BILL PACKAGE HB 4352 & 4353:  HB 4352 updates the vehicle code, allowing any road agency to designate and enforce HOV lanes.  HB 4353 gives MDOT the authority to restrict trunkline lanes to HOV’s or other classes of vehicles.

Sponsors: Reps. Shannon & MacDonnell (D)
Passages: 56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  These are public roads bought and paid for by the taxpayers. We should not limit who can and cannot drive on a public road.

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BILL PACKAGE HB 4553 & 4554:  HB 4553 amends the Michigan Trust Fund Act by creating the Local Government Reimbursement Fund. HB 4554 amends the Use Tax Act by directing a portion of use tax revenue to the Local Government Reimbursement Fund.

Sponsors: Reps. Fitzgerald (D) & Mentzer (D)
HB 4553 Passage: 75-33 with Immediate Effect
HB 4554 Passage: 76-32 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: There is enough money generated in the LCSA currently to reimburse local for the small business taxpayer PPT exemption. We should be using that additional money instead of taking more from the General Fund.

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BILL PACKAGE HB 4983-4986:  HB 4983 would expand the automatic voter registration process to require certain state departments to work with the Secretary of State’s Office to register new voters or update current voter information. HB 4984 would update driver’s license/state ID applications regarding automatic voter registration. HB 4985 would update driver’s license/state ID applications regarding automatic voter registration. HB 4986 would update driver’s license/state ID applications regarding automatic voter registration.

Sponsors: Reps. Tsernoglou (D), Skaggs (D), Dievendorf (D), Wilson (D)
Passages: 56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  I oppose automatic voter registration because the government should not tell citizens they must register to vote, particularly in states that provide the “opt-out” choice by mail, after the fact. I question whether opt-out forms that are sent and received through the mail are sufficient to ensure an individual can decline to register.

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SB 374:  Would change the number of active registered electors in a city, ward, township, or village (precinct) from 5,000 to 4,999. This bill is a companion bill to already passed HB 4702, which was signed into law without immediate effect with the rest of the Proposal 2 Package. The goal of this bill would be to get the same result as 2023 PA 88 (HB 4702) but with Immediate Effect from the Senate to allow for clerks to plan accordingly.

Sponsor: Sen. Moss (D)
Passage: 100-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  The bill would allow clerks to pool resources and save money by consolidating voting precincts. By combining precincts, clerks could free up required materials like ballot tabulators and Voter Assist Terminals to serve other precincts under a clerk’s jurisdiction.

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SB 281:  Would make dental oral assessments mandatory for children enrolling in kindergarten or first grade for the first time and would require notification to providers that their dental network can be leased to another insurer with opt out provisions.

Sponsor: Sen. Singh (D)
Passage: 91-17 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Making the dental screening program mandatory is just more government infringement on how parents raise their children.

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HB 4596:  Would require that premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes packaging include the “Do Not Flush” symbol on their label.

Sponsor: Rep. Mentzer (D)
Passage: 69-39 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  Some may argue this is needless regulation, and an education program would be more effective.

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BILL PACKAGE SB 179 & 180:  Amends the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act by allowing the Cannabis Regulatory Agency to make agreements with Indian tribes regarding marihuana related issues.

Sponsors: Sens. Irwin (D) & Hauck (R)
SB 179 Passage: 91-15 with Immediate Effect
SB 180 Passage: 90-15 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:  This will reduce tax revenue from marihuana sold on tribal lands in the state.

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