House Bill 4344, Mandate auto repair shops use vehicle maker's own parts: Passed 33 to 4 in the Senate

To codify into law a comprehensive regulatory regime that is currently imposed on vehicle repair facilities through administrative regulations, including a state registration mandate. Among other things, the bill would prohibit a repair shop from replacing a major part on a newer vehicle with one not made by the vehicle's maker, which has been criticized as protectionism benefiting the Big Three and other car makers.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

Senate Bill 671, Expand scope of wine and grape council mission: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To revise the particular interests that must be represented on a government grape and wine industry council, by adding brewers and distillers. Also, to revise this entity's mission to include providing the same kind of indirect subsidies to those industries that it provides to wine making interests. In 2014 this operation reportedly received $927,898 from certain liquor license fees (taxes) and spent $797,000 on things that are supposed to benefit the industry, including $373,000 on compensation for its staff.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

Senate Bill 818, Exempt yoga instruction schools from licensure mandate: Passed 92 to 17 in the House

To exempt yoga teacher training schools from a state licensure mandate imposed on private trade-schools, with annual fees, government inspections, regulations and more. A Senate Fiscal Agency analysis notes that many take the classes just for the experience, and "the regulations reportedly have created a business environment that deters...offering or expanding instruction programs."

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

House Bill 4588, Expand private college security force powers: Passed 87 to 22 in the House

To permit private college security force personnel who have the same license as regular police to exercise full “peace officer” (police officer) powers outside the college’s grounds, including cases of “hot pursuit” of an individual suspected of violating the law, or in cooperation with regular police officers. The House also passed a similar bill for airport security force personnel (HB 5181).

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

Senate Bill 656, Clarify that hiring repossession agency not same as being one: Passed 74 to 35 in the House

To clarify that the act of hiring and turning over uncollected bills to a bill collection agency for possible repossession actions do not come under the regulations, restrictions, licensure requirements and more that apply to the actual repo process.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

House Bill 5401, Revise pollution equipment tax break detail: Passed 70 to 39 in the House

To revise the requirements for getting a property tax exemption that is allowed for industrial pollution control equipment. The bill would require applications to include an affidavit from an environmental engineer that the equipment meets the rules. Under current law, the Department of Environmental Quality must certify the rules are met for getting a tax break, and this would be repealed.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

House Bill 4338, Let local school districts not state select retirement plan managers: Passed 66 to 43 in the House

To allow individual school districts rather than the state to select management companies to administer the 401(k)-type defined contribution component of a so-called “hybrid” retirement plan for new school employees. This gives these employees tax deferred contributions to a savings account they own, but also creates additional long term taxpayer liabilities by enrolling new hires in a slightly more modest conventional defined benefit pension plan than existing employees.

Who Voted “Yes” and Who Voted “No”

Senate Bill 776, Limit time period for collecting ballot initiative signatures: Passed 57 to 52 in the House

To establish that signatures on a petition to amend the constitution must be collected within the 180 days before the measure is submitted, and repeal the ability to challenge whether older signatures may be valid. The House concurred with the Senate on giving the bill immediate effect, which would mean marijuana legalization and anti-fracking petition drives underway in the spring of 2016 would be impacted.

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 https://www.michiganvotes.org.

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