Inside 208

The Michigan House of Representative, by a unanimous vote of 110-0, sent HB 5073 to the Senate. This bill would allow MDOT to approved angled parking on state trunklines at the request of a local municipality. The Michigan Municipal League would like to thank Rep. Peter Pettalia for sponsoring this [...]

The package of blight bills related to communities who have administrative hearings bureaus, SB 35-39, passed the full House of Representatives today.  An amendment was added on the house floor from Rep. Banks (D-Grosse Pointe Woods) that would state any property holding a principal residence exemption containing blight violations would not be [...]

Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee reported Senate Bill 536, a bill that would allow local units of government to exempt an “eligible economic development group” from property taxes for a period of five to seven years. In order to receive this abatement a local unit must pass a resolution allowing [...]

The House Regulatory Reform Committee passed out of committee HB 4257 (Denby, R-Fowlerville), a reintroduction from last session.  This bill amends the Michigan liquor control code dealing with redevelopment liquor licenses. According to a recent determination by the Liquor Control Commission, only businesses in cities are eligible for redevelopment liquor licenses.  This determination [...]

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 [...]