Inside 208

This afternoon the Senate Economic Development Committee reported two bills, SB 658 and SB 659, that would require that a sales tax be added on to purchases made by retailers who have a so-called “nexus” within the state. These bills are more commonly known as the Main Street Fairness legislation. [...]

This afternoon the Senate Finance Committee reported House Bill 5182, legislation that would allow the State Tax Commission to grant a local property tax exemption for qualified housing organizations (namely Habitat for Humanity). The bill as substituted would say an exemption is in effect for the lesser of 5 years [...]

This morning the House Tax Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 5838, a bill that would exempt qualified sportsmen’s clubs from property taxes. In order to qualify for the exemption, the facilities of these qualified organizations must be available to the public for charitable, nonprofit purposes on at least [...]

The Michigan Municipal League sent to the media this week a series of letters to the editor to encourage the state House to approve the transportation funding package passed in the Senate on Nov. 13. The House is considering a couple different transportation funding options and we want the state [...]

This afternoon the Senate Energy & Technology Committee reported House Bill 5397, a bill creating the Municipal Utility Residential Clean Energy Program Act.  This would enable municipalities that own electric utilities to establish a program to help provide financing to residential property owners for energy efficiency projects. This is modeled [...]

This afternoon the Senate Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bills 1123 and 1124, legislation that would prohibit a wind turbine that properly complies with local zoning and siting regulations from being a nuisance. The legislation would also allow an action for a nuisance based on a wind [...]

This afternoon the House Oversight Committee heard testimony on House Bill 5599, legislation that would exempt elected officials from the requirement to pay a fee for information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) if the information is obtained in furtherance of their duties as elected officials. The League [...]

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee reported House Bill 5205, legislation that amends the definition of “renewable energy” to include fuel from municipal solid waste. The League has concerns about this legislation and the narrow amendment to the Clean, Renewable and Energy Efficient Act. We would prefer to [...]

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4237, a bill that would open state police communications towers to colocation for broadband expansion. As introduced this legislation would allow both public and private entities to colocate for the purpose of broadband expansion; however, a substitute [...]

On Tuesday (11/25) Speaker of the House, Jase Bolger, put forward a new transportation funding plan. The plan would remove the 6% sales tax now charged on fuel sales (at 1% per year), while at the same time converting the 19-cent-per-gallon fuel tax to a percentage rate that would gradually [...]