BILL PACKAGE HBs 4412-4414:   Modify aspects of how and when involuntary assisted outpatient mental health treatment can be ordered.

Sponsors:  Reps. Steele (R), Tisdel (R), & Kuhn (R)                        

HB 4412 Passage:  76-28 with Immediate Effect

HB 4413 Passage:  81-23 with Immediate Effect

HB 4414 Passage:  86-18 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Diverting low level offenders to mental health treatment could reduce recidivism rates.

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HB 5340:  Requires all state agencies to accept cash without charging additional fees.

Sponsor:  Rep. Paquette (R)                    

Passage:  77-27 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: To avoid dependencies on other institutions, the state should always accept cash payments.

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HB 5680:  Would eliminate the lake trout sport trolling license.

Sponsor:  Rep. Alexander (R)                  

Passage:  98-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Amending the licensing requirement would reduce the DNR’s administrative burden and would save the department money as the cost of license administration is more than the revenue it generates.

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HB 4702:  Authorizes the transfer of property currently owned by the state to the Village of Peck in Sanilac County.

Sponsor:  Rep. Alexander (R)                  

Passage:  101-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Surplus property should not be kept and maintained by the state when better uses are available, and the state does not seem to have any use for the property.

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HB 4724:  Authorizes the transfer of property currently owned by the state to the City of Rockford in Kent County.

Sponsor:  Rep. Poshtumus (R)                

Passage:  101-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This would allow the City of Rockford to redevelop the blighted property for housing or retail space.

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HB 5234:  Permits salvage vehicle inspection fees to be used for broader law enforcement purposes.

Sponsor:  Rep. BeGole (R)                        

Passage:  102-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Removing the restriction should result in less bureaucratic requirements that previously ensured the revenue is only used for the prescribed purposes.

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HB 5537:  Prohibits the growing, synthesizing, selling, or offering the sale of kratom or a synthetic variant of kratom.

Sponsor:  Rep. Cavitt (R)                           

Passage:  56-48 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: To combat the emerging health threat, the state should make sure kratom and kratom products are not easily accessible to adults and children.

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HB 5387:  Would amend the Mozelle Senior or Vulnerable Adult Medical Alert Act to include missing at-risk veterans.

Sponsor:  Rep. Cavitt (R)                           

Passage:  100-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Expanding the current conditions for alert activation to include at-risk veterans could lead to veterans in crisis being found safely and getting the help they need.

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HB 5497:  Allows for mortgage minimums to be up to $50,000 instead of $10,000.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schuette (R)                    

Passage:  72-29 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Current economic conditions such as the housing market and the cost of originating a loan make the current $10,000 minimum outdated.

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HB 5652:  Prohibits those who moved near an existing racetrack from suing over noise nuisance.

Sponsor:  Rep. BeGole (R)                        

Passage:  64-38 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: People can choose if they want to live near a racetrack and should not be allowed to stop racing after they made the conscious decision to move to the vicinity of a racetrack.