Inside 208

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 anything regarding future transportation funding.  This will continue to be [...]

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 documents (voter applications, absentee ballots, absentee envelopes, etc).  Currently, the [...]

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 drainage districts. It would modify the process by eliminating boards [...]

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 over $1 million) has been built into the FY 2014 [...]

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 post signs informing the public where to find the Fireworks [...]

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 small wine maker must obtain from the liquor control commission.  [...]

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 close “loopholes” in the current scrap metal laws by requiring [...]

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 with these very activities. The Mobile Cuisine Startup Program is [...]

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 billboards, definition for non-conforming billboard, etc) are not address, the [...]

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 opposition to the bills. The substitute for HB 4001 (HB [...]