Font size:
By Jack McHugh
The Legislature did not meet this week, so the Roll Call Report continues its review of key votes from the 2015-2016 session.
Senate Bill 616, Exempt developers of “Pyramid” building from sales tax: Passed 21 to 15 in the Senate on December 3, 2015
To exempt business equipment purchases made by an internet data center from the state sales tax. The bill originally applied only to the developers of proposed data center in the vacant “Pyramid” building near Grand Rapids, but was expanded to all companies in this particular business.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 616, Exempt developers of “Pyramid” building from sales tax: Passed 61 to 45 in the House on December 15, 2015
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 539, Expand “promise zone” tax increment financing authorities: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 29, 2015
To expand from 10 to 15 the number of “promise zone” tax increment financing authorities (TIFA) located in low income and low educational attainment areas. These entities “capture" a portion of any increases in the state portion of school property tax revenue in the area, and use the money to partially subsidize college tuition for local students.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 539, Expand “promise zone” tax increment financing authorities: Passed 98 to 9 in the House on January 27, 2016
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 556, Extend commercial rehab tax breaks for developers: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on November 4, 2015
To extend for another five years a law that authorizes property tax breaks for owners of commercial property selected by local government officials. The law was originally created for the developer of a moribund Oakland County mall but has been used to also give indirect subsidies to other developers.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 556, Extend commercial rehab tax breaks for developers: Passed 87 to 19 in the House on December 2, 2015
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 481, Authorize school recreation millages: Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on December 8, 2015
To revise a law that allows several local governments to create a recreational authority with the power to impose a 1 mill property tax, by allowing school districts to create such an authority. The tax can be used for swimming pools, recreation centers, public auditoriums, public conference centers, and parks, upon the approval of voters. This law does not prohibit the recreational facilities from being located at a school, but it does require them to be open to the public.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 481, Authorize school recreation millages: Passed 104 to 5 in the House on May 31, 2016
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 508, Criminalize posting "cyber revenge porn": Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate on December 9, 2015
To make it a crime to post on the internet any sexually explicit picture, photograph or video of a person without his or her consent and with the intent to threaten, coerce or intimidate, if the material was obtained under circumstances that which a reasonable person would know were meant to remain private, subject to some specific exceptions.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 508, Criminalize posting "cyber revenge porn": Passed 109 to 0 in the House on April 13, 2016
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 552, Increase groundwater discharge permit fees: Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate on November 10, 2015
To increase groundwater discharge permit fees imposed on enterprises that discharge wastewater onto the ground or into groundwater. The bill would authorize a different fee category for car washes, laundromats, seasonal RV parks and other small commercial facilities.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 552, Increase groundwater discharge permit fees: Passed 59 to 47 in the House on December 10, 2015
The House vote on the bill described above.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 13, Eliminate straight ticket ballot option: Passed 23 to 13 in the Senate on November 10, 2015
To eliminate the straight party ticket option from election ballots. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder but implementing it has been suspended by a federal court ruling.
Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”
Senate Bill 13, Eliminate straight ticket ballot option: Passed 54 to 51 in the House on December 9, 2015
The House vote on the bill described above.
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.
