House Bill 4061: Restrict “Integrated Public Alert Warning System” use by governor: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate

To prohibit officials including the governor from using an official “Integrated Public Alert Warning System” to transmit an announcement of a new law or change in government policy, and instead limit its use to emergencies involving immediate or imminent loss of life or property. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer received criticism for using this system during a 2020 state of emergency to make announcements that did not meet this standard. The system is described as a “secure network connecting all of the public alert and warning systems in the United States into a single system.” In the House six Democrats supported the bill, but the Senate vote was a party line vote.

House Bill 4272: Assert immunity of "Michigan-made" gas cans from federal regulation: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate

To establish that portable fuel containers that are completely made in Michigan and sold here only are not subject to federal regulations, notwithstanding court judgments that hold federal rules to be controlling under the U.S. Constitution’s interstate commerce clause.

Senate Bill 425: Use state money for local rail grade separations: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate

To authorize state grants to local governments for local projects separating motor vehicle traffic and railroad traffic (rail grade separations). A related bill creates a permanent state account to hold money for this purpose, but neither bill specifies where the money would come from.

House Bill 4063: Revise minor “work permit” law for homeschoolers: Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate

To expand a law that requires a school-aged minor to get a work permit from a school district official in order to get a job (with a number of exceptions). The bill would extend to home-schooled students a requirement that their parent or guardian issue the required permit.

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