From the week ending Dec. 17
Senate Bill 85, Authorize spending $1 billion on new corporate subsidy program: Passed 25 to 11 in the Senate
To appropriate $1 billion for a new corporate subsidy scheme. The money would pay for a “Critical Industry Fund” to give grants and loans to certain companies to create jobs or job training, and a “Strategic Site Readiness Fund” to give others money to create “investment-ready sites” for new plants and facilities. The bill also appropriates $409 million for relief to businesses “afflicted” by the coronavirus epidemic and responses, and $75 million to reduce personal property taxes levied on business tools and equipment.
- 33 Sen. Rick Outman R – Six Lakes X
- 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R – Ludington Y
Senate Bill 85, Authorize spending $1 billion on new corporate subsidy program: Passed 78 to 25 in the House
The House vote to spend $1 billion on the new corporate subsidy program described above.
- 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R – Clare Y
- 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R – Grant N
- 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R – Manton N
House Bill 5351, Cut small business tools-and-equipment tax: Passed 21 to 15 in the Senate
To double a small business exemption on the value of business tools and equipment subject to property taxes (called the “personal property tax”), from $80,000 to $160,000, and also index this to inflation going forward.
- 33 Sen. Rick Outman R – Six Lakes X
- 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R – Ludington Y
House Bill 4294, Let current school employees work as subs without degree or credentials: Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate
To allow a school district to hire a current employee as a substitute teacher even if the individual does not have a college degree or otherwise meet the legal requirements to be a substitute teacher. The person would get a raise if their current pay was less than a substitutes’ pay but would not get a cut if it was more. This would expire with the 2021-22 school year.
- 33 Sen. Rick Outman R – Six Lakes X
- 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R – Ludington Y
House Bill 4970, Require all school employees take seizure classes: Passed 85 to 17 in the House
To double a small business exemption on the value of business tools and equipment subject to property taxes (called the “personal property tax”), from $80,000 to $160,000, and also index this to inflation going forward.
- 33 Sen. Rick Outman R – Six Lakes X
- 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R – Ludington Y
House Bill 4294, Let current school employees work as subs without degree or credentials: Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate
To allow a school district to hire a current employee as a substitute teacher even if the individual does not have a college degree or otherwise meet the legal requirements to be a substitute teacher. The person would get a raise if their current pay was less than a substitutes’ pay but would not get a cut if it was more. This would expire with the 2021-22 school year.
- 33 Sen. Rick Outman R – Six Lakes X
- 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R – Ludington Y
House Bill 4970, Require all school employees take seizure classes: Passed 85 to 17 in the House
To extend an Open Meetings Act requirement that public bodies hold their meetings in public to the “independent citizens redistricting commission” authorized by a 2018 ballot initiative. The bill was introduced after this controversial commission met behind closed doors to discuss secret legal memos related to its potential federal Voting Rights Act violations.
- 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R – Clare Y
- 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R – Grant Y
- 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R – Manton Y
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that www.MichiganVotes.org is properly cited.
Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting