This bill, known as the Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act, prohibits the installation and operation of cryptocurrency kiosks in Michigan. It defines these kiosks as electronic terminals that allow users to buy, sell, or exchange digital currencies for traditional money. The law applies to all individuals and businesses, preventing them from setting up or allowing these terminals on any property they own or control. Violations of the ban result in civil fines ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 for a first offense and $5,000 to $10,000 for subsequent offenses.
This bill, known as the Dark Store Prevention Act, allows Michigan cities, villages, and townships to legally remove private deed restrictions on vacant commercial properties. To proceed, a local government must prove the property is in a retail zone, has been empty for at least two years, and is considered blighted after holding a public hearing. If these conditions are met, the local government can file a lawsuit to have a court officially strike the restrictive clauses from the property's deed. The measure directly affects local officials seeking to clear abandoned retail spaces and property owners whose land is subject to such covenants.
This bill requires firearms dealers in Michigan to implement stricter security measures for storing and selling guns, including locking firearms and ammunition in secure cases when not directly supervised by sales staff. It mandates video surveillance systems that record customer facial features, requires annual inventory checks, and demands criminal background checks for employees who handle firearms. Dealers must also report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours and allow law enforcement inspections of their premises. Violations of these new requirements can result in civil fines of up to $1,000.
This bill requires firearm dealers in Michigan to obtain a state license for each location where they sell guns, with a $250 application fee and annual renewal costs. To qualify, dealers must hold a federal firearms license, have local government permits, and ensure all employees handling firearms are at least 21 years old with no criminal history related to violence or theft. The law mandates annual training for dealers and staff covering topics like recognizing illegal purchases, preventing theft, and firearm safety, with a passing score of 70% on a written exam. Licenses are non-transferable, must be displayed at the business, and expire annually, with the department able to deny or revoke them for violations or recordkeeping failures.
SB 711 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to update the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's authority over water pollution rules. It removes a 2006 deadline for the department to stop creating new rules, clarifies that rules made before 2007 remain valid unless rescinded, and maintains the department's existing role in enforcing water pollution controls. The bill directly affects the department's administrative procedures, not businesses or residents. It makes no new environmental requirements or funding changes, only clarifying how the department manages its existing rulemaking authority.
This bill proposes to make defecating in public places, such as streets, sidewalks, and parks, a misdemeanor offense in Michigan. It directly affects individuals who use public areas for bathroom needs outside of designated sanitary facilities. The law sets penalties of up to 60 days in jail and a $250 fine for standard violations, while increasing the maximum jail time to 90 days and the fine to $500 if the incident occurs near a gathering of ten or more people. The definition of a public place includes any area open to the general public in publicly owned buildings or businesses. The changes would take effect 90 days after the bill is officially signed into law.
HB 5959 modifies Michigan's vehicle code to increase penalties for drivers who commit moving violations that result in death or serious injury to others. For incidents causing serious impairment, the bill raises the maximum fine for first-time offenders to $750 and for repeat offenders to $1,000, while also mandating a one-year restricted license and completion of a driver improvement course. Additionally, if a driver receives a second conviction for such an offense within seven years, their license will be suspended for two years without eligibility for a restricted license. These changes apply to any traffic violation that causes significant harm and aim to impose stricter consequences on drivers responsible for severe accidents.
This bill updates Michigan's home rule village act to clarify and streamline the procedures for villages to approve annexation petitions. It establishes three specific ways to initiate an annexation: a petition from landowners, a petition from 20% of residents in the proposed area, or a resolution by the village's governing body. The legislation also modifies requirements for gathering signatures and conducting population counts, ensuring that the process accounts for subdivided land and uninhabited districts. By adding a new section and revising existing ones, the bill aims to create a more consistent framework for how villages can expand their boundaries.
This bill amends the Michigan State Boundary Commission's authority to include jurisdiction over annexation petitions for specific types of municipalities, such as home rule cities and villages. It directly affects local governments by expanding the commission's legal scope to review annexation requests under existing home rule and village acts. The legislation does not take effect unless two related companion bills are also passed into law.
HB 5963 modifies Michigan's laws to clarify and strengthen exemptions from civil arrest for specific groups of people. The bill protects legislators, women, minors under 16, attorneys, witnesses, jurors, and individuals traveling to or from criminal proceedings in other states from being arrested on civil matters while performing their duties or traveling. It also states that any civil arrest made against these protected individuals is automatically invalid and allows courts to release them immediately.
This bill creates a new "Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund" within the state treasury to support disaster recovery efforts. It authorizes the state treasurer to deposit federal disaster relief funds and other assets into this fund, which will be invested to generate interest that remains in the fund rather than being returned to the general budget. The designated department will manage the fund, using its resources only to cover administrative costs, while allowing political subdivisions and recognized tribes to borrow money from it for disaster-related expenses under existing federal guidelines.
HB 5971 establishes the Language Assistance for Elections Act, which requires Michigan local governments to provide election materials in languages other than English if their voting-eligible population meets specific thresholds based on the number and percentage of residents with limited English proficiency. The bill mandates that these materials, including ballots and signage, be translated by certified translators rather than relying solely on automatic translation services, and it outlines requirements for updating voting technology to display translated ballots. Additionally, the legislation creates a Language Access Advisory Council to guide these efforts and instructs the Secretary of State to publish annual lists of local governments and languages requiring assistance.
