House Bill 4890
(Authorize state poet laureate)
Introduced by state Rep. Bruce Caswell, R-Pittsford

Authorize the appointment by the governor of a state poet laureate, who would serve at the pleasure of the governor (meaning the governor could withdraw the appointment at any time).

House Bill 4704
(Declare apple cider the official state beverage)
Introduced by state Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township

Establish in law that henceforth apple cider shall be designated as the official State of Michigan beverage. Note: At present, Michigan does not have an official state beverage. Past bills have proposed designating milk as the official state beverage.

Senate Bill 353
(Authorize state government international trade agreement review entities)
Introduced by state Sen. Ray Basham, D-Taylor

Create a state government “Office of Trade Enforcement,” a “Citizens Commission on Globalization,” and require the Legislature to appoint two state legislative “points of contact” to serve as liaisons with the federal government on trade-related matters. All these entities would be authorized to undertake various lobbying and/or research activities related to U.S. trade policy. The bill would also establish conditions under which the state would “allow itself” to be bound by any international trade agreements entered into by the federal government, including an approval-by-the-Legislature provision. (Under the U.S. Constitution this provision would have no real effect, however, since Congress is granted exclusive authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations.) The bill contains a list of legislative “findings” that in general assert that recent international trade agreements have been harmful to the state.

House Bill 4902
(Mandate African history course components)
Introduced by state Rep. Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek

Require that if a school district teaches African history in middle school or high school, the course content must be focused on one or more of the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhay, Benin, Bornu, Nubia, Axum, Meroe, Medieval Ethiopia, or the Swahili Coast.

Senate Bill 136
(Mandate MDOT “hydrogen highway” studies)
Introduced by state Sen. Cameron Brown, R-Fawn River Township

Require the Department of Transportation to analyze the tasks that would be required to establish a “hydrogen highway” on which hydrogen fueling stations would be available every 20 miles. Among other things, the analysis would include reviewing and possibly recommending government subsidies for hydrogen fueling stations.

Senate Bill 68
(Revise manicurist licensure law)
Introduced by state Sen. Tupac Hunter, D-Detroit

Authorize manicurist training as a subfield of cosmetology schools. Under current law, licensure is required for schools that teach cosmetology and electrology, but there is no separate category for the teaching of fingernail clipping. Also under current law, licensure is required for those who clip fingernails for pay.