Senate Bill 702, Ban school districts and local governments from discriminating against charter schools: Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate

To expand the definition of “deed restriction” in a 2017 law that prohibits a school district or local government from refusing to sell property to a charter or private school, or from taking other actions designed to keep these potential conventional public school competitors from using property for a lawful educational purpose. The bill would close loopholes that cities and school districts have used to discriminate against charter schools.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 469, Give some developers subsidies for rehabbing “historic” structures: Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate

To grant certain developers approved by state or local officials credits against the business income tax that are worth up to 25 percent of the amount spent to restore a structure that meets various criteria for being “historic.” Up to 90 percent of credits valued up to $250,000 would be "refundable," making them virtual cash subsidies.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4207, Subsidize grocery stores in cities: Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate

To authorize state subsidies for grocery stores in urban areas. This would come from money earmarked to an existing business subsidy program, and is estimated to be around $1 million to $2 million annually. The money could not be given to the owner of a grocery store located within a mile of an existing store.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5165, Revise unemployment insurance rules to avoid impostors and fraud: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To revise state unemployment insurance rules and procedures to address the problem of impostors claiming and getting unemployment benefits. This is part of package comprised of House Bills 5165 to 5172 that among other things would facilitate reporting by employers and individuals that a particular claim is fraudulent; cancel benefits on those claims and not assess employers for them; reduce penalties and let some recipients keep improper payments; and more. The legislation was introduced after it was reported that an automated system wrongly determined that thousands of individuals filed fraudulent claims, and with this week’s votes goes to the Governor for approval, which is expected.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4320, Spend more for environmental cleanups, borrow more for colleges: Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate

To appropriate $52.8 million for various state departments and functions in the current fiscal year, including $23.2 million for remediation activities related to recently reported instances of groundwater contamination by a chemical called perfluoroalkyl. The bill also authorizes $74.6 million in new long term debt for state university and college construction projects and $57 million for a State Police construction project.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4320, Spend more for environmental cleanups, borrow more for colleges: Passed 109 to 1 in the House

This is the same bill as the one above that passed the Senate.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 167, Expand opioid prescription restrictions and reporting: Passed 83 to 27 in the House

To require a doctor to have a “bona fide prescriber-patient relationship” before prescribing opioid and other painkillers that are subject to abuse, and authorize sanctions on a doctor who fails to first check the patient’s prescription record on a state database that collects this information before prescribing.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 274, Restrict opioid prescription quantities: Passed 97 to 13 in the House

To restrict the amount of opioid pain pills a doctor may prescribe for acute pain to a seven day supply. The bill would also allow pharmacists to issue a smaller supply of painkillers to patients with longer prescriptions for chronic pain if requested by the patient.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 478, Ban drivers license renewal if three unpaid parking tickets: Passed 74 to 36 in the House

To repeal the Jan. 1, 2018 sunset on a 2014 law that reduced from six to three the number of unpaid parking tickets a person can have before the Secretary of State will not renew a drivers license until the tickets are paid along with a $45 "clearance" fee. The bill would leave the more stringent regime in place permanently.

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.

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