Inside 208

The House Oversight committee passed out HB 4001, the bill making many changes to FOIA. The substitute that was adopted can be viewed here: HB 4001 H-2.  While the substitute has improved from the introduced version, the League still has concerns and is opposed to this legislation.  The League along with [...]

A bill to allow local communities to enter into written agreements with other local governmental units for election activities passed the Michigan House of Representatives yesterday and now heads to the senate. HB 4878 would allow a city or township clerk to enter into a written contract with the county or another [...]

The Michigan Municipal League needs your help TODAY in opposing a bill that would further limit when you can place new millage questions on the ballot. This bill is a complete infringement on the control of local communities like yours. Please contact your state Representatives today and the lawmakers listed [...]

Last week the House passed 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 district where the police chief is serving as interim city manager. Under the current statute this is permissible [...]

SBs 21 and 22, bills dealing with historic preservation of DDA owned properties, passed out of committee last week.  The bills require a DDA to submit proposed changes to the exterior of a DDA owned historic property that is on either the State Register of Historic Sites or the National [...]

The joint House and Senate Conference Committee on the budget is having hearings to negotiate the 2014 federal budget. The deadline to reach an agreement is December 13. However, as has been the case all year, significant differences remain between House Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Chairwoman Patty Murray [...]

CALL MISS-DIG. Under the legislation passed unanimously yesterday by the House, a local unit of government faces penalties if they do not call the MISS-DIG system when beginning a project that involves digging. If a local unit does call MISS-DIG there is no liability. This morning the House Energy and [...]

Over the past few weeks many members have received a letter from the Michigan Department of Transportation about complying with section 18j of Public Act 51 (MCL 247.668j). A copy of the letter can be found here. Act 51 Letter The League became aware of this letter when a member [...]

The House Elections and Ethics committee took up a package of bills to limit when new elections could be placed on the ballot yesterday.  HB 4887 (Rep. Dan Lauwers) is among the package (including HB 5115-5116 dealing with schools sponsored by Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons) and would only allow local [...]

Yesterday the Senate Government Operations Committee considered SJR V, a joint resolution that would petition the Congress of the United States to call a convention of the states for the limited purpose of proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a balanced budget, in the absence of a national [...]