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The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is soliciting applications for candidate projects for the Local Bridge Program; selected projects will be funded during the 2017 fiscal year. The deadline for this application in May 1st, 2014. For more information on the application requirements and the electronic application please use the [...]

The Michigan Road Preservation Association will be hosting their annual workshop April 2nd, 2014. The goal of the workshop is for the speakers to present and discuss with the attendees all aspects of preventive maintenance for city streets and county roads from the owners’ perspective…The emphasis this year will be [...]

This week the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bill 5160, a bill that would allow a local unit of government the option of contracting with the county treasurer to administer tax collection. The bill allows an agreement to let the county collect taxes, and the agreement would [...]

This morning the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 428, a bill dealing with the purchase of U.S. flags by local units of government. The bill passed by the House requires a local unit of government to purchase flags made in the United States if [...]

Yesterday the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee unanimously reported House Bill 4939, a bill that would allow a department head to serve as a city manager. The legislation was prompted by a community in Rep. Knezek’s (D-Garden City) district where the police chief is serving as interim city manager. [...]

The Senate Energy and Technology Committee heard testimony this week on SB 493 (Sen Rick Jones), a bill prohibiting a local unit of government from adopting an ordinance that deals with amateur radios (called HAM radios) and prohibits locals from restricting antennas of amateur radios to heights below 90 feet [...]

With the passage of legislation earlier this year to allow for intrastate crowdfunding, comes the next step in helping crowdfunding take off: HB 5273, a bill to define and allow local stock exchanges.  We are very excited to see this idea to continue to move forward.  This would open the [...]

The Senate Local Government and Elections today unanimously passed SB 631, a bill that would give local communities the ability to regulate carrier pigeons (currently they are not allowed to so).  The local community cannot ban them but could regulate them.  A resident in Allen Park testified in support of [...]

This afternoon the Senate Finance Committee considered Senate Bills 754 and 755,  legislation that would accelerate the would amend the Use Tax Act and the General Sales Tax Act, respectively, to accelerate the schedule that excludes from taxation the value of a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle (RV) traded in [...]

This morning the House Tax Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bills 5265, 5266 and 5267, bills that would reduce the state income tax. House Bills 5265-6 would reduce the income tax from 4.25 percent to 4.05 percent. House Bill 5267 would allow additional reductions of 0.1 percent if general [...]