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…

This week the House Oversight committee heard testimony on HB 4001 and HB 4314.  Committee started late because session ran late so there was a shortened time frame for testimony.  Mike Fisher, attorney for the city of Livonia, testified in…

The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee took up and passed unanimously 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…

This morning the House Tax Policy Committee reported three bills that would create tax exemptions for disabled veterans. The committee voted out House Bill 4698, House Bill 4110 and Senate Bill 352, and these bills will not be considered by…

This morning the Senate approved the FY 2014 budget to send to the Governor for his signature. Thanks to the urging of Michigan Municipal League members in recent weeks, the budget includes a 4.8 percent increase in statutory revenue sharing…