SB 40:  UIA Benefit Week Extension

Sponsor:  Sen. Wojno (D)                             

Passage:  58-51 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: These increases in weekly benefits will put a greater strain on the UIA Trust Fund leading to a greater chance of insolvency and required federal borrowing which took years to pay off the last time we borrowed.

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BILL PACKAGE SBs 962, 975-976 & 981:  UIA Reforms

Sponsors:  Sens. Cherry (D), Singh (D) & Cavanaugh (D)                  

Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: These changes will make it easier to get benefits as well as get out of having to pay back improperly paid benefits making the system less secure and sound in the long term.

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BILL PACKAGE SBs 353, 880-881 & HB 6075:  Michigan Energy Assistance Program reform package

Sponsors:  Sens. Klinefelt (D), Singh (D), Outman (D) & Rep. Scott (D)                       

SB 353 Passage:  57-50 with Immediate Effect

SB 880 Passage:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

SB 881 Passage:  58-49 with Immediate Effect

HB 6075 Passage:  58-51 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Throwing more money at energy assistance does nothing to address the root cause of a customer’s inability to pay their bills – high rates.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4095-4096, 5549, 5659-5660:  School safety terminology, threat assessment teams, and school safety commission revision

Sponsors:  Reps. Name (D)                          

HB 4095 Passage:  94-15 with Immediate Effect

HB 4096 Passage:  93-16 with Immediate Effect

HB 5549 Passage:  57-51 with Immediate Effect

HB 5659 & 5660 Passages:  89-19 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: This does nothing to address what some argue is the root cause of the violence – access to firearms.

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HB 6088:  Removes the ability of municipalities in Wayne County to opt out of Regional Public Transportation Authorities.

Sponsor:  Rep. Farhat (D)                             

Passage:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Municipalities opted out for a reason, and they should not be forced into a system they do not want to participate in.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4532 & 5368-5369:  Changes law for lead abatement in structures and Children’s Special Health Services.

Sponsors:  Reps. Hood (D), Rogers (D) & Whitsett (D)                      

Passages:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: These changes will lead to greater enforcement and potential delays for established housing stock as the department will begin enforcing EPA lead abatement requirements.

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HB 5788:  Would enact the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. This bill would address strategic lawsuits against public participation (“SLAPP”) lawsuits.

Sponsor:  Rep. Hood (D)               

Passage:  100-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill may argue that individuals’ First Amendment rights should be protected, and that the law should discourage lawsuits designed to silence individuals who petition their government for redress of grievances.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5882-5883:  Would allow for electronic signatures on certain legal documents by the signatories, witnesses, and notaries, even if the individuals never meet in person.

Sponsors:  Reps. Hood (D) & Scott (D)                    

HB 5882 Passage:  91-17 with Immediate Effect

HB 5883 Passage:  89-19 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents may argue that electronic signatures on legal documents have become commonplace, and that Michigan law should be adjusted to meet modern technological realities.

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HB 4924:  Would create the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. This bill deals with the inheritance of real property through intestate succession, which is when a person dies without a will or other estate planning document.

Sponsor:  Rep. Dievendorf (D)                    

Passage:  96-10 *Previous Bill

Why I voted YES: Proponents may argue that this uniform act creates a process that is more fair to a deceased person’s heirs and protects them against real-estate speculators.

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HB 5826:  Creates a new act to establish a doula scholarship program.

Sponsor:  Rep. Xiong (D)                              

Passage:  56-51 *Previous Bill

Why I voted NO: This is unnecessary and can already be done through an appropriation in the budget process. Additionally, there isn’t sufficient information required under the bill to determine financial hardship.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5834-5835:  Would prohibit the manufacture, creation, delivery, possession, or possession with intent to deliver Xylazine for illicit use. Xylazine is essentially a horse tranquilizer.

Sponsor:  Rep. Breen (D)                              

HB 5834 Passage:  99-8 with Immediate Effect

HB 5835 Passage:  99-9 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill may argue that the criminal laws of this state must continually adjust to respond to emerging drugs that result in death when used improperly.

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HB 5654:  Would require the Department of Management and Budget to use a Quality Based Selection (QBS) when reviewing architectural or engineering services. Qualified firms would be ranked based on their qualifications and the department would be required to negotiate with the highest ranked firm first.

Sponsor:  Rep. O’Neal (D)                            

Passage:  70-38 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Requiring the department to negotiate with a single firm first removes a powerful negotiation tool that could help save the state money.

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HB 5956:  Would prohibit insurers from discriminating against health professionals acting within their scope of practice from participating in the health insurance policy.

Sponsor:  Rep. B. Carter (D)                        

Passage:  57-51 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: The federal guidelines on this issue are under “rules” rather than the US Code, and could be subject to change in the future. If more comprehensive or suitable guidelines were released on this subject in the future, Michigan would have to rewrite statute if we wished to align ourselves with the changes.

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HB 5825:  Codifies the 80/20 rule

Sponsor:  Rep. Rogers (D)                            

Passage:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: The 80/20 rule disincentivizes insurers from spending more than 80% of premium dollars on patient centered expenses. It’s foreseeable that if administrative costs were down in a given year, insurers may spend more than what would be required under this rule.

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HB 5998:  Amends the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act by adding that sworn statements in a child-custody proceeding must be verified pursuant to Michigan Court rules.

Sponsor:  Rep. Young (D)                             

Passage:  98-10 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: By having verified statements pursuant to Michigan court rules, an individual would be guilty of perjury, which might help ensure honest statements are made in child-custody cases.

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HB 6025:  Amends the Guardianship Assistance Act by amending the eligibility for receiving guardianship assistance on the behalf of an eligible child.

Sponsor:  Rep. Young (D)                             

Passage:  100-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This helps to have child under the GAP program to be with relatives which might help create a better environment for the child to be in. This allows relatives of a child to receive funding in the program without having to go through process of becoming a foster parent.

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HB 5431:  Would rewrite the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act (WICA) to make it easier for individuals to sue and collect monetary damages from the state of Michigan. The bill also contains a revival of claims, for an 18-month period after the bill’s effective date, during which individuals may bring a claim if they qualify for an award under the bill’s new criteria.

Sponsor:  Rep. Andrews (D)                        

Passage:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Opponents of the bill may argue that the bill creates a system that provides a second bite at an appeal, while the current system protects the integrity of the criminal appeal process by limiting monetary recovery to cases in which new evidence results in the individual being released from prison.

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HB 5786:  Amends the Occupational code by lowering the minimum required hours from 1,800 to 1,500 hours of course study at a licensed barber college and as an apprentice in a barber apprenticeship program.

Sponsor:  Rep. Churches (D)                       

Passage:  105-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Michigan would compete with other states to attract barbers without compromising quality services and talent; most states require less hours than Michigan for licensure.

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HB 4860:  Would alter how a charter township board member abstains from a vote due to having a conflict of interest with the question before the body.

Sponsor:  Rep. Mentzer (D)                         

Passage:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Legislation should be pushed to simply allow charter townships to create their own conflict of interest policy, as is allowed with non-charter townships and cities instead of changing state law for this one unique problem.

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HB 5271:  Would expand the post-conviction testing of DNA evidence. The new bill will make persons eligible for state-paid DNA testing even if they pled guilty, and even after they have been released from prison.

Sponsor:  Rep. Hope (D)               

Passage:  56-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Opponents of this bill may argue that loosening the standards for granting DNA testing technology does a disservice to the system of trial-by-jury, by implying that juries routinely convict innocent persons.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5741-5743:  HB 5741 would amend the Revised School Code at MCL 380.1170a to add requirements to the model core academic curriculum for health education. The Stop the Bleed curriculum would become mandatory. HB 5742 would state that health clubs are not required to render emergency aid, and would state that this section of law has no impact on the Good Samaritan provisions. HB 5743 provides protection from liability for a Good Samaritan who attempts to save another person’s life by applying bleeding control techniques.

Sponsors:  Reps. Harris (R), Prestin (D) & Rheingans (D)                  

HB 5741 Passage:  97-12 with Immediate Effect

HB 5742 Passage:  99-10 with Immediate Effect

HB 5743 Passage:  105-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO on HBs 5741-5742: The state should not add yet another mandatory requirement to the model core academic curriculum for high schoolers.

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HB 5945:  Amends PA 51 by creating the Local Agency Disaster Relief Board Fund and the Local Agency Disaster Relief Program.

Sponsor:  Rep. Shannon (D)                        

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: There are already programs available to assist in the construction or repair of local roads or bridges in the event of a disaster. This is a redundant program that is unnecessary and just creates an additional growth of government.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5836-5840:  Would make a number of changes to Michigan law regarding human trafficking prosecutions.

Sponsors:  Reps. Breen (D), Koleszar (D), Glanville (D), Miller (D) & Fitzgerald (D)                 

HB 5836 Passage:  57-52 with Immediate Effect

HBs 5837 & 5838 Passages:  58-51 with Immediate Effect

HB 5838 Passage:  58-51 with Immediate Effect

HB 5839 Passage:  60-49 with Immediate Effect

HB 5840 Passage:  61-48 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Opponents of the bill may argue that current law already contains sufficient protections for victims of human trafficking.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5841-5847, 5849-5854 & 5864:  HB 5841 would change the words “prostitute” or “prostitution” to instead refer to “commercial sexual activity.” HB 5842-5854 & 5864 would modify a number of different statutes to change the words “prostitute” or “prostitution”, to instead refer to “commercial sexual activity.”

Sponsors:  Reps. Xiong (D), T. Carter (D), Witwer (D), Hill (D), Steckloff (D), Hope (D), Wozniak (D), McFall (D), Mentzer (D), Johnsen (R), Edwards (D), Outman (D), Pohutsky (D), Paiz (D), & Brabec (D)                   

HB 5841-5846, 5849, 5851-5854 & 5864 Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

HB 5847 Passage:  58-51 with Immediate Effect

HB 5850 Passage:  59-50 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: The Legislature should not legalize prostitution by 16 and 17 year olds.

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BILL PACKAGE SBs 515-517:  Amend the rules of evidence that apply to human trafficking prosecutions

Sponsors:  Sens. Bayer (D), Schink (D) & Chang (D)                            

Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: The current law regarding these types of criminal prosecutions is sufficient, and that no change in law is required.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5985-5988:  Clarifies that retirement payments may go to special needs trusts

Sponsors:  Reps. Young (D), Hope (D), Hill (D), Carter (D) & Fitzgerald (D)                

HB 5985 & 5987 Passages:  90-19 with Immediate Effect

HB 5986 & 5988 Passages:  91-18 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: This provides special treatment for certain trusts or beneficiaries that others would not be able to take advantage of.

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HB 5695:  Would charge DHHS with applying to enroll Michigan in the ground emergency medical transport reimbursement program.

Sponsor:  Rep. McFall (D)                             

Passage:  69-40 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Not all service providers qualify for these dollars, we should aim to find ways to improve reimbursement for all emergency service groups.

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HB 5022:  Modifies the deadline for a flow-through entity to pay taxes and submit information.

Sponsor:  Rep. Farhat (D)                             

Passage:  104-5 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This streamlines the election dates for taxpayers seeking to claim credits in the current tax year and prevents those claiming credits from having to wait until the next tax year.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 6052-6055:  Collectively would provide for the clean-up of numerous Proposal 22-2 provisions following the 2024 General Election.

Sponsor:  Rep. Tsernoglou (D)                    

Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Any election law “clean-up” legislation needs to include increased election integrity changes. Specifically, why are we not addressing the apparent flaw that allowed a Chinese student, who was not a US Citizen and therefore ineligible to vote, to cast a vote that was tabulated and unable to be reversed?

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HB 5816:  Would modify the timeline for which nine electors must be elected to a charter commission.

Sponsor:  Rep. Tsernoglou (D)                    

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: This allows way too much time to elapse between when the legislative body or its voters call for a city charter commission be created and when the commission members must be elected. It is common practice for these elections to happen simultaneously, which makes this bill moot.

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HB 5829:  Moves the administration of the Michigan Competitive Scholarship to MiLEAP and closes the scholarship to new college students.

Sponsor:  Rep. Steckloff (D)                        

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: This bill transfers a defunct program to an unconstitutional department.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 6099-6104 & 6106:  Captive Reform

Sponsors:  Reps. Tsernoglou (D), Scott (D), Young (D), Neyer (R), B. Carter (D) & Xiong (D)

HBs 6099 & 6101 Passages:  96-12 with Immediate Effect

HB 6100 Passage:  97-12 with Immediate Effect

HB 6102 Passage:  99-10 with Immediate Effect

HBs 6103-6104 Passages:  96-13 with Immediate Effect

HB 6106 Passage:  95-14 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Captives can allow for reduced overhead for the buyer, and easing regulation may incentivize more potential buyers to explore this option.

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BILL PACKAGE HB 5798-5801:  Would create the Money Transmission Modernization Act.

Sponsors:  Reps. Fitzgerald (D), Xiong (D), Neeley (D) & Tsernoglou (D)                    

Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Some of the regulatory powers granted within 5798 are quite expansive, and it is a mistake to give the Director of DIFS such latitude.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4757-4758:  Increases Retailers Liquor Discount & Limits License Renewal Review.

Sponsors:  Reps. Steckloff (D) & Filler (R)               

HB 4757 Passage:  101-5 with Immediate Effect

HB 4758 Passage:  103-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Increasing the discount will provide the opportunity for smaller retailers to be more competitive.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5428 & 5873:  HB 5428 would alter the current opt-in language for recreation passport fees that are included on vehicle registrations and make them mandatory, unless a registrant makes the effort to request a refund in writing to the DNR within 30 days. HB 5873 would adjust the formula for the uses of the revenue into the various uses when it reaches a certain threshold.

Sponsors:  Reps. Brixie (D) & Mentzer (D)                             

Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: By providing the opt out check box vs the current opt-in some people may inadvertently have to pay the increased fee when they do not want the Recreation Passport, particularly on every vehicle in their household.

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HB 6219:  Would provide recreation passports free of charge to Michigan residents that are honorably discharged military veterans or active-duty military.

Sponsor:  Rep. Mentzer (D)                         

Passage:  76-33 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Providing these free of charge would cause a negative fiscal impact to the state park improvement account.

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HB 5636:  Would create a licensure system with requirements and prohibitions for free standing birthing centers operated by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sponsor:  Rep. Name (D)                              

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: This is another additional licensing structure that only grows more government intervention into healthcare.

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HB 5964:  Eliminates the March 28, 2025, sunset on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Sponsor:  Rep. Conlin (D)                             

Passage:  105-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The legislature has already extended the sunset on this act once and removing the sunset will ensure that it remains in place permanently.

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HB 4547:  Increases the marriage license application fee to $50 for state residents and increases the additional non-resident fee to $25.

Sponsor:  Rep. Snyder (D)                            

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: If we are increasing the overall fee, why are we not increasing the amount counties must send to the circuit court for counseling services?

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HB 5938:  Requires that a health plan or nonprofit dental care corporation offering dental benefits provide methods or payment that reimburse dentists with 100 percent of the payable amount and require no fee to access the payment.

Sponsor:  Rep. MacDonell (D)                    

Passage:  80-29 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Insurers should not be dictated to on their choice or method of reimbursement.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5283-5284:  Health Information Exchange and Health Data Utility

Sponsors:  Reps. Rogers (D) & VanderWall (R)                     

HB 5283 Passage:  61-48 with Immediate Effect

HB 5284 Passage:  63-46 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Transition to a state HDU model is a newer concept and it may be advisable to collect data on other states that have already started the transition to ensure we get this right.

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HB 5616:  Requires that any unused portion of eye drops or eye ointments provided to a patient for an ophthalmic (eye) surgical procedure be offered to the patient on discharge under certain conditions.

Sponsor:  Rep. Steckloff (D)                        

Passage:  108-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Any patient that has already been prescribed and paid for medication necessary for their continued care after these procedures should be allowed to leave with it.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5371-5372:  HB 5371 amends the Social Welfare Act by requiring DHHS to develop a prospective payment system through Medicaid, for funding of certified community behavioral health clinics. HB 5372 amends the Social Welfare Act by prohibiting the state from implementing policies that would interfere with federal definitions or requirements for a certified community behavioral health clinic.

Sponsors:  Rep. Brabec (D) & Green (R)                  

HB 5371 Passage:  68-41 with Immediate Effect

HB 5372 Passage:  77-32 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: There is already a federal program, this is not needed at the state level.

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HB 5785:  Amends the Public Health Code by making changes to Limited License Psychologist requirements.

Sponsor:  Rep. Brabec (D)                            

Passage:  91-18 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: This could prevent additional growth, professional development, and guidance for LLPs if they are no longer required to have career long supervision.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 6144-6146:  Requires MSP to completely destroy guns obtained through buyback, seizure or other means.

Sponsors:  Reps. Brabec (D) & Price (D)                  

Passages:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Auctions already require MSP to ensure buyers are legally permitted to own the firearm they are attempting to purchase.

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HB 5174:  Requires the Michigan Department of Education to develop a model program of instruction that covers organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplant programs. Schools offering education at the 9th grade level must ensure the program is provided to students before they complete grade 9.

Sponsor:  Rep. Brabec (D)                            

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO: Our education system has enough required courses/programs for completion, and instructional time is precious – we should not be spending our students’ time on this sort of content.

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HB 4729:  Amends the Worker’s Disability Compensation Act to remove references to fully paid individuals and include part-time, on-call, volunteer and fire officers for purposes of claiming personal injury coverage.

Sponsor:  Rep. Snyder (D)                            

Passage:  56-53 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted NO:This legislation will open up additional claims to worker’s compensation. This could raise costs for all local units by increasing claims against their worker’s compensation.