BILL PACKAGE SBs 685-690 & 699:  Farmland Preservation: The Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, or P.A. 116, is designed to protect farmland and open space through agreements that restrict development and provides tax incentives for program participation. By enrolling farmland in the program for a minimum of 10 years, the landowner may be entitled to certain income tax benefits, and the land will not be subject to special assessments for sanitary sewer, water, lights, or non-farm drain projects. The mission of the program is to preserve farmland and open space from being developed for non-agricultural uses.

Sponsors:  Sens. Shink (D), Daley (R), Singh (D), Cherry (D), Lauwers (R), & Victory (R)                          

SB 685 Passage:  102-3 with Immediate Effect

SBs 686-689 & 699 Passages:  103-3 with Immediate Effect

SB 690 Passage:  102-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The Farmland Preservation Program has proven to be a popular and successful program since 1974. MDARD has not been appropriated adequate operational funding to process PA 116 applications and renewals, causing delays in issuing credits.

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SB 95:  Creates the Hospital Price Transparency act, conditioning collection actions by hospitals on their compliance with hospital price transparency laws.

Sponsor:  Sen. Lindsey (R)                     

Passage:  106-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Requiring compliance to pursue collection activity both protects patients who were billed unexpected amounts and implements an enforcement mechanism that does not rely on the state.

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HB 4277:  Prohibits invasive mental health questions on medical licensure applications and only allows two specified broader questions.

Sponsor:  Rep. Bierlein (R)                     

Passage:  99-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Prohibiting invasive mental health questions ensures that medical professionals can seek help without fearing unnecessary licensure issues.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4352-4355:  Provides police powers for the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA).

Sponsors:  Reps. T. Carter (D) & Mueller (R)                   

HB 4352 & 4355 Passages:  84-19 with Immediate Effect

HB 4353 & 4354 Passages:  85-18 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Currently, GLWA deals with facility threats and security can take little enforcement action. The ability to enforce laws and regulations around these facilities will keep them safer.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5049-5054:  Expands the definition of an approved epinephrine delivery system in the Revised School Code, Public Health Code, Childcare Organizations Act, and the Law Enforcement and Firefighter Access to Epinephrine Act.

Sponsors:  Reps. Weiss (D), Snyder (D), & DeBoer (R)               

Passages:  103-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: As seen in recent years, complex pharmaceutical supply chains and unforeseen global events can disrupt supplies of lifesaving drugs and inflate prices. The legislation will combat these risks and improve access to these lifesaving drugs for those living with severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.

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HB 4486:  Prohibits local ordinances and policies from restricting the use of natural gas appliances.

Sponsor:  Rep. Frisbie (R)                       

Passage:  61-42 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Natural gas is cheaper than electricity – we should allow people to continue to use it for things like heating and cooking.

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HB 4933:  Removes the occupational license for an employment and consulting agent of a personnel agency.

Sponsor:  Rep. Steele (R)                        

Passage:  57-46 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The bill would deregulate career consulting and employment service agencies and remove unnecessary fees associated with licensure.

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HB 4892:  Eliminates a duplicative licensing requirement for CPAs that operate as sole proprietorships.

Sponsor:  Rep. Frisbie (R)                       

Passage:  93-10 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This makes it easier for CPAs to operate a sole proprietorship.

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HB 4919:  Allows for a quicker automatic removal and application process for immediate removal of licensing citations for failure to complete continuing education requirements under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act.

Sponsor:  Rep. Greene (R)                      

Passage:  84-19 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Allowing the removal of minor infractions will ensure that licensees are not penalized for an oversight on continuing education that could impact their livelihood for up to 5 years.

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HB 4927:  Amends the Occupational Code to lower the required number of hours to 1,500 for individuals who seek a barber’s license.

Sponsor:  Rep. Fairbairn (R)                   

Passage:  103-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: States with comparable licensure hour requirements enforce similar sanitation and disinfection standards.

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HB 4895:  Requires the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to allow continuing education for licensed occupations to be completed remotely.

Sponsor:  Rep. Linting (R)                       

Passage:  88-15 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Online continuing education is a convenient option and has the ability for individuals and businesses to access high-quality content from anywhere.

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HB 5284:  Allows for the removal of a disciplinary action for failure to complete continuing education requirements for certain licenses under the Occupational Code.

Sponsor:  Rep. Beson (R)                        

Passage:  94-9 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Allowing the removal of minor infractions will ensure that licensees are not penalized for an oversight on continuing education that could impact their livelihood for up to 5 years.

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HB 4914:  Removes the requirement for a firm to have a minimum of 2/3 of its principals licensed to practice architecture, professional engineering, or professional surveying.

Sponsor:  Rep. Outman (R)                    

Passage:  70-33 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Any services being performed by an individual that are protected by licensure will need to be carried out by a licensee, regardless of the firm’s ownership.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4556-4557:  Remove the requirements that the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) must include a writing component and that schools include a student’s scaled score on each subject area component of the MME on their high school transcript.

Sponsors:  Reps. Kunse (R) & Koleszar (D)                     

Passages:  101-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This mandate puts out-of-state students above Michigan students and should be removed. If you have two comparable students who aren’t good test takers and one has to share their score and the other doesn’t, the one without the score is going to look better.

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HB 4774:  Requires state departments to use a qualifications-based selection (QBS) process when reviewing contracts for engineering, architectural, or land surveying services.

Sponsor:  Rep. Fairbairn (R)                   

Passage:  98-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Beginning the negotiations with the most experienced firms could help raise issues that weren’t considered when the department issued the request for proposal.

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HB 5059:  Allows a spirit vendor to provide complimentary bottle engraving services before selling the bottle to a customer.

Sponsor:  Rep. Hoadley (R)                    

Passage:  96-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Engraving services are cosmetic and have nothing to do with the actual alcoholic beverage, and the Liquor Control Code should allow it.

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SB 136:  Puts Michigan law in compliance with recently updated federal mammography regulations.

Sponsor:  Sen. Anthony (D)                    

Passage:  95-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This brings Michigan in compliance with federal law.

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SB 158:  Would create new sections of law, aimed at regulating online ticket sales.

Sponsor:  Sen. Cavanagh (D)                

Passage:  103-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: These bills are essential to ending the use of ticket bots, which purchase large quantities of tickets to an event, the instant they go on sale. Ticket bots are unfair to individual customers, and artificially drive up the price for attending an entertainment event.

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HB 4262:  Would create new sections of law, aimed at regulating online ticket sales. *This is a previous bill that already passed the house.  This vote is to concur in the Senate substitute.

Sponsor:  Rep. Harris (R)          

Passage:  91-3

Why I voted YES: These bills are essential to ending the use of ticket bots, which purchase large quantities of tickets to an event, the instant they go on sale. Ticket bots are unfair to individual customers, and artificially drive up the price for attending an entertainment event.

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BILL PACKAGE SBs 96-98:  Would allow childcare organizations to install temporary door locking devices in their buildings.

Sponsors:  Sens. Moss (D), Hauck (R), & McMorrow (D)                          

Passages:  105-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Requires the childcare operator to notify law enforcement the systems or devices are in use and to train staff members on proper use of the system.

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SB 23:  Modifies the Land Division Act to allow for an increased number of parcel divisions.

Sponsor:  Sen. Hertel (D)                        

Passage:  97-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Support This would allow for increased parceling as needed, subject to local ordinances for splits beyond what the statute already authorizes.

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SB 25:  Allows a motor vehicle repair facility to operate an auxiliary facility under the same registration.

Sponsor:  Sen. Cherry (D)                       

Passage:  102-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This eliminates burdensome regulatory requirements for vehicle repair shops that just need an additional building for more space.

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SB 512:  Makes a variety of updates to the Liquor Code.

Sponsor:  Sen. Singh (D)                         

Passage:  97-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Allowing the MLCC to suspend licenses for repeated dishonored payments helps provide stability to the three-tier system.

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SB 513:  Amends the definition of “brand” and “brand extension to clarify and ensure distributors maintain exclusive rights to distribute products that fall under the same brand.

Sponsor:  Sen. Hauck (R)                        

Passage:  98-7 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Distributors spend time and money promoting brands, and this helps preserve their brand equity.

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SB 93:  Would increase the allowable annual gross sales to qualify for exemption from licensure for honey and maple syrup producers from up to $15,000 to up to $25,000.

Sponsor:  Sen. Singh (D)                         

Passage:  101-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: It makes sense to make the thresholds for honey and maple syrup on par with Cottage Food products.

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SB 269:  Allows a qualified airport to directly accept funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Sponsor:  Sen. Camilleri (D)                  

Passage:  104-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The bill will provide greater flexibility to DTW, which may need to adapt in times of emergency and improve efficiency in daily operations.

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HB 4065:  Amends the Liquor Control Code to allow Macomb Community College to sell alcohol at additional campus venues. *This is a previous bill that already passed the house.  This vote is to concur in the Senate substitute.

Sponsor:  Rep. Aragona (R)                    

Passage:  82-6

Why I voted YES: This helps make more venues on Macomb Community College’s campus attractive to host events.

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HB 4493:  Exempts concession locations operated by blind individuals from licensure under the Food Law. *This is a previous bill that already passed the house.  This vote is to concur in the Senate substitute.

Sponsor:  Rep. Thompson (R)                

Passage:  85-3

Why I voted YES: This change would be of minimal cost to the state – MDARD received only $14,627 in payments from these fees.

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HB 4122:  Would update and modernize Michigan’s Cottage Food Law by allowing increased revenue, enabling internet, mail order and third-party delivery sales, and providing safeguards for participants with an optional registration system. *This is a previous bill that already passed the house.  This vote is to concur in the Senate substitute.

Sponsor:  Rep. Alexander (R)                 

Passage:  86-2

Why I voted YES: Michigan’s Cottage Food law has proven successful over its first decade of existence, and it is time to increase the freedoms available to these startup entrepreneurs.