No. 94

STATE OF MICHIGAN

 

JOURNAL

OF THE

House  of  Representatives

 

102nd  Legislature

REGULAR  SESSION  OF  2023

 

 

 

 

House Chamber, Lansing, Friday, November 3, 2023.

 

12:01 a.m.

 

The House was called to order by the Speaker.

 

The roll was called by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who announced that a quorum was present.

 

Aiyash—present            Dievendorf—present     Markkanen—present     Schriver—present

Alexander—present        Edwards—present         Martin—present            Schuette—present

Andrews—present          Farhat—present            Martus—present           Scott—present

Aragona—present          Filler—present              McFall—present           Shannon—present

Arbit—present               Fink—present               McKinney—present      Skaggs—present

Beeler—present             Fitzgerald—present       Meerman—present        Slagh—present

BeGole—present            Fox—present                Mentzer—present         Smit—present

Beson—present              Friske—present            Miller—present            Snyder—present

Bezotte—present            Glanville—present        Morgan—present          St. Germaine—present

Bierlein—present           Grant—present             Morse—present            Steckloff—present

Bollin—present              Green, P.—present        Mueller—present          Steele—present

Borton—present             Greene, J.—present       Neeley—present           Stone—present

Brabec—present            Haadsma—present        Neyer—present             Tate—present

Breen—present              Hall—present               O’Neal—present           Thompson—present

Brixie—present              Harris—present            Outman—present          Tisdel—present

Bruck—present              Hill—present                Paiz—present               Tsernoglou—present

Byrnes—present            Hoadley—present         Paquette—present         VanderWall—present

Carra—present               Hood—present             Pohutsky—present        VanWoerkom—present

Carter, B.—present         Hope—present             Posthumus—present      Wegela—present

Carter, T.—present         Hoskins—present          Prestin—present           Weiss—present

Cavitt—present              Johnsen—present          Price—present              Wendzel—present

Churches—present         Koleszar—present         Puri—present               Whitsett—present

Coffia—present             Kuhn—excused            Rheingans—present      Wilson—present

Coleman—present          Kunse—present            Rigas—present             Witwer—present

Conlin—present             Liberati—present          Rogers—present           Wozniak—present

DeBoer—present           Lightner—present         Roth—excused             Young—present

DeBoyer—present          MacDonell—present     Schmaltz—present        Zorn—present

DeSana—present           Maddock—present                                           

 

e/d/s = entered during session

Rep. Curt VanderWall, from the 102nd District, offered the following invocation:

 

“Our Father we ask You today to be with us as we do the work for the people of this great state. I pray You are with us as we work to make sure we do what is right.

I also ask that You are with our leaders as they make decisions for our state and country.

I pray for our pastors as they Shepard us. We ask that You help them as they lead us through these challenging times.

I now ask that You bless this day, bless what we do and most of all guide us as we do the work of our state. In Jesus name amen.”

 

 

______

 

 

The Speaker called the Speaker Pro Tempore to the Chair.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. Aiyash moved that Reps. Kuhn and Roth be excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

 

 

Second Reading of Bills

 

 

Senate Bill No. 271, entitled

A bill to amend 2008 PA 295, entitled “Clean and renewable energy and energy waste reduction act,” by amending the title, the heading of subpart A of part 2, and sections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 22, 28, 29, 39, 45, 47, 49, 173, 177, and 191 (MCL 460.1001, 460.1003, 460.1005, 460.1007, 460.1009, 460.1011, 460.1013, 460.1022, 460.1028, 460.1029, 460.1039, 460.1045, 460.1047, 460.1049, 460.1173, 460.1177, and 460.1191), the title and sections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 29, 39, 45, 47, 49, 173, and 177 as amended and sections 22 and 28 as added by 2016 PA 342, and by adding sections 32, 51, 53, 101, and 103.

The bill was read a second time.

 

Rep. Outman moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 16, line 2, by striking out “use” and inserting “uses”.

2. Amend page 16, line 3, after “steam” by inserting “and that, if installed after the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 51, was manufactured in the United States”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Aragona moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 59, line 7, after “law.” by inserting “However, this amendatory act does not take effect until the Midcontinent Independent System Operator issues a report concluding that this amendatory act will increase or maintain grid reliability.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Schmaltz moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 59, following line 5, by inserting:

“(3) If statewide average customer electric rate increases after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection exceed 30%, the commission shall by order permanently suspend the application of the amendatory act that added this subsection.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

Rep. Tisdel moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 5, following line 22, by inserting:

(d) “Capacity” means the maximum output, commonly expressed in megawatts, that generating equipment can supply to system load, adjusted for ambient conditions.” and relettering the remaining subdivisions.

2. Amend page 12, following line 21, after by inserting:

(a) “Nameplate capacity” means the maximum rated output, commonly expressed in megawatts, of a generator, prime mover, or other electric power production equipment under specific conditions designated by the manufacturer, and usually indicated on a nameplate physically attached to the generator.” and relettering the remaining subdivisions.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Tisdel moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 14, line 11, after “coal” by inserting “or any resource produced using forced labor or child labor in violation of international standards”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Tisdel moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 14, line 11, after “coal.” by inserting “Renewable energy resource does not include any resource manufactured or distributed using petroleum, nuclear, natural gas, or coal.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Prestin moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 6, following line 22, by inserting:

(iii) Is a reciprocating internal combustion engine placed in service to facilitate the retirement of coal-fired generation located in the Upper Peninsula before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subparagraph. This subparagraph does not apply after the end of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator planning year ending in 2050. and renumbering the remaining subparagraph.

2. Amend page 16, line 1, after “that” by inserting a comma and “except as provided in subparagraph (iii),”.

3. Amend page 16, following line 14, by inserting:

(iii) A reciprocating internal combustion engine placed in service to facilitate the retirement of coal-fired generation located in the Upper Peninsula before the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subparagraph. This subparagraph does not apply after the end of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator planning year ending in 2050.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. VanderWall moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 6, line 20, after “51.” by striking out the balance of the subparagraph.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Wegela moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 6, line 11, by striking out all of subparagraph (ii) and renumbering the remaining subparagraphs.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Posthumus moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 14, line 10, after “polymers,” by striking out “tires, tire-derived fuel,”.

2. Amend page 16, line 27, after “biomass” by striking out “with tires or tire-derived fuel”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

Rep. Aiyash moved to substitute (H-5) the bill.

The motion prevailed and the substitute (H-5) was adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.

 

Rep. Skaggs moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 17, line 13, after “municipal” by striking” wastewater” and inserting “solid waste”.

2. Amend page 18, line 4, after “municipal” by inserting “solid”

The motion prevailed and the amendments were adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.

 

Rep. Hill moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 15, line 27, after “nuclear,” by striking out “natural gas,”.

2. Amend page 17, following line 13, by inserting:

(ix) Natural gas.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Wegela moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 6, line 14, by striking all of subparagraph (ii) and renumbering the remaining subparagraphs.

The motion did not prevail and the amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

 

Rep. Fitzgerald moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 34, line 29, after “thereafter.” by inserting “A renewable energy system described in section 11(j) (iii) shall, by January 1, 2035, file a decommissioning plan with the county in which the facility is located detailing its plans to retire and decommission the facility not later than January 1, 2040.”.

The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

The motion prevailed.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be placed on its immediate passage.

The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.

 

By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of

Third Reading of Bills

 

 

Senate Bill No. 271, entitled

A bill to amend 2008 PA 295, entitled “Clean and renewable energy and energy waste reduction act,” by amending the title, the heading of subpart A of part 2, and sections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 22, 28, 29, 39, 45, 47, 49, 173, 177, and 191 (MCL 460.1001, 460.1003, 460.1005, 460.1007, 460.1009, 460.1011, 460.1013, 460.1022, 460.1028, 460.1029, 460.1039, 460.1045, 460.1047, 460.1049, 460.1173, 460.1177, and 460.1191), the title and sections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 29, 39, 45, 47, 49, 173, and 177 as amended and sections 22 and 28 as added by 2016 PA 342, and by adding sections 32, 51, 53, 101, and 103.

The bill was read a third time.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

 

 

Point of Order

 

 

Rep. Posthumus requested a ruling of the Chair on based on the criteria for a conflict of interest under section 522 and 232(6) of Mason’s Manual, I am challenging the propriety of vote being cast on this bill by the member of the 38th district. I request a ruling from the chair regarding whether the member from the 38th House district should be allowed to vote on this bill.

The Chair ruled per the House rules it is up to a member to decide and you should take up this issue with that member.

Rep. Posthumus appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question being, “Shall the judgment of the Chair stand as the judgment of the House?”

The judgment of the Chair stood as the judgment of the House, a majority of the members present voting, by yeas and nays, as follows:

 

 

Roll Call No. 485                                    Yeas—56

 

 

Aiyash                              Edwards                  McFall                                   Scott

Andrews                           Farhat                      McKinney                              Shannon

Arbit                                 Fitzgerald                 Mentzer                                 Skaggs

Brabec                               Glanville                  Miller                                     Snyder

Breen                                Grant                       Morgan                                  Steckloff

Brixie                                Haadsma                 Morse                                    Stone

Byrnes                              Hill                          Neeley                                   Tate

Carter, B.                           Hood                       O’Neal                                   Tsernoglou

Carter, T.                           Hope                       Paiz                                        Wegela

Churches                           Hoskins                   Pohutsky                                Weiss

Coffia                                Koleszar                  Price                                      Whitsett

Coleman                            Liberati                    Puri                                        Wilson

Conlin                               MacDonell               Rheingans                              Witwer

Dievendorf                        Martus                     Rogers                                   Young

 

 

                                                              Nays—52

 

 

Alexander                          DeBoyer                  Lightner                                 Schriver

Aragona                            DeSana                    Maddock                                Schuette

Beeler                                Filler                        Markkanen                             Slagh

BeGole                              Fink                         Martin                                    Smit

Beson                                Fox                          Meerman                               St. Germaine

Bezotte                              Friske                      Mueller                                  Steele

Bierlein                             Green, P.                  Neyer                                     Thompson

Bollin                                Greene, J.                 Outman                                  Tisdel

Borton                               Hall                         Paquette                                 VanderWall

Bruck                                Harris                      Posthumus                             VanWoerkom

Carra                                 Hoadley                   Prestin                                   Wendzel

Cavitt                                Johnsen                   Rigas                                      Wozniak

DeBoer                              Kunse                      Schmaltz                                Zorn

 

 

In The Chair: Pohutsky

 

 

The question being on the passage of the bill,

The bill was then passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

 

 

Roll Call No. 486                                    Yeas—56

 

 

Aiyash                              Edwards                  McFall                                   Scott

Andrews                           Farhat                      McKinney                              Shannon

Arbit                                 Fitzgerald                 Mentzer                                 Skaggs

Brabec                               Glanville                  Miller                                     Snyder

Breen                                Grant                       Morgan                                  Steckloff

Brixie                                Haadsma                 Morse                                    Stone

Byrnes                              Hill                          Neeley                                   Tate

Carter, B.                           Hood                       O’Neal                                   Tsernoglou

Carter, T.                           Hope                       Paiz                                        Wegela

Churches                           Hoskins                   Pohutsky                                Weiss

Coffia                                Koleszar                  Price                                      Whitsett

Coleman                            Liberati                    Puri                                        Wilson

Conlin                               MacDonell               Rheingans                              Witwer

Dievendorf                        Martus                     Rogers                                   Young

 

 

                                                              Nays—51

 

 

Alexander                          DeBoyer                  Maddock                                Schuette

Aragona                            DeSana                    Markkanen                             Slagh

Beeler                                Filler                        Martin                                    Smit

BeGole                              Fink                         Meerman                               St. Germaine

Beson                                Fox                          Mueller                                  Steele

Bezotte                              Friske                      Neyer                                     Thompson

Bierlein                             Green, P.                  Outman                                  Tisdel

Bollin                                Greene, J.                 Paquette                                 VanderWall

Borton                               Hall                         Posthumus                             VanWoerkom

Bruck                                Harris                      Prestin                                   Wendzel

Carra                                 Hoadley                   Rigas                                      Wozniak

Cavitt                                Johnsen                   Schmaltz                                Zorn

DeBoer                              Lightner                   Schriver                                

 

 

In The Chair: Pohutsky

 

 

Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:

“An act to require certain providers of electric service to establish and recover costs for renewable energy programs; to require certain providers of electric or natural gas service to establish energy waste reduction programs; to authorize the use of certain energy systems to meet the requirements of those programs; to provide for the approval of energy waste reduction service companies; to reduce energy waste by state agencies and the public; to create a wind energy resource zone board and provide for its power and duties; to authorize the creation and implementation of wind energy resource zones; to provide for expedited transmission line siting certificates; to provide for customer generation and net metering programs and the responsibilities of certain providers of electric service and customers with respect to customer generation and net metering; to provide for fees; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies and officials; to require the promulgation of rules and the issuance of orders; to authorize the establishment of residential energy improvement programs by providers of electric or natural gas service; and to provide for civil sanctions, remedies, and penalties,”

The House agreed to the full title.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be given immediate effect.

The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. Kunse, under Rule 31, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I did not vote on Roll Call No. 486 because of a possible conflict of interest.”

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. St. Germaine, having reserved the right to explain her protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Furthermore, children with special health care needs and disabilities will be affected, especially children with autism. The degree of audible noise and vibration along with shadow flickering will affect them tremendously because of their condition. There’s no protection for these children and families in the Bill Package.  

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

Rep. Phil Green, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

 

Senate Bill No. 273, entitled

A bill to amend 2008 PA 295, entitled “Clean and renewable energy and energy waste reduction act,” by amending sections 5, 7, 71, 73, 75, 77, 78, 91, and 93 (MCL 460.1005, 460.1007, 460.1071, 460.1073, 460.1075, 460.1077, 460.1078, 460.1091, and 460.1093), sections 5, 7, 71, 73, 75, 77, 91, and 93 as amended and section 78 as added by 2016 PA 342, and by adding sections 72, 80, and 80a; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

Was read a third time and passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

 

 

Roll Call No. 487                                    Yeas—56

 

 

Aiyash                              Edwards                  McFall                                   Scott

Andrews                           Farhat                      McKinney                              Shannon

Arbit                                 Fitzgerald                 Mentzer                                 Skaggs

Brabec                               Glanville                  Miller                                     Snyder

Breen                                Grant                       Morgan                                  Steckloff

Brixie                                Haadsma                 Morse                                    Stone

Byrnes                              Hill                          Neeley                                   Tate

Carter, B.                           Hood                       O’Neal                                   Tsernoglou

Carter, T.                           Hope                       Paiz                                        Wegela

Churches                           Hoskins                   Pohutsky                                Weiss

Coffia                                Koleszar                  Price                                      Whitsett

Coleman                            Liberati                    Puri                                        Wilson

Conlin                               MacDonell               Rheingans                              Witwer

Dievendorf                        Martus                     Rogers                                   Young

 

 

                                                              Nays—52

 

 

Alexander                          DeBoyer                  Lightner                                 Schriver

Aragona                            DeSana                    Maddock                                Schuette

Beeler                                Filler                        Markkanen                             Slagh

BeGole                              Fink                         Martin                                    Smit

Beson                                Fox                          Meerman                               St. Germaine

Bezotte                              Friske                      Mueller                                  Steele

Bierlein                             Green, P.                  Neyer                                     Thompson

Bollin                                Greene, J.                 Outman                                  Tisdel

Borton                               Hall                         Paquette                                 VanderWall

Bruck                                Harris                      Posthumus                             VanWoerkom

Carra                                 Hoadley                   Prestin                                   Wendzel

Cavitt                                Johnsen                   Rigas                                      Wozniak

DeBoer                              Kunse                      Schmaltz                                Zorn

 

 

In The Chair: Pohutsky

 

 

Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:

“An act to require certain providers of electric service to establish and recover costs for renewable energy programs; to require certain providers of electric or natural gas service to establish energy waste reduction programs; to authorize the use of certain energy systems to meet the requirements of those programs; to provide for the approval of energy waste reduction service companies; to reduce energy waste by state agencies and the public; to create a wind energy resource zone board and provide for its power and duties; to authorize the creation and implementation of wind energy resource zones; to provide for expedited transmission line siting certificates; to provide for customer generation and net metering programs and the responsibilities of certain providers of electric service and customers with respect to customer generation and net metering; to provide for fees; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies and officials; to require the promulgation of rules and the issuance of orders; to authorize the establishment of residential energy improvement programs by providers of electric or natural gas service; and to provide for civil sanctions, remedies, and penalties,”

The House agreed to the full title.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be given immediate effect.

The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. St. Germaine, having reserved the right to explain her protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Furthermore, children with special health care needs and disabilities will be affected, especially children with autism. The degree of audible noise and vibration along with shadow flickering will affect them tremendously because of their condition. There’s no protection for these children and families in the Bill Package.  

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

Rep. Phil Green, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

 

Senate Bill No. 502, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled “An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and certain private utilities and other services affected with a public interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to provide for the continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending sections 6a, 6m, and 6t (MCL 460.6a, 460.6m, and 460.6t), sections 6a and 6m as amended and section 6t as added by 2016 PA 341, and by adding section 6aa.

The bill was read a third time.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

 

Rep. Aiyash moved to substitute (H-6) the bill.

The motion was seconded and the substitute (H-6) was adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

The bill was then passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

 

 

Roll Call No. 488                                    Yeas—56

 

 

Aiyash                              Edwards                  McFall                                   Scott

Andrews                           Farhat                      McKinney                              Shannon

Arbit                                 Fitzgerald                 Mentzer                                 Skaggs

Brabec                               Glanville                  Miller                                     Snyder

Breen                                Grant                       Morgan                                  Steckloff

Brixie                                Haadsma                 Morse                                    Stone

Byrnes                              Hill                          Neeley                                   Tate

Carter, B.                           Hood                       O’Neal                                   Tsernoglou

Carter, T.                           Hope                       Paiz                                        Wegela

Churches                           Hoskins                   Pohutsky                                Weiss

Coffia                                Koleszar                  Price                                      Whitsett

Coleman                            Liberati                    Puri                                        Wilson

Conlin                               MacDonell               Rheingans                              Witwer

Dievendorf                        Martus                     Rogers                                   Young

 

 

                                                              Nays—52

 

 

Alexander                          DeBoyer                  Lightner                                 Schriver

Aragona                            DeSana                    Maddock                                Schuette

Beeler                                Filler                        Markkanen                             Slagh

BeGole                              Fink                         Martin                                    Smit

Beson                                Fox                          Meerman                               St. Germaine

Bezotte                              Friske                      Mueller                                  Steele

Bierlein                             Green, P.                  Neyer                                     Thompson

Bollin                                Greene, J.                 Outman                                  Tisdel

Borton                               Hall                         Paquette                                 VanderWall

Bruck                                Harris                      Posthumus                             VanWoerkom

Carra                                 Hoadley                   Prestin                                   Wendzel

Cavitt                                Johnsen                   Rigas                                      Wozniak

DeBoer                              Kunse                      Schmaltz                                Zorn

 

 

In The Chair: Pohutsky

 

 

The House agreed to the title of the bill.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be given immediate effect.

The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. St. Germaine, having reserved the right to explain her protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Furthermore, children with special health care needs and disabilities will be affected, especially children with autism. The degree of audible noise and vibration along with shadow flickering will affect them tremendously because of their condition. There’s no protection for these children and families in the Bill Package.  

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

Rep. Phil Green, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

 

Senate Bill No. 519, entitled

A bill to provide for the adjustment of transition-impacted workers into new industries; to create the community and worker economic transition office in the department of labor and economic opportunity; to allow the creation of certain advisory committees; to make certain appropriations; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities.

Was read a third time and passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

 

 

Roll Call No. 489                                    Yeas—56

 

 

Aiyash                              Edwards                  McFall                                   Scott

Andrews                           Farhat                      McKinney                              Shannon

Arbit                                 Fitzgerald                 Mentzer                                 Skaggs

Brabec                               Glanville                  Miller                                     Snyder

Breen                                Grant                       Morgan                                  Steckloff

Brixie                                Haadsma                 Morse                                    Stone

Byrnes                              Hill                          Neeley                                   Tate

Carter, B.                           Hood                       O’Neal                                   Tsernoglou

Carter, T.                           Hope                       Paiz                                        Wegela

Churches                           Hoskins                   Pohutsky                                Weiss

Coffia                                Koleszar                  Price                                      Whitsett

Coleman                            Liberati                    Puri                                        Wilson

Conlin                               MacDonell               Rheingans                              Witwer

Dievendorf                        Martus                     Rogers                                   Young

 

 

                                                              Nays—52

 

 

Alexander                          DeBoyer                  Lightner                                 Schriver

Aragona                            DeSana                    Maddock                                Schuette

Beeler                                Filler                        Markkanen                             Slagh

BeGole                              Fink                         Martin                                    Smit

Beson                                Fox                          Meerman                               St. Germaine

Bezotte                              Friske                      Mueller                                  Steele

Bierlein                             Green, P.                  Neyer                                     Thompson

Bollin                                Greene, J.                 Outman                                  Tisdel

Borton                               Hall                         Paquette                                 VanderWall

Bruck                                Harris                      Posthumus                             VanWoerkom

Carra                                 Hoadley                   Prestin                                   Wendzel

Cavitt                                Johnsen                   Rigas                                      Wozniak

DeBoer                              Kunse                      Schmaltz                                Zorn

 

 

In The Chair: Pohutsky

 

 

The House agreed to the title of the bill.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be given immediate effect.

The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. St. Germaine, having reserved the right to explain her protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Furthermore, children with special health care needs and disabilities will be affected, especially children with autism. The degree of audible noise and vibration along with shadow flickering will affect them tremendously because of their condition. There’s no protection for these children and families in the Bill Package.  

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

Rep. Phil Green, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, and 519 because this legislation will increase monthly electric bills for Michigan families and make our state’s energy grid far less reliable. As families struggle with high inflation and cold weather, they need affordability and reliability. They deserve to know that the heat will kick on when they flip the switch and that they can afford to pay the utility bill at the end of the month. Instead, these bills force Michigan to close existing power plants and build out expensive and experimental technologies to replace them.

Those increased costs will be passed on to Michigan families in the form of higher rates they cannot afford. The bills even go so far as to eliminate existing caps on rate increases, allowing utility companies to charge unlimited amounts and raise monthly electric bills as much as they want.

The unreliable solar arrays and wind farms will also make our existing issues with grid reliability even worse. Local utility companies already struggle to keep the lights on when it snows, when it rains, when there is thunder, or when the wind blows. Moving Michigan further onto a grid overly reliant on perfect weather conditions will lead to spoiled food, dark rooms, and shivering children. It is a recipe for disaster.

Michigan families deserve lower monthly electric bills and more reliable service. These bills deliver neither of those things and actually make things worse for all of us on both fronts. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support these bills.”

 

 

Senate Bill No. 277, entitled

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending sections 36101 and 36104a (MCL 324.36101 and 324.36104a), section 36101 as amended by 2016 PA 265 and section 36104a as added by 1996 PA 233, and by adding sections 36104c and 36104e.

The bill was read a third time.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

 

Rep. Snyder moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Amend page 9, line 25, after “Habitat” by striking out “Planting” and inserting “Planning”.

2. Amend page 9, line 27, after “Entomology” by striking out the balance of the line through “maintained” on line 29 and inserting “or is designed, planted, and maintained” and relettering the remaining subdivisions.

3. Amend page 10, line 19, by striking out “(h), or (i).” and inserting “or (h).”.

The motion was seconded and the amendments were adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

The bill was then passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

 

 

Roll Call No. 490                                    Yeas—56

 

 

Aiyash                              Edwards                  McFall                                   Scott

Andrews                           Farhat                      McKinney                              Shannon

Arbit                                 Fitzgerald                 Mentzer                                 Skaggs

Brabec                               Glanville                  Miller                                     Snyder

Breen                                Grant                       Morgan                                  Steckloff

Brixie                                Haadsma                 Morse                                    Stone

Byrnes                              Hill                          Neeley                                   Tate

Carter, B.                           Hood                       O’Neal                                   Tsernoglou

Carter, T.                           Hope                       Paiz                                        Wegela

Churches                           Hoskins                   Pohutsky                                Weiss

Coffia                                Koleszar                  Price                                      Whitsett

Coleman                            Liberati                    Puri                                        Wilson

Conlin                               MacDonell               Rheingans                              Witwer

Dievendorf                        Martus                     Rogers                                   Young

 

 

                                                              Nays—51

 

 

Alexander                          DeBoyer                  Maddock                                Schuette

Aragona                            DeSana                    Markkanen                             Slagh

Beeler                                Filler                        Martin                                    Smit

BeGole                              Fink                         Meerman                               St. Germaine

Beson                                Fox                          Mueller                                  Steele

Bezotte                              Friske                      Neyer                                     Thompson

Bierlein                             Green, P.                  Outman                                  Tisdel

Bollin                                Greene, J.                 Paquette                                 VanderWall

Borton                               Hall                         Posthumus                             VanWoerkom

Bruck                                Harris                      Prestin                                   Wendzel

Carra                                 Hoadley                   Rigas                                      Wozniak

Cavitt                                Johnsen                   Schmaltz                                Zorn

DeBoer                              Kunse                      Schriver                                

 

 

In The Chair: Pohutsky

 

 

Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:

“An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to protect the people’s right to hunt and fish; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, assessments, and donations; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,”

The House agreed to the full title.

Rep. Aiyash moved that the bill be given immediate effect.

The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. Lightner, under Rule 31, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I did not vote on Roll Call No. 490 because of a possible conflict of interest.”

 

 

Introduction of Bills

 

 

Reps. Steele, Kuhn, Cavitt, Kunse, Bierlein, Tisdel, Aragona, Jaime Greene, Borton, Rigas, Martin, DeBoer, Schmaltz, Paquette, Alexander, Prestin, Markkanen, Thompson, Beson, Friske, Carra, Meerman, Maddock, Neyer, Zorn, Bruck, BeGole, St. Germaine, DeBoyer, Hoadley, Wozniak, Harris, Outman, Beeler, VanderWall, Johnsen, Smit, DeSana, Fox, Roth, Bezotte, Posthumus, Schriver and Mueller introduced

House Bill No. 5296, entitled

A bill to amend 1984 PA 431, entitled “The management and budget act,” (MCL 18.1101 to 18.1594) by adding sections 364 and 364a.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Reps. Kuhn, Cavitt, Kunse, Bierlein, Tisdel, Aragona, Steele, Jaime Greene, Borton, Rigas, Martin, DeBoer, Schmaltz, Paquette, Alexander, Prestin, Markkanen, Thompson, Beson, Friske, Carra, Meerman, Maddock, Neyer, Zorn, Bruck, BeGole, St. Germaine, DeBoyer, Hoadley, Wozniak, Harris, Outman, Beeler, VanderWall, Johnsen, Smit, DeSana, Fox, Roth, Bezotte, Posthumus, Schriver and Mueller introduced

House Bill No. 5297, entitled

A bill to amend 1984 PA 431, entitled “The management and budget act,” by amending section 365 (MCL 18.1365), as amended by 2020 PA 122.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

 

Reps. Hoadley, Outman, Cavitt, Markkanen, Bierlein, Kunse, DeBoyer, Schuette, Borton, Friske, Jaime Greene and Bruck introduced

House Bill No. 5298, entitled

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending section 40102 (MCL 324.40102), as amended by 2015 PA 24.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation.

Reps. Bierlein, Cavitt, Hoadley, Markkanen, Kunse, DeBoyer, Schuette, Borton, Friske, Jaime Greene and Bruck introduced

House Bill No. 5299, entitled

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending section 40111a (MCL 324.40111a), as amended by 2015 PA 265.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation.

 

 

Reps. Pohutsky, Dievendorf, Brabec, Scott and Morgan introduced

House Bill No. 5300, entitled

A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, entitled “Probate code of 1939,” by amending sections 1 and 3 of chapter XI (MCL 711.1 and 711.3), section 1 as amended by 2020 PA 40 and section 3 as added by 2000 PA 111.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Reps. Dievendorf, Pohutsky, Brabec, Scott and Morgan introduced

House Bill No. 5301, entitled

A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “Michigan vehicle code,” by amending sections 307 and 812 (MCL 257.307 and 257.812), section 307 as amended by 2020 PA 376 and section 812 as amended by 2005 PA 142.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Reps. Brabec, Dievendorf, Scott, Pohutsky and Morgan introduced

House Bill No. 5302, entitled

A bill to amend 1972 PA 222, entitled “An act to provide for an official personal identification card; to provide for its form, issuance and use; to regulate the use and disclosure of information obtained from the card; to prescribe the powers and duties of the secretary of state; to prescribe fees; to prescribe certain penalties for violations; and to provide an appropriation for certain purposes,” by amending sections 1 and 2 (MCL 28.291 and 28.292), section 1 as amended by 2021 PA 105 and section 2 as amended by 2021 PA 73.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Reps. Scott, Dievendorf, Brabec, Pohutsky and Morgan introduced

House Bill No. 5303, entitled

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections 2831 and 2872 (MCL 333.2831 and 333.2872), section 2831 as amended by 1996 PA 307.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Reps. Bruck, Hoadley, McKinney, Wilson, BeGole, Bezotte, Harris, Mueller, Tsernoglou, Kuhn, Kunse, Bierlein, McFall, Miller, Snyder, Paquette and Wendzel introduced

House Bill No. 5304, entitled

A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “Michigan vehicle code,” by amending section 634 (MCL 257.634), as amended by 2021 PA 43.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure.

 

 

______

 

 

Rep. Fox moved that the House adjourn.

The motion prevailed, the time being 1:00 a.m.

 

The Speaker Pro Tempore declared the House adjourned until Tuesday, November 7, at 1:30 p.m.

 

 

RICHARD J. BROWN

Clerk of the House of Representatives