August 5 MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call Report

MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week. Because the legislature did not meet this week, rather than roll call vote results this report presents a sampling of recently proposed state laws.

Senate Bill 556: Create another government corporate subsidy program
Introduced by Sen. John Proos (R), to create another government program to give subsidies to particular businesses selected by political appointees and certain state agency officials. This one would be called the “Michigan Business Development Program.” The bill is cosponsored by Republicans Goeffrey Hansen, Michael Kowall, John Pappageorge, Mike Nofs and Judith Emmons. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 565: Ban spam texting
Introduced by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D), to prohibit sending an unsolicited commercial text message, subject to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 569: Revise film subsidies
Introduced by Sen. Randy Richardville (R), to revise the state film incentive program, converting it into a straightforward subsidy program rather than an indirect one, with awards of up to 30 percent of the expenses a film producer incurs in Michigan. Reportedly the bill’s sponsor wants to increase the subsidies from $25 million already appropriated in 2012 to $100 million annually. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4821: Tighten state liquor monopoly price controls
Introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D), to impose a single selling price for each particular brand of liquor sold in Michigan. Under current law, the state is the wholesaler of all liquor sold in Michigan, and imposes a minimum selling price, but retailers can increase it. Under the bill, a bottle of a particular type of liquor would have to sell for the same state-imposed price no matter where it is sold in this state. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4834: Require medical marijuana photo ID, and give police access to registry
Introduced by Rep. Gail Haines (R), to revise the state’s medical marijuana law so as to require photographs on the authorized users’ registration cards, and give law enforcement agencies the information about individuals on the registry about whom they have a specific inquiry. See also Senate Bill 377, which would give law enforcement agencies the names of all those to whom a medical marijuana card has been issued. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4840: Ban human lice treatments containing lindane
Introduced by Rep. Timothy Bledsoe (D), to prohibit the sale or use of human lice treatments containing lindane. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4841: Ban deca-BDEs
Introduced by Rep. Timothy Bledsoe (D), to prohibit the manufacture or distribution of products containing decabromodiphenyl ethers (deca-BDEs), which are a commonly used flame retardant for electronics, furniture, mattresses, etc. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4846: Expand boat and watercraft regulations
Introduced by Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R), to authorize a $500 civil fine for operating a boat that is towing skiers or people on a raft who are not wearing personal flotation devices, and the same fine for a skier or towed raft rider age 16 or older who does not wear a life vest. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4857: Require police SWAT team activity disclosures
Introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin (R), to require law enforcement agencies with SWAT teams to file reports every six months disclosing the number of times the SWAT team was deployed, where, the reason, the legal authority for the raid, the result, the number of arrests made if any, the type of evidence and property seized, whether a forcible entry was made, whether a weapon was discharged by a SWAT team member, and whether a person or pet was injured or killed by a SWAT team member. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.

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