Inside 208

This afternoon the Senate Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bills 1123 and 1124, legislation that would prohibit a wind turbine that properly complies with local zoning and siting regulations from being a nuisance. The legislation would also allow an action for a nuisance based on a wind [...]

This afternoon the House Oversight Committee heard testimony on House Bill 5599, legislation that would exempt elected officials from the requirement to pay a fee for information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) if the information is obtained in furtherance of their duties as elected officials. The League [...]

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee reported House Bill 5205, legislation that amends the definition of “renewable energy” to include fuel from municipal solid waste. The League has concerns about this legislation and the narrow amendment to the Clean, Renewable and Energy Efficient Act. We would prefer to [...]

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on 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 [...]

Just a reminder that accountability and transparency certifications are due to the Department of Treasury by December 1, 2014. You’ll recall that this is the only requirement remaining from the old EVIP program. To meet the requirements for Accountability & Transparency under the revenue sharing program, eligible local units must [...]

Yesterday the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on  Senate Bill 979 (sponsored by Sen. Hildenbrand, R-Grand Rapids), a bill to include pneumatic guns (i.e. paint ball guns) in the list of pistols or other firearms that local units of government currently cannot tax, regulate ownership of, registration of, sale/transfer/possession and transportation [...]

Yesterday afternoon the Senate passed Senate Bills 1038, 1039 and 1040, bills that make changes to the tax appeal process and the Michigan Tax Tribunal Act. The League has a lot of concerns regarding the way the Tax Tribunal has been valuing property and the losses sustained by our local [...]

This morning, the House Local Government Committee reported House Bill 5560, legislation that would phase out the newspaper publication requirement for public notices and transition the notices to the Internet. HB 5560 creates a tiered system for legal notices and phases them out over time. The legislation is vague, but [...]

The legislature is one again considering cancer presumption legislation. After being vetoed by Governor Engler in 1998 cancer presumption has returned in some form each legislative session. This morning the House Insurance Committee heard testimony Senate Bill 211, a bill that creates a cancer presumption for firefighters. It is presumed [...]

This morning the House Financial Liabilities Reform Committee heard testimony on House Bill 5650, legislation that would amend the Revised Municipal Finance Act to provide for a statutory first lien on all taxes subject to an unlimited tax pledge for a municipal security authorized or issued before December 23, 1978, [...]