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Snyder signs almost 50 more bills into law
As term-limited Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder prepares to leave office next week, he signed several dozen bills today that arrived on his desk during the frenzied legislative Lame Duck session. One of the bills makes cyberbullying a crime, House Bill 5017, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Twp.). The bill is now Public Act […]
Black caucus official blasts Whitmer’s pick to head state police
A leading critic of the Michigan State Police has given Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s choice to head the agency a thumbs-down. Whitmer has tapped Captain Joe Gasper, a white male, to lead Michigan State Police (MSP). Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit) told the Advance she is “very disappointed.” “Many African-Americans took a chance pushing for historic change,” […]
On this day: Moderate Republican vetoes Democratic-led abortion bill
It was a different time, to be sure. On this day in 1978, Michigan Gov. William Milliken vetoed a bill to ban state-funded abortions. “This bill effectively would deny poor women of this state the same opportunity to exercise the same legal rights as other members of society,” the Traverse City Republican said at […]
Updated: $1.3B budget supplementals shoot to governor
Updated, 8:10 a.m. Dec. 21 In the wee hours of the morning, the Michigan House voted in bipartisan fashion on supplemental budget spending totaling more than $1.3 billion. The Senate gave its final stamp of approval, sending bills to Gov. Rick Snyder. The legislation includes funding for PFAS cleanup, the Soo Locks and school districts […]
Updated: Snyder to decide on deregulating wetlands
Gov. Rick Snyder will now decide on a plan to deregulate some small wetlands that could be filled and dredged after the Legislature approved the bill during a marathon session stretching into early Friday morning. But the bill was dramatically scaled back in the version the Michigan House voted on late into the last Lame Duck session […]
Snyder expected to OK tax shift for schools, roads, environmental cleanup
After a day of dealmaking, Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign a budget supplemental that will shift revenue from the School Aid Fund (SAF) to carry out road repairs and environmental cleanups. House Bill 4991, sponsored by state Rep. Ed Canfield (R-Sebewaing), passed the Michigan House early this morning in a close 56-51 vote. […]
Bill naming part of M-10 for Detroit educator awaits Snyder’s pen
A bill that would rename a portion of the John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10) in Detroit after legendary educator Violet T. Lewis overwhelmingly cleared the Michigan House on Thursday. The vote was 101-8 and the bill now heads to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk. The Advance reported that Senate Bill 1137, sponsored by state Sen. Ian […]
Snyder signs bill allowing non-certified teachers in classrooms
Gov. Rick Snyder earlier today signed a bill that will allow those with professional career expertise to substitute teach in grades 9-12 without a teaching certificate. “This legislation will help schools fill teacher shortages in programs that offer high-demand career skills so that our students can be prepared for a 21st century economy,” said Snyder, […]
Senate shifts $200M from schools for roads, environmental cleanup
Updated, 7:20 p.m. The Michigan Senate today passed legislation that would divert sales tax dollars that traditionally go to the School Aid Fund (SAF) to fix roads and do environmental cleanups. The House is expected to take action on what is supposed to be the last day of legislative action in Lansing. After the vote, […]
Snyder signs deer sterilization bill
Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation that would bar municipalities besides Ann Arbor from sterilizing deer for more than three years. The Republican governor gave his blessing to House Bill 5321, sponsored by Rep. Triston Cole (R-Mancelona), which blocks the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from issuing sterilization permits for large game until April […]
Redistricting commission looks to dodge Lame Duck bullet
A bill that would put additional requirements on an independent citizen redistricting commission outlined in Proposal 2 is another Lame Duck casualty. Senate Bill 1254, sponsored by state Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair Twp.), sailed through the upper chamber by a mostly party-line 25-12 vote on Dec. 5. But as the Advance reported early Wednesday […]
A-F education bill makes the grade in Senate
Updated, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19 The GOP-led Michigan Senate this evening in a 21-17 vote passed House Bill 5526, a measure that would require state government to give each public school A-F letter grades in areas related to student performance. The vote on the bill, sponsored by state Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Twp.), came after […]