Inside 208

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 the full House. The bills are all very similar and...

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 for local governments, representing a  $10.8 million increase. In the...

This morning the House Regulatory Reform Committee began 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 close “loopholes” in the current scrap metal laws by requiring...

In 2011 the legislature passed PA 152 which mandated a local unit of government either be under hard cap amounts for health care, institute an 80/20 cost sharing arrangement or opt out with 2/3 vote of the governing body.  In recent months the Department of Treasury has issued a new...

This morning the House Tax Policy Committee passed several bills that would exempt the “tax on the difference” of motor vehicle and watercraft sales. Michigan has reciprocal agreements with a number of states whereby Michigan and the reciprocal state each collect and retain sales tax on vehicles purchased in their...

The budget agreement reached yesterday by the House and Senate includes more flexible language for the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP). The language is viewable in the budget bill beginning on page 121. The new EVIP language expands eligibility for EVIP grant projects to include those projects in which a...

This afternoon 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. HB 4743 passed with only one no vote. The bill would require retail locations to post signs informing the public where to find...

The Community Revitalization and Business Attraction program will see a $20 million dollar increase for fiscal year 2013-2014, for a grand total of $120 million in the pot.  The governor recommended the $20 million increase, while the Senate recommended a $10 million increase and the House recommended a decrease.  The...

State lawmakers are finally beginning the process of restoring more than a decade of cuts to Michigan communities. Thanks to the urging of Michigan Municipal League members in recent days, the state’s conference committee this morning approved a 2014 state budget agreement that includes a 4.8% increase in statutory revenue...

This morning the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. The League testified about the need for local control and clarity in the Act. We were joined by two city attorneys, Clyde Robinson (Kalamazoo) and Stephen Postema (Ann Arbor) who detailed how those cities have...