Inside 208

The Michigan House of Representatives has passed SB 972, which now goes back to the Senate for concurrence then will go to the Governor for his signature. Earlier in the year, the League testified in opposition to SB 972, a bill that would require locals report past due tax amounts...

As the debate over how to reduce the deficit continues, tax expenditures—including the federal exemption for municipal bonds—are going to be on the table.  Please contact your congressional delegation and let them know how important this exemption is for communities. Several deficit reduction proposals, including Simpson-Bowles, either cap or eliminate...

MSHDA has passed along information to the League and our members about a new grant program from MDOT called the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).  The program uses federal transportation funds for activities that enhance the intermodal transportation system and provide safe alternative transportation options.  Some eligible activities that could be...

New Emergency Manager legislation passed the House Local, Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs Committee today. The new language was substituted into SB 865, which passed the Senate last year. The brand new language was just made available to legislators and interested parties. The new legislation would allow struggling local governments to have...

The Senate Local Government Committee passed SB 1244 on a 3-0 vote. This bill prohibits 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 unless they make certain...

The House of Representatives passed SB 1291 and 1292, bills that would provide for regulation of a new product on the market that allows any web access device to be used to remotely control security and other devices (heater/air conditioner, etc) in a home or business.  While the senate passed...

LANSING, Michigan – Ignoring pleas from the Michigan Municipal League and other organizations to slow down, the House Tax Policy Committee today pressed forward during this lame duck session to repeal the personal property tax. And now the League needs help from our members and the general public as the...

The House Regulatory Committee is considering SB 713, which loosens the regulation for pawn resale shops. This bill would take the regulation of this industry, which either unintentionally or intentionally deals in stolen property, out of the hands of local governments who are responsible for the health, safety and well-being...

The House Transportation Committee passed legislation that would create a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in Southeast Michigan. The bills passed were SB 909, 911, 912 and SB 967. These bills create the structure for the RTA in southeast Michigan, and will allow Michigan to bring in millions in federal transit dollars....

The Michigan House passed a package of election reform bills dealing with recall of elected officials (House Bills 6058-6053). The changes include: – 6058 – bar the circulation of a recall petition until the county election commission had determined it had sufficient clarity– 6059 – changing from deciding whether or...