Font size:
By Jack McHugh
House Bill 4122, Repeal state film producer subsidies: Passed 24 to 13 in the Senate
To repeal the program that gives Michigan tax dollars to film producers. Since 2008 some $500 million has been distributed to producers. This week's votes send the bill to the Governor for approval or veto.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4325, Establish overspending public school “early warning system”: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate
To require school districts to submit their annual budget projections and assumptions to the state each July, and establish a process of review and concurrence involving intermediate school districts. Non-concurrence would trigger reporting and oversight requirements. Related bills would require funding be withheld from districts that fail to reduce their overspending.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4328, Authorize withholding state money from overspending school districts: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate
To give the Department of Treasury the authority to withhold state school aid payments from an overspending school district that fails to submit an acceptable “deficit elimination plan,” or that then falls more deeply into financial trouble.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4329, Authorize emergency manager for chronically overspending school district: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate
To authorize appointment of an Emergency Manager for an overspending public school district that fails to comply with the deficit reduction plans and procedures required by House Bill 4325 and related bills.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4273, Eliminate February election date: Passed 30 to 7 in the Senate
To eliminate the February election date authorized by a 2003 election consolidation law which required all regular elections in the state to be held on either the last Tuesday in February, or the Tuesday after the first Monday in either May, August, or November.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 328, Authorize more State Police officer grades: Passed 35 to 0 in the Senate
To create two new grades of State Police officer, called "inspector" and "recruit." The current grades are colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, sergeant and trooper.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 165, Authorize pedal-powered beer bars: Passed 96 to 13 in the House
To establish in statute that a “commercial quadricycle,” which is a pedal-powered mobile beer bar, is not considered a “motor vehicle” even if it has auxiliary power, and instead would be subject to much less onerous regulations. Under this and Senate Bill 166 passengers would be allowed to have open beer or wine containers, but the driver would be required to have a blood alcohol level of zero.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4640, Regulate Uber, Lyft, etc. - insurance provision: Passed 70 to 40 in the House
To establish that passengers using services like Uber and Lyft would be covered by the same type of insurance as passengers in taxicabs. This means the unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage required by the state no-fault insurance law would be provided by the passenger's own auto insurance, and by the driver's policy only if the passenger had none.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
House Bill 4637, Regulate Uber, Lyft, etc.; preempt local bans: Passed 71 to 39 in the House
To establish a regulatory framework that would enable “transportation network companies” like Uber and Lyft to operate in this state, including a preemption on local government regulations or bans. The companies would have to get a state permit and carry liability insurance. The bill requires background checks on drivers and annual vehicle inspections.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, 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.
