Senate Resolution 26: Authorize Senate lawsuit against governor for unlawful expenditures: Passed 20 to 14 in the Senate

To authorize the Senate Majority Leader to commence legal action on behalf of the Senate, challenging any action by the governor to spend money that has not been authorized in appropriation bills passed by the House and Senate. This relates to vetoes of provisions in House Bills 4047 and 4048 that would prohibit spending part of the state’s federal stimulus and coronavirus relief money unless two provision of two other bills are also signed into law (Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 4049). Those bills would transfer the authority of the state health department to close schools in an emergency to county health departments, and require legislative consent after 28 days to a governor's authority to maintain a state of emergency and issue executive orders. Under this resolution, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey would be authorized to sue the governor if the administration spends money without the legislative authorization required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

House Bill 4047: Override veto of coronavirus relief bill line items: Failed 60 to 49 in the House (2/3 majority required)

To override Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's line-item veto of $150 million in state aid for businesses afflicted by coronavirus epidemic lockdowns, and another $150 million for deposit in the state's unemployment insurance account to "offset expected exposure to state fraud and improper payments" during the epidemic.

Senate Bill 1: Limit state health department epidemic orders without legislative approval: Passed 59 to 50 in the House

To restrict emergency orders the state health department (the Department of Health and Human Services) may impose in response to an epidemic to 28 days unless an extension is approved by the Legislature. A state Public Health Code adopted by the Legislature in 1978 gives the department the authority to issue such orders. The bill would also require officials to disclose in such orders how any restrictions on gatherings protects public health, and all the information used in deciding to issue the emergency order.

Senate Bill 114: Allocate coronavirus epidemic relief dollars for businesses: Passed 66 to 44 in the House

To appropriate $150 million in state dollars for deposit into the state unemployment insurance benefit fund to offset exposure to fraud and improper payments during the coronavirus epidemic. The bill also appropriates $405 million state tax dollars for tax and fee relief to businesses afflicted by coronavirus lockdowns. These appropriations had been in another bill but were line-item vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

House Bill 4127: Revise procedure for clearing dead, moved or inactive voters from voter rolls: Passed 61 to 48 in the House

To revise the procedure specified in state election law to remove certain registered voters listed in the qualified voter file who haven't voted since 2000 or who have unknown dates of birth in the voter rolls, and do not respond to a mailing.

House Bill 4040: Facilitate school apprenticeship programs: Passed 107 to 3 in the House

To exclude registered apprenticeship programs created by unions and trade associations and offered in public schools from the law that imposes a licensure mandate on for-profit "proprietary trade schools" (barber colleges are an example).

Senate Bill 106: Add new “no trespassing” posting option: Passed 20 to 14 in the Senate

To establish that a property owner can “post” his property to indicate that trespassing is prohibited by painting purple vertical lines at least 8 inches long, between 3 feet and 5 feet above the ground, on trees or posts not more than 100 feet apart that are "readily visible" when approaching the property.

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