Inside 208

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee reported House Bill 4237, a bill that would open state police communications towers to colocation for broadband expansion. As introduced this legislation would allow both public and private entities to colocate for the purpose of broadband expansion; however, a substitute passed by [...]

This morning the House Local Government Committee reported Senate Bill 313 sponsored by Senator Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc) that would drastically change the way municipal rental inspection programs operate. The bill would lower revenue that programs collect and provide additional barriers to entry when attempting to inspect a tenants property.The [...]

This morning the House Local Government Committee reported Senate Bill 1125, legislation that would Public Act 215 of 1937, which authorizes municipalities to own or control cemetery or burial grounds. The bill would allow a municipality to establish an endowment and perpetual care fund for a municipally owned cemetery as [...]

This morning the House Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 307, a bill introduced Senator Steve Bieda (D-Warren) that removes population thresholds for communities who want to use a police and fire special assessment as a revenue option. The committee did amend the legislation so that it has a 10-year [...]

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 493, legislation dealing with amateur radio operations.  As it was introduced, it had a significant impact on local control and zoning.  However, through a work group process, the bill was made significantly better in the Senate-passed version and [...]

This afternoon the Senate Economic Development Committee reported two bills, SB 658 and SB 659, that would require that a sales tax be added on to purchases made by retailers who have a so-called “nexus” within the state. These bills are more commonly known as the Main Street Fairness legislation. [...]

This afternoon the Senate Finance Committee reported House Bill 5182, legislation that would allow the State Tax Commission to grant a local property tax exemption for qualified housing organizations (namely Habitat for Humanity). The bill as substituted would say an exemption is in effect for the lesser of 5 years [...]

This morning the House Tax Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bill 5838, a bill that would exempt qualified sportsmen’s clubs from property taxes. In order to qualify for the exemption, the facilities of these qualified organizations must be available to the public for charitable, nonprofit purposes on at least [...]

The Michigan Municipal League sent to the media this week a series of letters to the editor to encourage the state House to approve the transportation funding package passed in the Senate on Nov. 13. The House is considering a couple different transportation funding options and we want the state [...]

This afternoon the Senate Energy & Technology Committee reported House Bill 5397, a bill creating the Municipal Utility Residential Clean Energy Program Act.  This would enable municipalities that own electric utilities to establish a program to help provide financing to residential property owners for energy efficiency projects. This is modeled [...]