Inside 208

This afternoon the Senate reported Senate Bill 636, a bill that would give phone companies the ability to transition from traditional land lines to internet-based service beginning January 1, 2017. The bill would amend the Michigan Telecommunications Act to do make a number of changes including eliminating a requirement for [...]

HB 4996, the crowdfunding legislation, is one step further in becoming law after the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions committee unanimously passed it out today!  It now moves to the Senate floor for full passage.  We are one step closer to assisting a segment of our economy that will prove to [...]

Earlier this week the House Tax Policy Committee passed House Bill 4810, a bill that tweaks the principal residence exemption (PRE) for certain seniors in assisted living. Public Act 324 of 2012 amended the General Property Tax Act to allow a person who previously occupied a property as a principal [...]

This week the House Tax Policy Committee reported House Bill 4406, a bill that would amend the General Property Tax Act to provide that interest could not be charged when the Hearings Division of the Department of Treasury is considering an appeal for a denial of a principal residence exemption [...]

Earlier this week the Senate Energy and Technology Committee reported Senate Bill 636, a bill that would give phone companies the ability to transition from traditional land lines to internet-based service beginning January 1, 2017. The bill would amend the Michigan Telecommunications Act to do make a number of changes [...]

The Michigan Municipal League issued the following media statement regarding a U.S. Bankruptcy Court ruling Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, in the city of Detroit bankruptcy case. The statement was by Utica Mayor and Michigan Municipal League President Jacqueline Noonan: “The ruling is a stark reminder and affirmation of the critical [...]

HB 4887, a bill limiting when new millages can be placed on local ballots, will likely see another committee hearing next week with the potential of being voted on as well. A big thank you to all of you who responded to the action alert and contacted your legislator and those on the [...]

Some optimism is coming out of Washington DC that House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) are making progress on talks to negotiate federal budget changes before their self-imposed December 13th deadline. If nothing changes, a new set of sequestration cuts to the tune [...]

The legislature has been out the last two weeks in November for their in district work period and the Thanksgiving holiday.  They will be back in session beginning the week of December 2.  We expect two final weeks of legislative session before they break for the holidays. Samantha Harkins is [...]

Contact your Senator to voice concerns regarding House Bill 4121, a bill that as passed would allow local units of government to exempt property purchased from a school district from real property taxes for five years. The legislation would automatically exempt these properties unless the local unit of government passes [...]