This bill proposes renaming a specific section of Interstate 75 in Wayne County to honor Motor Carrier Officer Daniel M. Kerstetter. The designated stretch of road runs from Northline Road northward to London Avenue. By amending the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, the legislation formally establishes this new name for the roadway. The change directly affects the state's transportation records and signage along that portion of the highway.
This bill creates a new Office of Small Business Growth within the Michigan Strategic Fund to support businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The office will be led by a governor-appointed administrator who is responsible for coordinating state resources, providing technical assistance, and launching a one-stop website to help entrepreneurs navigate regulations and access funding. Key duties include facilitating job creation, streamlining business processes, and conducting outreach to inform small business owners about available programs and services. The office must also collect data on its activities and submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature.
This bill proposes to allow the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to establish the first official hunting and trapping seasons for gray wolves statewide. It authorizes the commission to create these seasons within 90 days of certain related laws becoming active, aiming to manage wolf populations and reduce conflicts with humans and livestock. The legislation directly affects hunters, trappers, and wildlife managers by setting the legal framework for future wolf harvests. However, the bill includes a condition that it will not take effect unless a separate companion bill regarding wolf management is also passed by the legislature.
This bill requires Michigan high schools to mandate a one-semester civics course and eventually require students to pass the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization test to earn graduation credit. It directs the state to update social studies curriculum standards and assessments to align with the current naturalization test questions by May 2018. The law applies to all public and nonpublic schools but includes exemptions for students with specific educational needs or those in military service.
HB 6021 amends Michigan's Skilled Trades Regulation Act to update rules for licensing, fees, and enforcement across various trades. The bill clarifies that the state department must set specific fees for licenses and permits and introduces a mechanism for issuing license verification documents upon request. It also establishes stricter penalties for unlicensed practice, including higher fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders, while adding provisions to stop illegal construction immediately. Additionally, the legislation increases application fees to three times the standard amount for individuals previously convicted of license violations and imposes a three-year ban on reapplying for those who fraudulently use license cards.
This bill requires operators of large-scale solar energy facilities in Michigan, defined as those with 50 megawatts or more of capacity, to implement cybersecurity measures to protect safety-critical systems. The law mandates that these facilities follow a risk-based security program aligned with national standards and report material cyber incidents to state and local authorities within 24 to 72 hours. Operators must also maintain incident response plans for coordinating with emergency responders, while specific security details remain confidential and are exempt from public disclosure. The legislation does not regulate facility siting, create new regulatory oversight, or impose additional costs on local governments, and it allows facilities to use existing staff to meet compliance requirements.
HB 6006 amends Michigan's general property tax act to clarify that retail sales and food processing operations are excluded from the personal property tax exemption for agricultural operations. This change ensures that only property directly used in farming activities, such as livestock raising or crop cultivation, remains exempt, while equipment used for selling goods or processing food becomes taxable. The bill also retains specific exemptions for various entities, including charitable organizations, libraries, veterans' groups, and households, while adding detailed requirements for methane digester exemptions on farms.
This bill modifies Michigan's election laws to change how candidates for secretary of state and attorney general are nominated by political parties. Starting in 2027, these offices will no longer be filled solely through party conventions; instead, parties must hold a general primary election in August, and candidates can also run by gathering signatures on nominating petitions from voters across at least half of the state's congressional districts. The legislation also adjusts the timeline for candidate withdrawals, making it more difficult for nominees for secretary of state or attorney general to drop out after filing their petitions. These changes directly affect political parties, election officials, and voters who wish to participate in the selection process for these specific statewide offices.
HB 6015 amends the Michigan Strategic Fund Act to require the fund to include small businesses in its allowable uses of money. The bill mandates that the fund submit detailed annual reports to state officials and the public, which must list recipients of financial assistance and provide specific data on jobs created, salaries, and project outcomes. Additionally, the legislation requires the fund to report on the status of all loans, bankruptcy notices for major recipients, and administrative costs, while also making annual audits publicly available.
This bill requires health insurers in Michigan to treat the closure or removal of a health system from their network as a qualifying event for a special enrollment period. Under this rule, individuals who lose access to their current doctors or hospitals due to these changes would be allowed to sign up for new health insurance plans outside of the usual annual open enrollment window. The legislation defines a "health system" broadly to include hospitals, physician practices, and other related care facilities that operate under common ownership or control. By codifying this requirement, the bill aims to ensure that people can maintain continuous coverage when their existing healthcare options are no longer available.
This Senate resolution asks the U.S. Congress to propose a constitutional amendment allowing states and Congress to set reasonable limits on election spending. The proposed change would permit lawmakers to distinguish between individual voters and artificial entities like corporations, unions, and artificial intelligence when regulating money in elections. By seeking a constitutional amendment, the bill aims to clarify that such spending restrictions are permissible under the U.S. Constitution. If passed, this measure would directly affect how election finance laws are written and enforced at both state and federal levels.
This bill establishes a new Provider Advisory Council to review contracts between the state department and child care organizations. The council will consist of 7 to 11 members representing different geographic regions of Michigan, with at least one nonvoting member from a professional membership association. Key provisions require the department to submit proposed contracts to the council for review at least 120 days before signing, allowing the council to issue recommendations on rates, services, and other terms. The bill also includes ethics requirements for council members, including conflict of interest disclosures and recusal rules, with penalties for violations.
