Senate Bill 257: Limit epidemic emergency order intrusions into family gatherings and spectating: Passed 20 to 15 in the Senate

To prohibit the state health department from imposing restrictions on members of a family or household observing another member in a sporting event, dining out together at a single table, or otherwise gathering together. Also, to prohibit orders that bar an individual from traveling to another property he or she owns, or ban high school graduation ceremonies, or ban an individual from buying a product in a store.

Senate Bill 250: Prescribe epidemic incidence threshold for lockdown restrictions: Passed 20 to 15 in the Senate

To place in state law specific disease incidence thresholds and limits for restricting gatherings and occupancy limits in restaurants and other “event venues” during an coronavirus epidemic. The bill would prescribe specific occupancy restrictions based on current local disease incidence levels.

House Bill 4210: Exempt some developers' “broadband equipment” from personal property tax: Passed 20 to 15 in the Senate

To exempt “broadband equipment” owned by certain internet developers claiming to serve "underserved areas" from personal property taxes levied on business tools and equipment. The bill is connected to Senate Bill 46, and the Senate Fiscal Agency is unable to quantify the amount of foregone revenue the tax subsidies they promise would cost the state, in part because the bills would permit developers to claim them in areas where broadband internet may already be available.

Senate Bill 46: Exempt some developer's “broadband equipment” from personal property tax: Passed 57 to 49 in the House

To exempt “broadband equipment” owned by certain internet developers claiming to serve "underserved areas" from personal property taxes levied on business tools and equipment, along with House Bill 4210. See the Senate vote on that bill above.

House Bill 4117: Authorize two-year license plate renewal: Passed 106 to 0 in the House

To authorize a two-year vehicle registration (license plate tab) renewal.

House Bill 4211: Authorize enhanced sanctions for disarming a law enforcement officer: Passed 100 to 7 in the House

To authorize an enhanced penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5,000 fine for taking a law enforcement or corrections officer's gun by force, which would be added to penalties imposed for the underlying crimes.

House Bill 4354: Impose oral chemotherapy insurance mandate: Passed 91 to 15 in the House

To impose a new coverage mandate that would require insurance companies to include coverage for orally administered chemotherapy in all health insurance policies that provide for cancer chemotherapy treatments, without requiring any dollar limit, deductible or co-pay for these that does not apply to other treatments. Also, to ban charging a copay of more than $150 per month on these drugs.

House Bill 4346: Impose insulin copay insurance mandate: Passed 91 to 16 in the House

To prohibit health insurance policies from requiring a covered person to pay a co-pay for insulin greater than $50 per month.

House Bill 4355: Permit "telehealth" services: Passed 56 to 51 in the House

To establish that medical service professionals in another state may provide “telehealth” services to Michigan patients without needing to also get a Michigan license.

House Bill 4022: Require state agencies post employee salaries and benefits (without names): Passed 79 to 27 in the House

To add employee salary and benefit information to the information each state department is required to post on a state website. This would included individual employee position titles, (unionized) civil service status, salary, and general benefits information, but no names, initials, email or other identifying information (which may still be obtained through a specific Freedom of Information Act request).

Permission to reprint this blog post in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author (or authors) and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy are properly cited.