Senate Bill 583, Ban local food and beverage taxes: Passed 31 to 5 in the Senate
To prohibit local governments and authorities from imposing a tax or fee on the manufacture, distribution, wholesaling or retail sale of food for immediate consumption or non-immediate consumption. Among other things this would prohibit local officials from imposing soda taxes.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 375, Authorize county subsidies for methane digester generators: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate
To permit counties to include methane digester energy systems in a program that lets the county borrow money, lend it to a property owner money for a “renewable energy system,” and levy a special assessment on the property from which the loan would be repaid.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 552, Increase annual ORV tax: Passed 35 to 1 in the Senate
To increase the annual off road vehicle license tax to $26.25 for a license that does not authorize operation on state ORV trails, and $36.25 for one that does. If no action is taken the tax expires in March 2018, but if the bill becomes law the tax will remain through March 2024 (unless extended by another bill before then).
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 353, Preempt local bans on employers asking about past wages: Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate
To expand a law that prohibits local governments from imposing mandatory job interview information requirements or restrictions. Among other things the bill would ban local ordinances that prohibit a local employer or the local government itself from asking about a prospective employee's previous salary history.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 223, Create process for disclosing police firing to other agencies: Passed 105 to 2 in the House
To establish a process and liability exemption for a police agency disclosing information to another agency about a former officer who may have been fired. A separating officer could review the official record and make his written explanation a permanent part of it. Police job applicants would have to give prospective employers a waiver allowing them to get the separation records, and the former employer would be immune from liability for revealing this.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 352, Require high school coach concussion training refreshers: Passed 104 to 4 in the House
To require high school coaches to get a refresher course every three years on the “concussion awareness training program” required by a 2012 law. State health officials would have to periodically review and update the training program the law required them to create. Also, to clarify that the high school "youth athletes" for whom that law requires parental waivers do not include 17 year olds in college.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4999, Ban local food and beverage taxes: Passed 101 to 7 in the House
To prohibit local governments or authorities from imposing a tax or fee on the manufacture, distribution, wholesaling or retail sale of food for immediate consumption or non-immediate consumption. Among other things this would prohibit local officials from imposing soda taxes.
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 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.