House of Representatives Week in Review: March 25th - March 27th

Hello Friends,

Below please find an update on legislation passed by the House of Representatives this week (March 25th through 27th).  Please feel free to contact me (517.373.0826; andyschor@house.mi.gov) if you have questions or thoughts about any of the below bills. 

Thank you! 

Andy Schor

State Representative

68th District

Creation of Tax Exemptions for Industrial and Commercial Personal Property

SB 821 (Brandenburg), Passed: 107-2

SB 822 (Hildenbrand), Passed: 104-5

SB 823 (Proos), Passed: 108-1

SB 824 (Pappageorge), Passed: 108-1

SB 825 (Robertson), Passed: 106-3

SB 826 (Jansen), Passed: 108-1

SB 827 (BIEDA), Passed: 109-0

SB 828 (ANANICH), Passed: 109-0

SB 829 (WARREN), Passed: 105-4

SB 830 (Nofs), Passed: 105-4

Next: Sent to Senate for reconsideration

SB’s 821-830 would amend, enact, and replace various statutes to revise legislation that was enacted in 2012 to create tax exemptions for eligible industrial and commercial personal property, and provide mechanisms to replace a portion of the revenue lost by local units of government. In particular, the bills would do the following: (1) Increase the share of local use tax to be levied versus state use tax, thereby increasing the revenue distributed to local units of government as reimbursement for personal property tax revenue lost due to the exemptions. (2) Replace a local essential services assessment on exempt property with a State assessment. As under current law, a question on the August 2014 ballot would have to be approved by the voters in order for some of the bills, or some of the new exemptions, to take effect.

Amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code

SB 547 (Booher), Passed: 109-0

SB 548 (Booher), Passed: 109-0
SB 549 (Booher), Passed: 109-0

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

SB’s 547 through 549 would make various amendments to Articles 3 and 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

Limiting the Amount a Debtor Can Recover When a Creditor Violates the UCC

SB 551 (Booher), Passed: 108-1

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

Senate Bill 551 amends MCL 440.9625 and MCL 440.9626 to limit the amount a debtor could recover when a secured creditor violates certain provisions of Article 9 of the UCC, which pertains to secured transactions. Secured transactions are transactions in which credit is granted and the creditor receives an interest in personal property (for example, a car, boat, RV) of the debtor (the collateral).

Waiver of Initial Application and License Fees for Military Veterans Applying for Dental Assistant Licensure

HB 5248 (Haines), Passed: 109-0

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5248 amends the Public Health Code for the waiver of initial application and license fees for certain military veterans applying for dental assistant licensure.

Inclusion of an Individual Representing a Nonprofit Mutual Disability Insurer into which a Nonprofit Healthcare Corporation (BCBSM) has Merged

SB 820 (Hune), Passed: 107-2

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

SB 820 would amend the Public Health Code to include on the Certificate of Need Commission an individual representing a nonprofit mutual disability insurer into which a nonprofit health care corporation (BCBSM) has merged, as an alternative to a person representing a nonprofit health care corporation.

FY 2013-2014 Natural Resources Supplemental

SB 780 (Booher), Passed: 106-3

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

SB 780 is a FY 13-14 supplemental that includes funding for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) capital outlay projects. The bill appropriates $27,677,800 gross, all restricted funds.

FY 2013-2014 School Aid Supplemental

HB 4295 (Haveman), Passed: 105-4

Next: Sent to Senate for reconsideration

HB 4295 is a FY 13-14 school aid supplemental, predominantly making necessary cost adjustments associated with pupil counts, special education costs, and taxable value changes. However, the bill also makes grants for dissolved district transitions, provides for a contract for IT certification education, and increases at-risk funding and small class size grants.

Changing the Date of When an Election Must Take Place

HB 5152 (Lyons), Passed: 84-24

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

HB 5152 would amend the Michigan Election Law to change the date when an election must take place in order to fill a vacant local office. This bill is necessary because of a conflict created by a change made to the Michigan Election Law in 2012. House Bill 5152 would also amend the law to exempt a registered voter’s social security number from a Freedom of Information Act request.

Addition of a New Section to the Public Health Code

HB 4865 (MacGregor), Passed: 106-2

Next: Sent to Governor for signature
HB 4865 would add a new section to the Public Health Code to regulate and develop permit requirements for mobile dentistry in the State of Michigan.

Requirement that a Putative Father be registered with the Responsible Father Registry

HB 4648 (Kurtz), Passed: 97-11

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

HB 4648 would require that a putative father be registered in a timely manner with the Responsible Father Registry to be considered by the court to be granted custody of a child. If the court finds that a putative father's rights should not be terminated, then the bill would terminate a temporary placement and return the child to the mother for further proceedings under the Child Custody Act.

Allowing a Court to Enter an Order of Adoption Three Months Following a Formal Placement

HB 4647 (O'Brien), Passed: 105-3

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

HB 4647 would allow a court to enter an order of adoption three months following a formal placement for an adoptee that was under one year old at the time of the filing.

Release of Parental Rights or Consent for Adoption Purposes before an Adoption Attorney

HB 4646 (Shirkey), Passed: 98-10

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

HB 4646 would allow for a parent or guardian to release his/her parental rights or consent to a direct placement for purposes of adoption out-of-court before an adoption attorney or a child placing agency caseworker.

Technical Revisions to Elements of Arson

HB 4907 (Walsh), Passed: 107-1

HB 4908 (Walsh), Passed: 107-1

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

HB 4907 makes technical revisions to the elements of the crime of arson. HB 4908 is the sentencing guidelines companion bill.

Allowing Individuals to Use a Stamp or Mark for Signature of Election Documents

HB 4478 (Schor), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

House Bill 4478 would allow individuals who cannot sign certain election documents because of a physical disability to use either a signature stamp or make a mark on the documents. The Michigan Election Law currently allows individuals who are unable to write their name to make a mark (X) when applying to register to vote and requires the registration card in such cases to note the month, day, and year of the applicant's birth and other identifying information for use in identifying the individual when applying to vote.

Designating a Portion of US-127 as the Tim Sanborn Memorial Highway

HB 4936 (Leonard), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 4936 designates the portion of US-127 in Clinton County between Colony Road and M-57 as the Tim Sanborn Memorial Highway. As with all memorial bridges and highways under the Memorial Highway Act, signs designating the highway will not be placed until sufficient private funds have been raised for the installation and maintenance of the signs.

Designating the Bridge on US-2 as the Heath Michael Robinson Cut River Memorial Bridge

HB 4957 (Foster), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 4957 designates the bridge on US-2 in Mackinac County over the Cut River as the “Heath Michael Robinson Cut River Memorial Bridge.” As with all memorial bridges and highways under the Memorial Highway Act, signs designating the highway or bridge will not be placed under sufficient private funds have been raised for the installation and maintenance of the signs.

Renaming “Michigan Heritage Routes” to the “Pure Michigan Byways”

HB 5072 (Pettalia), Passed: 105-3

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5072 renames “Michigan Heritage Routes” to be “Pure Michigan Byways.” Under the bill, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) shall, within one year, designate as Pure Michigan Byways all routes that are designated as Michigan Heritage Routes on the date the bill is enacted into law.

Designating a Portion of US-10 as the Sheriff Robert Radden Memorial Highway

HB 4601 (Bumstead), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 4601 designates a portion of US-10 in Lake County as the “Sheriff Robert Radden Memorial Highway.” As with all memorial bridges and highways under the Memorial Highway Act, signs designating the bridge or highway will not be placed until sufficient funds have been raised for the installation and maintenance of the signs.

Designating a Portion of M-116 as the Trooper Paul K. Butterfield Memorial Highway

HB 5257 (Franz), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5257 designates M-116 in Mason County as the “Trooper Paul K. Butterfield Memorial Highway.” As with all designations under the Memorial Highway Act, private contributions are required for the placement and maintenance of the signs marking the designation.

Designating a Portion of I-75 as the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway

HB 5064 (RUTLEDGE), Passed: 108-0

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration
HB 5064 designates all of I-75 in the State of Michigan as the “Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway.” As with all designations under the Memorial Highway Act, private contributions are required for the placement and maintenance of signs marking the designation.

Extending the Statute of Limitations for Human Trafficking Offenses

HB 5240 (BANKS), Passed: 104-4

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5240 extends the statute of limitations for human trafficking offenses.

Requiring Registration on the Sex Offender Registry for Individuals Convicted of Prostitution-Related Offenses

HB 5241 (KIVELA), Passed: 106-2

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

HB 5241 would require registration on the Sex Offender Registry for individuals convicted of prostitution-related offenses.

Extension of Retroactive Use Tax Exemptions Related to Sale and Installation of Theater and Stadium Seating

SB 622 (Booher), Passed: 106-2

Next: Sent to Governor for signature

SB 622 extends an existing retroactive use tax exemption related to the sale and installation of theater and stadium seating and possible other items by Michigan manufacturers in other states back an additional tax year.

Elimination of the Requirement that a Land Contract Vendor Pay 18 Mills of School Operating Taxes on Foreclosed Property

HB 4135 (Foster), Passed: 85-23

Next: Sent to Senate for consideration

This bill eliminates the requirement that a land contract vendor, bank, credit union, or other lending institution that owns a property due to foreclosure pay an amount equal to the 18 mills of school operating taxes that would have been levied on the bank-owned property had it not retained a principal residence (homestead) exemption (PRE). This bill essentially treats a bank-owned property the same as a principal residence for tax purposes.