MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week.
Senate Bill 472, Expand "development rights
agreements": Passed 28 to 9 in the Senate
To require (rather than just allow) "development rights agreements"
to be granted to the owner of a vacant parcel 15 acres or larger who requests
this, and allow these to go into effect without legislative approval, which is
required under current law. "Development rights agreements" give a
landowner property tax breaks in return for foregoing future development.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 356, Authorize assett forfeiture for illegal
animal fighting: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate
To authorize the forfeiture of real property (land and buildings) used in the
commission of illegal animal fighting.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4732, Revise youth employment limits: Passed 108
to 0 in the House
To revise the law that restricts the maximum number of hours that minors age 16
and 17 who are in school can work. Under current law the maximum is 48 hours of
combined school and work a week, and 48 hours of work during the summer. The
bill would change this to a maximum of 24 hours of work when school is in
session.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4726, Allow "volunteer" firefighter pay
while collecting unemployment: Passed 107 to 0 in the House
To not include up to $10,000 in compensation a person is paid as a “volunteer”
firefighter from the formula used to determine the amount of unemployment
benefits given to a laid-off worker. In other words, someone on unemployment
could earn this money without affecting their benefits.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4721, Take “bridge card” of arrest warrant
targets: Passed 97 to 11 in the House
To require the Department of Human Services to get arrest warrant data from the
State Police, and revoke the welfare “bridge cards” of any warrant targets.
“Bridge cards” are debit cards that have replaced food stamps and are also used
for cash welfare payments.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.
Get insightful commentary and the most reliable research on Michigan issues sent straight to your inbox.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.