This Michigan bill amends the Legislative Council Act to require state fiscal agencies in both the House and Senate to include specific estimates of costs for local governments in their financial analyses of bills. The new requirement mandates that these analyses detail the direct and indirect expenses local units of government would incur to comply with state laws or regulations created by the legislation. To ensure accuracy, the bill stipulates that these cost estimates must be developed in part through consultations with representatives from the affected local governments. These updated fiscal notes must be provided to committee clerks and made available to the public on the internet, with revisions required if the bill text changes.
Michigan House Bill 6270 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for the purchase of building materials used to construct new single-family homes or small multi-family dwellings with up to four units. This two-year benefit applies to both homeowners and construction companies, provided that a valid building permit is in place at the time of the material sale. The bill requires state officials to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing how many new homes were built, jobs created, and the impact on state tax revenue due to this exemption.
Michigan House Bill 6273 amends the state vehicle code to update rules regarding speed limits in school zones. The bill allows county road commissions to permanently lower a school zone speed limit to 25 miles per hour upon request from a school district, without requiring a new traffic study. It also clarifies that temporary reduced speed limits can be set up to 30 minutes before and after school sessions, with flexibility for superintendents to adjust these times based on specific schedules or off-campus lunch periods.
Michigan House Bill 6267 amends the state's social welfare act to establish strict deadlines and transparency requirements for the auditing of nursing home Medicaid cost reports. The bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services accept filed cost reports within 60 days and complete audits within 21 months, with a provision that uncompleted audits are automatically accepted as filed after this period expires. It also requires nursing homes to disclose financial details regarding payments made to related parties and ensures that public funds are directly benefiting residents through staffing and care. Additionally, the legislation requires the department to conduct annual public reports on audit implementation and results, while limiting the duration of on-site audits to reduce the burden on facilities.
This Michigan bill amends the state's vehicle code to clarify that traffic violations designated as civil infractions cannot be treated as lesser included offenses of criminal charges. It establishes specific fine ranges for various driving and vehicle equipment violations, including a new provision that requires courts to waive fines and costs if a driver cited for an illegible registration plate provides proof of having obtained and installed a compliant plate before their court date. The legislation also mandates a $40 justice system assessment for most civil infractions and allows judges to order additional educational or rehabilitation programs alongside monetary penalties.
Michigan House Bill 6269 amends the state's use tax act to exempt qualified building materials from taxation when purchased for the construction of new single-family residences or small multi-family homes with up to four units. This exemption applies to both home owners and developers, as well as contractors building for others, provided a valid building permit is in place at the time of purchase. The bill includes safeguards that require taxpayers to pay back any exempted taxes if the materials are not used for the intended residence, if the project is abandoned within 15 months, or if the building permit expires before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Additionally, the state Department of Treasury must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing how this tax break affects housing construction, job creation, and state revenue.
Michigan's HB 6265 requires owners and operators of data centers to submit annual reports to the state public service commission detailing their total water and electricity consumption, along with the sources of that water and the percentage of electricity derived from renewable energy. These reporting obligations begin on March 1, 2028, and if the commission finds a submitted report inaccurate or incomplete, it must notify the operator to file corrected information within 30 days. The bill authorizes civil fines of up to $10,000 for each day a violation continues, with collected penalties deposited into the state general fund. This legislation only takes effect if several other specific bills from the current legislative session are also enacted into law.
Michigan House Bill 6259 proposes to amend the state's criminal procedure code by updating the sentencing guidelines for specific felonies, including various degrees of criminal sexual conduct and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these offenses by establishing or modifying the statutory maximum sentences and offense categories used by judges to determine punishment. It is a procedural measure that takes effect 90 days after enactment, provided that two related bills, HB 6261 and HB 6262, are also passed into law during the same legislative session.
Michigan House Bill 6264, titled the "data center energy standards act," requires owners and operators of data centers in the state to source 100% of their annual energy use from clean or renewable sources by January 1, 2040. The bill allows facilities to meet this requirement through on-site generation, power purchase agreements, or other energy instruments approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Violations of these standards are subject to civil fines of up to $10,000 per day, which must be deposited into the state's general fund. This legislation only takes effect if seven companion bills from the 103rd Legislature are also enacted into law.
HB 6256 creates a new Local Agency Disaster Relief Board Fund and an accompanying board within the Michigan Department of Transportation to provide financial assistance for repairing or replacing local road infrastructure damaged by declared emergencies. The bill allocates $3 million annually from the county road commission share and $2 million from the city and village share of the state's transportation fund to this new disaster relief program, with a total annual cap of $5 million and a maximum fund balance of $50 million. Local road agencies must exhaust other federal and state funding sources before applying for these grants, which can cover costs such as restoring roads and bridges, engineering design, land acquisition, and project administration. The board, composed of representatives from county and municipal associations along with nonvoting state officials, is responsible for establishing application criteria, reviewing requests within 180 days, and reporting annually to the legislature on fund utilization.
Michigan House Bill 6261 amends the state penal code to modify penalties for criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. The bill reduces the minimum mandatory prison sentence from 15 years to 10 years, while still allowing for life imprisonment or any term of years up to that limit. It also mandates lifetime electronic monitoring for offenders who are at least 17 years old and commit sexual contact against a victim under 13 years of age. These changes apply to individuals convicted of various specific circumstances involving sexual contact with minors or vulnerable adults, such as those in positions of authority or within correctional facilities.
Michigan House Bill 6249 establishes that ownership of subsurface pore space, which can be used for storing carbon dioxide or other substances, is vested in the owner of the surface land unless it has been previously separated. The bill allows this pore space to be sold, leased, or otherwise transferred independently from the surface estate, provided that any such separation clearly describes the specific geological formation, depth, and scope of surface use rights involved. It clarifies that selling mineral rights does not automatically transfer pore space ownership, which must be explicitly stated in the agreement. This legislation takes effect only if two related companion bills are also enacted into law.
