Last week the legislature adjourned until September.  There are a few tentative days scheduled in July and August but, as of now, there will be no voting and no attendance taken on those days. The legislature broke without voting on…

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Andy Schor, HB 4478, passed the full house on Thursday that would allow a person who is unable to write or who cannot sign a signature due to a physical disability to use a signature stamp on election…

This morning the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4622 and 4793, bills that make some procedural changes to the Michigan Drain Code. More specifically HB 4622 would modify the procedures for changing the boundaries of county…

Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee held testimony on HB 4785, a bill that would increase existing fees for licensing EMS personnel, vehicles and operations. This bill is part of the FY 2014 budget agreement, and the total increase anticipated (just…

This morning the Senate unanimously passed HB 4743 a bill providing more local control on the use of fireworks passed the House following significant complaints from local units of government after last July 4. The bill would require retail locations to…

Today the House passed SB 79, a bill to allow small wine makers (making less than 5,000 gallons of wine per year) to sell and provide tastings at local farmers markets.  A new “farmers market permit” is created that the…

This morning the House Regulatory Reform Committee continued hearing testimony on a package of legislation that would crack down on scrap metal dealers to limit scrap metal theft. House Bills 4593-95 were introduced to the committee. The bills seek to…

If you are looking to enhance your farmers market or know of someone looking to start a food truck business, be sure to touch base with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as they have created two new programs to assist…

HB 4629 passed out the full House today.  This bill was created in most part to deal with issues that were presented to MDOT from a federal audit done on the Highway Advertising Act. If these issues (definition for digital…