HB 4118:  Allows lands owned or controlled by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to be subject to levies for drain assessments.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schuette (R)                    

Passage:  104-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: By amending the statute to require DNR-owned lands to contribute to drain assessments, we can directly assist in alleviating this financial burden.

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BILL PACKAGE SBs 99-100:  Personal financial disclosure changes

Sponsors:  Reps. Moss (D) & McBroom (R)                       

SB 99 Passage:  104-2 with Immediate Effect

SB 100 Passage:  105-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: We should make it as easy as possible to comply with the law, and these bills take an important step in that direction by allowing email filing and requiring the forms to be made available well in advance.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4103-4104:  Enter Michigan into the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to allow for the privilege to practice in member states under the compact and state requirements.

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

Passages:  104-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This will help all license holders be able to practice in multiple states without having to become licensed through each states individual process.

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HB 4076:  Would require labeling on food packages that products sold as artificial meat are labeled as such.

Sponsor:  Rep. Neyer (R)                           

Passage:  99-7 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Under the USDA, beef undergoes a rigorous inspection and labeling process, but plant-based protein products that mimic beef and are sometimes labeled as beef and are overseen by the FDA instead. These products are not held to the same food safety and labeling standards as beef.

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HB 4276:  Removes the minimum inventory requirement for gas stations that sell liquor.

Sponsor:  Rep. Snyder (R)                         

Passage:  106-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This requirement only applies to motor fuel retailers, not traditional liquor stores. Removing this requirement provides consistency among license holders.

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HB 4309:  Amends the Public Health Code to enter Michigan into the Physician Assistants Licensure Compact to allow physician assistants to practice in states other than Michigan with a compact privilege and conversely allows PAs in other states that are part of the compact to practice in Michigan.

Sponsor:  Rep. Prestin (R)                        

Passage:  103-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: With the continuous need for healthcare workers, the PA Compact may assist in closing the gap by allowing PAs to practice across borders more easily and simplify providing telemedicine.

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HB 4222:  Requires schools to review and update their emergency operations plans every three years and form school crisis teams.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schmaltz (R)                   

Passage:  80-26 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: It’s important that school emergency operations plans include information on new school safety technology.

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HB 4226:  Adds an additional school lockdown drill and requires at least one lockdown drill be conducted during lunch, recess, or school assembly and at least one lockdown drill while students are in between classes.

Sponsor:  Rep. Linting (R)                         

Passage:  81-25 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The bill meets the need for more school safety instruction for students while keeping the same overall number of drills schools must conduct in a school year.

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HB 4225:  Requires schools to include the contact information for OK2SAY on student identification cards.

Sponsor:  Rep. Steele (R)                          

Passage:  99-7 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The bill treats all students the same by providing them necessary contact information for suicide prevention and OK2SAY.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4258-4259 & 4229:  School Safety Package – requires the Department of State Police to notify the affected school district within 24 hours of receiving the tip and provide quarterly reports of tips to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission.

Sponsors:  Reps. Rigas (R), Steckloff (D), & Neeley (D)                               

HBs 4258 & 4229 Passages:  101-5 with Immediate Effect

HB 4259 Passage:  100-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Tip reporting is one of many preventative measures to reduce threats to students and communities.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4223 & 4315:  Provides for school safety and security training for school resource officers, school safety or security personnel, and all school staff.

Sponsors:  Reps. Harris (R) & Pavlov (R)                            

HB 4223 Passage:  85-21 with Immediate Effect

HB 4315 Passage:  82-24 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: It is important that the state has uniform training for school resource officers, school safety and security personnel, and all school staff.

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HB 4392:  Funds the most recent list of approved projects providing $41.8 million for 17 land acquisition and 68 recreational development projects supported with revenues from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF). The MNRTF Board approved these projects in December 2024. The committee amended the bill to prohibit any awarded projects to add utility scale wind or solar.

Sponsor:  Rep. Borton (R)                         

Passage:  104-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Support of Natural Resource Trust Fund projects with restricted funds improves recreational and wildlife opportunities throughout the state, including grants in aid to local governments.

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HB 4350:  Creates an exception within the Natural Resources Commission’s (NRC) prohibition on deer and elk baiting for hunting, by allowing an individual to engage in feeding of wildlife and birds under certain conditions.

Sponsor:  Rep. Borton (R)                         

Passage:  82-24 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Feeding and baiting bans cause severe stress on local communities that rely on wildlife and hunting as a large part of their economy, and they should not be enacted taking this into account.

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HB 4090:  Allows the state to convey the Detroit Detention Center to the City of Detroit.

Sponsor:  Rep. Farhat (R)                          

Passage:  104-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: MDOC should not be staffing a City of Detroit facility.

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HB 4201:  Allows state corrections officers to exempt their retirement and pension benefits from the state income tax.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schmaltz (R)                   

Passage:  102-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The Michigan Department of Corrections is currently going through an employee shortage, and the prospect of tax-free retirement income could help attract more employees.