation of personal property tax is complicated, especially if equipment is located in different jurisdictions due to remote work. The bill will allow businesses and assessors to track each piece of equipment that may be located elsewhere due to the disruption of the economy.

– – –

BILL PACKAGE HB 4567-4568, 4570:  HB 4567 would remove the requirement that makes a ballot challenged if an individual registers to vote on the same day and does not present identification. HB 4568 lifts the prohibition on paid rides to the polls. HB 4570 codifies the current policy of the Secretary of State in statute to allow an elector to apply for an absent voter ballot online through the Secretary of State portal for AV applications.

Sponsor: Reps. Tsernoglou (D), Whitsett (D), Rogers (D)
Passages: 56-54 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Some of these bills are removing common-sense provisions that were put into place to protect our process’s integrity without preventing people from voting.

– – –

BILL PACKAGE SB 176, 330, 364:  This three-bill package provides that the property tax exemption granted after January 1, 2025, to a qualifying disabled veteran and the surviving spouse, including homestead property acquired after the decedent’s death, would remain in effect, without subsequent reapplication, until it is rescinded by the individual granted the exemption or is denied by the accessor.

Sponsor: Sens. Santana (D), Cavanaugh (D), Damoose (R)
Passage: 103-5 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  This will keep disabled veterans from being penalized on their property tax exemption if local tax collecting unit doesn’t process their exemption on time.

– – –

HB 4852:  Designates Manoomin, also known as Michigan wild rice, as the official native grain of Michigan.

Sponsor: Rep. Rheingans (D)
Passage: 104-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  It is important to continue to support and understand Native American customs & practices.

– – –

HB 4752:  Allows retired school employees to return to work without forfeiting retirement benefits.

Sponsor: Rep. Koleszar (D)
Passage: 102-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  Retired teachers are already well-equipped to serve our students and we should be able to call on them to help in the classroom when necessary.