HB 4141:  Requires schools to implement a wireless communication device policy and adds minimum requirements for the policy.

Sponsor:  Rep. Tisdel (R)                           

Vote Failed:  53-45

Why I voted YES: School employees, especially principals, are asking for a state law to improve enforcement of restricting cell phone use by students.

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HB 4506:  Would amend the resentencing process recently ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court for murderers who committed the crime at the ages of 19-20. The bill would provide prosecuting attorneys more time to ask for a new sentence of life without parole, and would significantly increase the penalties that may be imposed at resentencing.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lightner (R)                      

Vote Failed:  55-43

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill may argue that persons who are 18, 19, and 20 years old are legal adults, and their culpability for committing a murder can be treated as greater than a person under age 18, while still being less than a person who is older than 21 years old.