STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
102nd Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2024
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Thursday, September 26, 2024.
10:00 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Jeremy Moss.
The roll was called by the Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Albert—present Hauck—present Moss—present
Anthony—present Hertel—present Nesbitt—present
Bayer—present Hoitenga—present Outman—present
Bellino—present Huizenga—present Polehanki—present
Brinks—present Irwin—present Runestad—present
Bumstead—present Johnson—present Santana—present
Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present
Cavanagh—present Lauwers—present Singh—present
Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present
Cherry—present McBroom—excused Victory—present
Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present
Damoose—present McDonald Rivet—present Wojno—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present
Senator Joseph N. Bellino, Jr. of the 16th District offered the following invocation:
My Creator, I am now willing that You should have all of me, good and bad. I pray now that You remove every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to my fellows. Grant me the strength as I go off from here and do Your bidding.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motions and Communications
The motion prevailed.
The following communication was received:
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
Waiver of Remaining
Session Days
September 25, 2024
Pursuant to MCL 24.245a(1)(d), the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has by a concurrent majority vote, waived the remaining session days for the following rule sets:
JCAR No. 24-21
MOAHR No. 2023-041 HS
Department of Health and Human Services
Economic Stability Administration
Food Assistance Program
According to MCL 24.245a(3), if the Committee waives the remaining session days, the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules may immediately file the rule.
Sincerely,
Senator Paul Wojno Representative Jim Haadsma
Chair Alternate Chair
The communication was referred to the Secretary for record.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Klinefelt’s statement is as follows:
I’m very sad that I’ll be saying goodbye to one of my employees, Noah Peterson, who’s our constituent director. Noah is a ball of energy; he never stands still. Not only has he handled all of the constituent issues, tributes, and proclamations, in his spare time in our office he wrote a 60-page-plus manual for future people coming into the office on what they need to do and how to run the office. He just always goes above and beyond. He’s always thinking about new and innovative ideas. He’s been just a tremendous asset to us. He is moving on to the Michigan Nurses Association. We’re going to miss him dearly.
Senator Anthony entered the Senate Chamber.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senator Lauwers moved that Senator McBroom be excused from today’s session.
The motion
prevailed.
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:05 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
During the recess, Senators Camilleri and Geiss entered the Senate Chamber.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Introduction and Referral of Bills
Senate Bill No. 1012, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 399, entitled “Safe drinking water act,” (MCL 325.1001 to 325.1023) by adding section 15a.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Housing and Human Services.
Senator Hoitenga introduced
Senate Bill No. 1013, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending sections 1901 and 1903 (MCL 324.1901 and 324.1903), as amended by 2018 PA 597.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Senator Irwin introduced
Senate Bill No. 1014, entitled
A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled “The code of criminal procedure,” by amending section 16 of chapter X (MCL 770.16), as amended by 2015 PA 229.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
Senators Bellino, Daley, Runestad and Theis introduced
Senate Bill No. 1015, entitled
A bill to amend 1984 PA 270, entitled “Michigan strategic fund act,” by amending section 4 (MCL 125.2004), as amended by 2020 PA 358, and by adding section 7c.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection.
Senator Victory introduced
Senate Bill No. 1016, entitled
A bill to designate the month of November of each year as Dutch Heritage Month.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
Senators Webber, Klinefelt and Wojno introduced
Senate Bill No. 1017, entitled
A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled “Income tax act of 1967,” (MCL 206.1 to 206.847) by adding sections 277 and 677.
The bill was read a first and second time
by title and referred to the Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer
Protection.
Senators Klinefelt, Webber and Wojno introduced
Senate Bill No. 1018, entitled
A bill to amend 1984 PA 270, entitled “Michigan strategic fund act,” by amending the title and sections 7 and 9 (MCL 125.2007 and 125.2009), the title as amended by 2005 PA 225, section 7 as amended by 2020 PA 358, and section 9 as amended by 2024 PA 117.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection.
Senators Wojno and Polehanki introduced
Senate Bill No. 1019, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections 2674, 2675, and 2678 (MCL 333.2674, 333.2675, and 333.2678) and by adding sections 2670 and 2675a; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Resolutions
Senate Resolution No. 140
Senate Resolution No. 141
House Concurrent Resolution No. 6
House Concurrent Resolution No. 15
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19.
A concurrent resolution offered as a memorial for Nancy C. Cassis, former member of the Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives.
(For text of resolution, see Senate Journal No. 79, p. 1524.)
The House of Representatives has adopted the concurrent resolution.
The concurrent resolution was referred to the Secretary for record.
Senator Anthony offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 140.
A resolution to recognize September 26, 2024, as World Contraception Day.
Whereas, Every year on September 26th, we recognize the importance of the availability of safe and effective contraception to allow individuals the freedom to plan if, when, and how they begin a family; and
Whereas, Contraception was named one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
Whereas, Access to contraception empowers individuals by giving them the freedom to pursue educational and career opportunities without the interruption of an unplanned pregnancy; and
Whereas, Education on contraception is crucial to preventing misinformation and helping to ease cultural taboos surrounding its use; and
Whereas, Contraception is fundamental healthcare that should be available to all individuals, and is critical to an individual’s autonomy, equality, and ability to participate in a social, economic, and political life to their fullest desire; and
Whereas, Contraception protects against the transmission of sexually transmitted infections in addition to preventing unintended or short-term interval pregnancies; and
Whereas, Certain forms of contraception may be used to treat other health conditions including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis pain and migraines, and can reduce the risk of certain gynecologic disorders, including endometrial and ovarian cancer; and
Whereas, Despite its many benefits, the United Nations estimates that there are over 257 million individuals worldwide who have an unmet need for safe and effective contraception; and
Whereas, As Americans continue to see
persistent attacks on reproductive care such as contraception, Michigan
continues to be a leader in the fight to safeguard access to contraceptives;
and
Whereas, We renew our efforts to ensure safe and effective contraception remains available to all Michiganders, giving them the freedom to plan the timing, number, and spacing of their children if they choose to begin a family; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize September 26, 2024, as World Contraception Day; and be it further
Resolved, That we acknowledge the value of safe and effective contraception and the continuing need to protect access to this critical component of healthcare.
The question being on the adoption of the resolution,
Senators Geiss, McMorrow and Santana were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Anthony’s statement is as follows:
Today, I rise to offer Senate Resolution No. 140, recognizing World Contraception Day in the state of Michigan. Access to safe, effective contraception plays a vital role in empowering individuals to plan if, and when, they choose to begin a family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has hailed contraception as one of the ten greatest public health accomplishments in the 20th century, acknowledging its transformational impact on the lives of women. Contraception enables us to take control of our own futures, health, and lives, but contraception is about more than family planning. For many, it is essential to maintaining a healthy and pain-free life.
For over six decades, contraception has been a fundamental part of women’s healthcare. Beyond preventing unintended pregnancies, oral hormonal contraception is used for a range of health conditions including premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis in my case, fibroid-related pain and migraines. It also helps to protect from transmission of sexually-transmitted infections and reduces the risk of ovarian cancers and many other health concerns. At its core, access to contraception is about autonomy, equality, and the ability to lead a full and enriching life. Yet, despite the undeniable benefits, the United Nations reports that over 257 million individuals worldwide still lack access to safe and effective contraception.
Now closer to home, one in three adult women in the United States have experienced barriers to accessing medically-prescribed contraception. As we continue to see baseless attacks against reproductive healthcare, including contraception, I want the people of this great state to know that we remain committed to safeguarding these essential rights. All Michiganders deserve access to contraception that they need to make informed decisions about their futures. In short, Michiganders deserve the freedom to plan.
Senator Santana offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 141.
A resolution to recognize October 2024 as Health Literacy Month.
Whereas, Since 1999, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month internationally. It has been recognized by 13 states and federal organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and
Whereas, The American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes limited health literacy as a stronger predictor of poor health status and outcomes than age, race, education level, socioeconomic status, or employment status; and
Whereas, HHS adopts two definitions that, when combined, constitute health literacy:
· Personal Health Literacy: the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health related decisions and actions for themselves and others; and
· Organizational Health Literacy: the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves; and
Whereas, The CDC estimates that 9 in 10 Americans have limited health literacy, and lack the skills necessary to manage their health and prevent diseases, to seek and obtain health care, and communicate effectively with their providers; and
Whereas, Limited health literacy affects
individuals across every segment of the population, regardless of whether or
not individuals possess strong literacy skills or higher education. Age, racial
and ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic disparities exist in levels
of ability to access, understand, and use health information; and
Whereas, It is estimated that the burden of unaddressed limited health literacy represents between 7 to 17 percent of all national personal health expenditures and costs the United States healthcare system $106 to 238 billion a year; and
Whereas, Limited health literacy is associated with:
1) An increased risk of sentinel events;
2) Worse overall health status;
3) Reduced ability to understand health messages;
4) Limited ability to follow and adhere to medication instructions and understand labels;
5) Lower likelihood of seeking or receiving preventative care;
6) Greater use of the emergency department and increased hospitalizations;
7) Lower satisfaction with care;
8) Shorter life expectancy;
These risks are preventable when health literacy is systemically addressed; and
Whereas, K-12 schools within Michigan and across the U.S. do not include health literacy skills in health education curriculum; and
Whereas, Health literacy training for providers of any experience level is shown to improve patient health literacy and prevent patient-provider miscommunication which poses risks such as sentinel events; and
Whereas, Health literacy practices, such as the use of plain language, are not consistently included in curriculum within health professional’s training at schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, and allied healthcare across Michigan; and
Whereas, HHS has declared health literacy as a foundational principle and overarching goal of Healthy People 2030: “Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all”, and stresses the responsibility of organizations to equitably address health literacy; and
Whereas, Although federal organizations are bound by The Plain Writing Act of 2010 to write “clear government communication that the public can understand and use”, no such law exists for organizations in Michigan. However, health organizations across Michigan are committed to promoting and supporting strong organizational health literacy; and
Whereas, Health literacy is necessary to achieve health equity by providing health information that is understandable, accessible, and actionable to all regardless of one’s age, race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation or creed; and
Whereas, Addressing health literacy needs can improve the health status and quality of life for millions of Michiganders; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize October 2024 as Health Literacy Month. We encourage efforts to increase awareness of health literacy among the general public and recognize the need for additional support and education to increase the health literacy of all citizens; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge all Michiganders to use this month as an opportunity to educate themselves about health literacy.
The question being on the adoption of the resolution,
Senators Geiss and McMorrow were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Santana’s statement is as follows:
As we gather here today, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate Health Literacy Month, which takes place every October. This annual event serves as a powerful reminder to the importance of accessible and understandable health information for everyone.
Today, I urge each of you to put health literacy awareness into action, not just during this month but every day of the year. Health literacy is not just a buzzword, it’s a vital component to our healthcare system. When individuals understand their health information, they are empowered to make informed decisions which leads to better health outcomes. However, we know that many people face barriers that prevent accessing crucial information. By working together as organizations, as community members, and as individuals, we can build bridges to overcome these barriers.
The Healthy People 2030 Initiative highlights the significance of health literacy as the overarching goal for improving the health and well-being of Americans. For the first time since its inception in 1979, this initiative acknowledges that health literacy is not solely about individuals’ capabilities, it is also about organizations making health-related information and services accessible and comprehensible to everyone in our communities, regardless of their background or education level. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has tasked each with updating health objectives every decade. For the Healthy People 2030, they have incorporated incisive health experts and the public to refine the definition of health literacy.
This collaborative effort emphasizes that health literacy must be a shared responsibility. One that transcends sectors and engages everyone from policymakers, to health care providers, to the community leaders. The vision is clear. It is to ensure that all people in the United States can achieve their full potential for health and well-being throughout their lives. To recognize this vision, we must implement evidence-based interventions and policies that address the economic, physical, and social environments in which we live, learn, work, and play. This is not only an idea, it is a necessity. Achieving health equity and eliminating health disparities are crucial to the overall health of our society. When we strengthen our community environments, when we eliminate barriers to information, and when we ensure that every individual has the tools they need to navigate their health, we all benefit.
As we observe Health Literacy Month, I encourage you all to reflect on how you can contribute. Whether you are a health care professional, a community advocate, or a concerned citizen, your role in promoting health literacy is essential. Let’s work together to share the clear and helpful information that creates accessible resources and engages with our communities. By collectively prioritizing health literacy, we can pave the way for a more equitable world where everyone has access to high-quality care and the opportunity to achieve positive health outcomes. Let’s take a moment this month to not only raise awareness, but also take meaningful action. Thank you for your commitment to health literacy and let’s build a healthier future for everyone together.
Joining me today in the east Gallery are members of the Henry Ford Health Literacy department.
House Concurrent Resolution No. 6.
A concurrent resolution to approve the State Officers Compensation Commission determinations.
Whereas, Pursuant to the provisions of Article IV, Section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963, the State Officers Compensation Commission is responsible for making determinations regarding the salaries and expense allowances of the members of the Legislature, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the Justices of the Supreme Court; and
Whereas, The State Officers Compensation Commission met on May 24, 2023 to determine the salaries and expense allowances for the members of the Legislature, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the Justices of the Supreme Court; and
Whereas, The State Officers Compensation Commission has concluded its proceedings and on May 24, 2023 made its determinations that the Justices of the Supreme Court should receive a 7 percent salary increase in both 2025 and 2026, and recommended that the Justices of the Supreme Court should receive a $10,000 annual expense allowance. The commission recommended that salaries and expense allowances for the members of the Legislature, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State should not be changed; and
Whereas, On June 15, 2023, the Legislature received the determinations of the State Officers Compensation Commission; and
Whereas, The determinations of the State Officers Compensation Commission shall be the salaries and expense allowances only if the Legislature approves them by concurrent resolution adopted by a majority of the members elected to and serving in each house. If the salary and expense determinations are approved, the salary and expense determinations shall become effective for the legislative session immediately following the next general election, which will commence January 1, 2025; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That, pursuant to Article IV, Section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963 and MCL 15.217, we hereby approve the determinations of the State Officers Compensation Commission that the Justices of the Supreme Court receive a 7 percent salary increase in both 2025 and 2026, and that Justices of the Supreme Court receive a $10,000 annual expense allowance. The salaries and expense allowances for the members of the Legislature, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State shall not be changed; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the State Court Administrator and the Director of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget.
The House of Representatives has adopted the concurrent resolution.
The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution,
Senator Singh moved that further consideration of the concurrent resolution be postponed for today.
The motion
prevailed.
House Concurrent Resolution No. 15.
A concurrent resolution prescribing the legislative schedule.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That when the House of Representatives adjourns on Thursday, September 26, 2024, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.; when it adjourns on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, it stands adjourned until Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.; when it adjourns on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, it stands adjourned until Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 12:00 noon; when it adjourns on Thursday, October 17, 2024, it stands adjourned until Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 12:00 noon; and be it further
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
The House of Representatives has adopted the concurrent resolution.
The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution,
The concurrent resolution was adopted.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Messages from the House
A bill to amend 1973 PA 186, entitled “Tax tribunal act,” by amending section 62 (MCL 205.762), as amended by 2008 PA 128.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1972 PA 348, entitled “An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties,” (MCL 554.601 to 554.616) by amending the title and by adding section 1c.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1), ordered that it be given immediate effect and amended the title to read as follows:
A bill to amend 1972 PA 348, entitled “An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties,” (MCL 554.601 to 554.616) by adding section 1c.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 356 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—17
Albert Hauck Lauwers Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga Lindsey Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title as amended.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
Senator Runestad, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against concurring in the House substitute to Senate Bill No. 205 and moved that the statement he made during the discussion of the substitute be printed as his reasons for voting “no.”
The motion prevailed.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
This bill is going to have a huge impact here in the state of Michigan on rental housing. Right now, there are people all over the state of Michigan that simply can’t find, can’t afford rental housing, and there are so many landlords out there who are barely getting by. There’s so many new regulations being piled upon them, and this is just another one.
Through the last 30-40 years of my life, I’ve talked to so many people who have rented houses, including my father who rented houses, and you wanted to make sure that these people were capable of paying, that they were someone who was going to be good to the property. My dad used to call every landlord—previous landlord—and get references. They wanted to make certain that that property was going to be taken care of because if it wasn’t, if they destroyed the property, that literally could deep-six your entire business, you could go bankrupt, you could lose everything. A lot of these landlords, that’s all they have, that’s their entire retirement, and these vouchers—Section 8 vouchers—most of the people who rent will tell you that they pay, often times, nothing for rent and nothing for utilities. That is a recipe, just like a kid who you give a brand new car, you don’t expect anything from them, they don’t take care of it the same as a person who is paying out of their pocket their hard-earned money to rent property. To force these people to take individuals who may not take care of this property at all, may destroy the property—I can’t tell you how many landlords that I’ve talked to who had their property destroyed. They were angry on the way out, they poured cement down the pipes and just absolutely destroyed the property.
What this bill says is you can’t have any decision-making over this. If you think this is a tremendous danger to your operation, there’s nothing you can do, you have to rent to a person with this voucher. I think it’s destructive to the people out there who are barely getting by, who need more housing, not less, and this is going to create less people wanting to go into rental housing.
The
motion prevailed.
Senator Irwin’s statement is as follows:
I urge you to support this important legislation. This package of bills will prevent discrimination against our residents based on their source of income. What does that mean? That means that right now there are families who are looking for housing in the state of Michigan who might have revenue from child support, or might have revenue or income from veterans benefits, and yes, they might have a voucher to help them pay for housing because they are working but they don’t earn enough to pay for housing in this tough economy. We need to make sure that those systems that we’ve set up to support these families work for them, and we need to make sure these families, these hardworking people, have an opportunity to move into a good neighborhood where their kids can get into a good school. That’s what this is about.
One thing that was mentioned just a moment ago by a colleague is that people are struggling with housing right now. That’s absolutely right. That’s why this is so important. We need to make sure that low-income working families have access to housing here in the state of Michigan. And while my colleague may have been focused on the needs of landlords, I would encourage everyone to not only talk to landlords, but also talk to tenants, because there are a lot of people in our state who are struggling to find housing right now and one of the things this legislation will do is open up more opportunities for those individuals.
I will mention that during the course of developing and working on this legislation, we spent a lot of time working with landlords and housing providers to make sure that there were exemptions for small housing providers, to make sure that there were exemptions for landlords if the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development isn’t moving paperwork fast enough. We addressed the concerns that were raised by landlords in the process, and I think what we have before us now is a proposal that is a compromise that will be good for the housing industry, but that also most importantly and most crucially will open up opportunities to these families who just need a safe place to live.
I encourage you to support this legislation. This is going to be good for low-income families, it’s going to be good for families who are looking to get their kids into better schools, this is going to be good for keeping neighborhoods stable, and I urge a “yes” vote.
A bill to amend 1972 PA 348, entitled “An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties,” by amending section 1 (MCL 554.601), as amended by 1995 PA 79.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1), ordered that it be given immediate effect and amended the title to read as follows:
A bill to amend 1972 PA 348, entitled “An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties,” by amending the title and section 1 (MCL 554.601), section 1 as amended by 1995 PA 79.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 357 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—17
Albert Hauck Lauwers Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga Lindsey Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title as amended.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 453, entitled “Elliott-Larsen civil rights act,” by amending the title and section 502 (MCL 37.2502), as amended by 2023 PA 6.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1), ordered that it be given immediate effect and amended the title to read as follows:
A bill to amend 1976 PA 453, entitled “An act to define civil rights; to prohibit discriminatory practices, policies, and customs in the exercise of those rights based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, familial status, or marital status; to preserve the confidentiality of records regarding arrest, detention, or other disposition in which a conviction does not result; to prescribe the powers and duties of the civil rights commission and the department of civil rights; to provide remedies and penalties; to provide for fees; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts,” by amending section 502 (MCL 37.2502), as amended by 2023 PA 6.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 358 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—17
Albert Hauck Lauwers Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga Lindsey Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title as amended.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1937 PA 94, entitled “Use tax act,” by amending section 4cc (MCL 205.94cc), as added by 2015 PA 252.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-6) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-6), ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pursuant to rule 3.202, the bill was laid over one day.
A bill to amend 2014 PA 197, entitled “Breastfeeding antidiscrimination act,” by amending the title and section 2 (MCL 37.232).
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1969 PA 165, entitled “An act to authorize the public service commission to establish and enforce gas safety standards; and to provide penalties for violations thereof,” by amending section 11 (MCL 483.161), as amended by 1992 PA 11.
The House of Representatives has amended the bill as follows:
1. Amend page 2, following line 25, by inserting:
“(6) An administrative fine issued under this section must be deposited in the general fund. For each calendar year, any amount of the administrative fines deposited in the general fund that exceeds $200,000.00 must be credited to the commission to be used for underground facilities safety education and training, consistent with section 12(7) of the MISS DIG underground facility damage prevention and safety act, 2013 PA 174, MCL 460.732.” and renumbering the remaining subsection.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as amended and ordered that it be given immediate effect.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the amendment made to the bill by the House,
The amendment was
concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 359 Yeas—30
Anthony Daley McCann Santana
Bayer Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Bellino Hertel McMorrow Singh
Brinks Huizenga Moss Theis
Camilleri Irwin Nesbitt Victory
Cavanagh Johnson Outman Webber
Chang Klinefelt Polehanki Wojno
Cherry Lauwers
Nays—7
Albert Damoose Hoitenga Runestad
Bumstead Hauck Lindsey
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The revised school code,” by amending section 1280f (MCL 380.1280f), as amended by 2023 PA 224.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-5) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-5), ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 360 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Irwin’s statement is as follows:
This is a very happy moment for me to see this legislation finally make it to this point, so I want to thank my colleagues for being here today to consider this. This is, like I said, a long buildup to get to this point, and I’m happy about it because this legislation right here is a crucial step to improve literacy here in the state of Michigan. This legislation does that by weaving best practices in literacy instruction and the science of reading into every element of our early elementary literacy instruction.
Taken together, these bills will improve our assessments that we are giving in the classroom to make sure that we measure the foundational skills of literacy. It requires that we utilize evidence-based practices to intervene on behalf of kids who are struggling with their decoding skills. And, under Senate Bill No. 568, it requires enhanced training to make sure that our educators are given all of the tools they need to employ those best practices in our elementary schools.
I want to take a moment to thank some of my colleagues who’ve been so helpful in getting this done. Obviously, we wouldn’t be here without the Senate Majority Leader and the House Speaker moving this legislation along, but I also want to take a moment to particularly thank the Senate Education chair. Her support, co-sponsorship, and sponsorship of the companion legislation has been absolutely crucial to getting this legislation done. I also want to give some thanks to my colleagues from the 22nd District and the 23rd District. This is something that we’ve been working on together for years, and I appreciate you sticking with it. We got very close to getting this done together last session, and here we are, on the precipice of success here today. So thank you all around to everyone who has been a part of providing comment, supporting this legislation, and helping us improve it.
There have been some folks over at the Michigan Department of Education who’ve been critical to providing expertise to make sure that we get this legislation right—and it’s important that we get this legislation right because reading is the fundamental skill that all other education is built upon. We absolutely have to make sure that we are attending to the early literacy outcomes here in the state of Michigan. As you’ve noticed, we have some work to do in that area, and I’m really proud to be associated with this legislation that I think will get us a lot closer to the kind of success that we’re looking for with our literacy scores.
Finally, I want to say that right now there are a lot of kids who’ve fallen through the cracks in Michigan. There are a lot of kids who aren’t getting the help they need with decoding skills early, and that’s really having a negative impact on their lives, it’s having a negative impact on their families, it’s hurting their ability to be successful in their future life, and that’s bad for them in their lives, but it’s also bad for Michigan. It’s important that our state get this right. Literacy is, as I said, the foundational skill for education. I’m really excited, I’m genuinely super happy to be here today to be finally taking this vote to hopefully send this legislation to the Governor’s desk so that we can improve literacy scores in Michigan, so we can attend to those many kids who are falling through the cracks right now who are struggling with the characteristics of dyslexia, and make sure that we do better by teaching our kids to read here in the state of Michigan.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
I also want to thank very, very much, my colleague in the 15th Senate District. He has been an absolute dog with a bone on this bill package and has worked and worked relentlessly with every stakeholder you could imagine, just continuing and fighting and fighting to make a difference.
I have more of a personal interest in this package. Years ago, back when I was in early elementary school, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. I guess that’s the first time I ever said this publicly. My staff used to say, Well why didn’t you talk about that? I said, No, you never, ever say that in public because you’re stigmatized and people say you can’t do this and you can’t do that, all these things. So I’ve never, I think at least in this forum, mentioned that. I also was very fortunate back in, I think it was between third and fourth grade, there was this group that came into our elementary school, they were college students and they were working with students who had reading disabilities. I was one of the ones selected to go into the program and it was incredible. I can’t remember the exact specifics, but it seemed like it was maybe four or five weeks, it was four hours a day, it was summer, and the last thing that I wanted to do was go through that program. My mom said, I’ll buy you ice cream, candy, and stuff the other kids aren’t going to get because you’re suffering through this. But I remember, as we were going through this, it was very intensive and it started to make sense to me, day after day, week after week, and I started to do what’s called decoding.
When you have dyslexia, a lot of the stuff doesn’t make sense but when you start learning phonetics and phonics and they’re walking you through it, you start decoding, and it broke free for me. I was able to go from there, to start reading—reading is my greatest passion now on my free time. Anyone will tell you that I read relentlessly, all the time. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t had that intervention.
I’ve talked to so many of the activists and parents here in the state of Michigan who said, without a shadow of a doubt, Michigan is the absolute worst state in the nation for dyslexic students. All these parents who would come into Michigan, they said, Well don’t they screen for it? No. Isn’t there any intervention? No. I’ve talked to the parents—it’s thousands and thousands of dollars just to get the test. About $1,200 just to get the testing.
So finally, to get to this point where all these kids are going to get the intervention that has kept us at near the absolute bottom—because up to 15 percent of the students have dyslexia—kept us at the absolute bottom of reading. This is going to, I believe, make an absolute difference to take us to the very middle, and then to the very top. The same thing that happened in Mississippi. They were at the bottom, they went with the science of reading—which is exactly what we’re talking about—they’re at the middle and they’re going to go to the top. I believe Michigan is also going to go to the middle from the bottom, and to the top with what we’re doing today. I want to thank everybody who worked on this package. I think it’s going to make a great difference for all the parents and the kids here in the state of Michigan.
Senator Polehanki’s statement is as follows:
This is dyslexia screening requirement. We’re one of roughly ten states that has no formal mechanism to detect kids who have the characteristics of dyslexia. I know, as a teacher, for a very long time I wasn’t trained in dyslexia. It was rarely mentioned, but I do know there were a lot of kids I had who struggled to read—and I was a high school teacher. What I now know is those kids who, I could see it on their faces, they just thought they were dumb. I wonder how many kids of mine, and I can see them each year in my mind’s eye, struggling to read actually had dyslexia and we didn’t catch it? They may still think they’re dumb as young adults and adults today.
I also think of a former constituent of mine who testified in the Senate Education Committee. His name is Deon. He was from Inkster, made it to the NFL, and in part because he couldn’t read the playbook, he was let go. His coaches thought he just didn’t care enough to read the playbook, but he couldn’t read the playbook. So as a young adult, well into his 20s, he sat down with a reading coach and learned phonics, and it all just broke free for him, according to him. He’s now a fluent reader.
I’d like to thank Senator Irwin—this has
been his brain child for years—Senator Theis and Senator Runestad for working
on it last session, Representative Koleszar in the House for being a huge
champion, and for Deon. I’m hoping you’re about to see what can happen when we
come together and vote on good legislation. I’m hoping that we’re going to see
an entirely green board up here, to show that we can agree on things when it’s
good legislation. So I ask that my colleagues vote “yes” on both bills in the
package.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The revised school code,” (MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1531e.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-2) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-2), ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 361 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” by amending section 110a (MCL 400.110a), as added by 2018 PA 220.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “Michigan
vehicle code,” by amending sections 803a and 803b (MCL 257.803a and 257.803b),
section 803a as amended by 1996 PA 404 and section 803b as amended by 2023 PA
129.
The House of Representatives has amended the bill as follows:
1. Amend page 2, line 23, after “after” by striking out “a hearing,” and inserting “an opportunity to be heard,”.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as amended, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the amendment made to the bill by the House,
The amendment was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 362 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for certain capital outlay projects and the department of natural resources for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024; to provide for expenditure of the appropriations; and to prescribe certain conditions for the appropriations.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1), ordered that it be given immediate effect and amended the title to read as follows:
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for certain capital outlay projects, community colleges, and the department of natural resources for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024; to provide for expenditure of the appropriations; and to prescribe certain conditions for the appropriations.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was
concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 363 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The question being on concurring in the committee recommendation to give the bill immediate effect,
The recommendation was concurred in, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The Senate agreed to the title as amended.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 2004 PA 46, entitled “Public safety officers benefit act,” by amending section 4 (MCL 28.634).
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-2) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-2), ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 364 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1972 PA 239, entitled “McCauley-Traxler-Law-Bowman-McNeely lottery act,” by amending section 41 (MCL 432.41), as amended by 2009 PA 25.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1956 PA 205, entitled “The paternity act,” by amending section 2 (MCL 722.712), as amended by 2009 PA 235.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1987 PA 264, entitled “Health and safety fund act,” by amending section 5 (MCL 141.475), as amended by 2009 PA 60.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1), ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 365 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—17
Albert Hauck Lauwers Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga Lindsey Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1997 PA 70, entitled “Compulsive gaming prevention act,” by amending section 3 (MCL 432.253), as amended by 2008 PA 282.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1), ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
The substitute was concurred in, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 366 Yeas—20
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Polehanki
Bayer Cherry McCann Santana
Brinks Geiss McDonald Rivet Shink
Camilleri Hertel McMorrow Singh
Cavanagh Irwin Moss Wojno
Nays—17
Albert Hauck Lauwers Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga Lindsey Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose
Excused—1
McBroom
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” by amending sections 57e, 57g, 57p, and 57r (MCL 400.57e, 400.57g, 400.57p, and 400.57r), sections 57e, 57p, and 57r as amended by 2011 PA 131 and section 57g as amended by 2014 PA 375.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 2019 PA 149, entitled “Lawful sports betting act,” by amending section 16 (MCL 432.416).
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 2019 PA 152, entitled “Lawful internet gaming act,” by amending section 16 (MCL 432.316), as amended by 2022 PA 269.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” by repealing section 117i (MCL 400.117i).
The House of Representatives has passed the bill, ordered that it be given immediate effect and pursuant to Joint Rule 20, inserted the full title.
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
Senator Singh moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 744
The motion prevailed.
A bill to amend 1937 (Ex Sess) PA 4, entitled “An act relative to continuing tenure of office of certificated teachers in public educational institutions; to provide for probationary periods; to regulate discharges or demotions; to provide for resignations and leaves of absence; to create a state tenure commission and to prescribe the powers and duties thereof; and to prescribe penalties for violation of the provisions of this act,” by amending section 3b (MCL 38.83b), as amended by 2023 PA 225.
(This bill was returned from the House without amendment on Wednesday, June 5 and the motion for immediate effect postponed. See Senate Journal No. 55, p. 700.)
The question being on the motion to give the bill immediate effect,
The motion did not prevail, 2/3 of the members serving not voting therefor.
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Messages from the Governor
The following message from the Governor was received on September 26, 2024, and read:
EXECUTIVE ORDER
No. 2024-6
Juvenile Residential Facilities Advisory Committee
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Michigan is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of youth in the juvenile justice system. In June 2021, with Executive Order 2021-6, I launched the Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force and directed it to assess our juvenile justice system and recommend proven practices and strategies for reform. The Task Force was chaired by Lt. Governor Gilchrist and reflected a partnership between county and state leaders, the courts, juvenile justice advocates, and experts. After a year of diligent work, the Task Force issued its final report and recommendations on July 22, 2022.
One of the Task Force’s primary objectives was to make recommendations for safely reducing juvenile placements in detention and residential facilities. In its final report, the Task Force concluded that Michigan has inadequate state laws, court rules, and funding incentives to guide the use of residential placements. As a result, the quality of services and case management received by youth in residential placements differs significantly by county, wardship, and facility.
With this context in mind, the Task Force unanimously recommended the establishment of a statewide residential advisory committee to support the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The efforts of this advisory committee would build upon the success of the Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force to recommend quality assurance and improvement processes for residential facilities statewide.
To fulfill this purpose, I created the Juvenile Residential Facilities Advisory Committee through Executive Order 2022-14, and ordered that it dissolve on October 1, 2024, unless I otherwise directed. To best fulfill its purpose and provide the most effective reform for the system that services some of our most vulnerable youth, the Committee has indicated that it needs additional time, beyond October 1st of 2024, to complete its important work.
Section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 vests the executive power of the State of Michigan in the governor.
Section 8 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 obligates the governor to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
Acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I order the following:
1. Charge to the Committee
a) The lifespan of the Juvenile Residential Facilities Advisory Committee, as set forth in Section 2(c) of Executive Order 2022-14, shall be extended to June 30, 2025, or such other time as the governor directs.
2. Implementation
a) This order is effective upon filing.
Given under my hand and the great seal of the State of Michigan.
Date: September 26, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Gretchen Whitmer
[SEAL] Governor
By the Governor:
Jocelyn Benson
Secretary of State
The executive order was
referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Statements
The motion prevailed.
Senator Lindsey’s statement is as follows:
Over a decade ago I visited a remote village along the Kunduz River in Puli Khumri, Afghanistan. As part of an Army Special Forces team tasked with village stability operations, this was a relatively routine visit, not unlike hundreds of other missions we conducted during that deployment. I was the only member of my team who had learned to speak Persian Dari, the language most used in that area, so I would often engage in conversation with the Afghans. I learned a lot from them. That day, the topic was how local government decisions were being made. Local leaders were proud to explain to me how they had, in recent years, stabilized decision-making through a democratic process. Decisions that had too often been made by warlords and petty tyrants were instead being made in a representative way. They were proud of the progress they had made.
They were also acutely aware that to fully benefit from a democratic decision-making process, that process needed to be well thought out and secured against those who would corrupt it. This was obvious to them. It’s obvious to everyone who is serious about the topic. So, they did their part and we did ours, often at great risk. In many locations around the world, United States forces have literally laid down their lives fighting for other people to have a chance at self-determination. Don’t the people of the United States, the people of Michigan, deserve as much? We should not have 105 percent of eligible voters registered to vote in Michigan—but we do. It should not be possible for someone to simultaneously be registered under a maiden name at a location where they have not lived in decades and also be registered at their current address under their actual name, but here in Michigan it is possible and it’s happening right now. Ballots should not be able to arrive days after an election without any postmark whatsoever and still be counted, but here in Michigan they can be. Individuals should not be able to vote without showing basic proof of who they are, but in Michigan they can. Mail ballots should not be diverted to alternate addresses without common-sense safeguards, but here in Michigan they can be. Election officials like the Secretary of State should not routinely violate the law, corrupt the signature verification process, and fight to kick out election watchdogs, but here in Michigan she does. The ability for election officials to even investigate fraud should not be eliminated, but in Michigan it all but has been. It should not be harder than ever for good clerks to do their jobs while easier than ever for the rare bad apples to corrupt the process, but here in Michigan it is.
I could go on, but hopefully you take my point. The most frustrating thing is that the glaring issues in our election laws and procedures are not an accident. Over the last two years the Democrats have had complete control of Michigan’s government and they have made dozens of changes to election law. Unfortunately, many of their changes, rather than addressing real issues, have been blatant attacks on the safety and security of our elections.
Now, we are just over a month away from another enormously consequential election. The people of Michigan are rightly concerned. To the majority, I wish I could take you all back in time to that small village in Afghanistan. I wish I could convince you to look into the eyes of people who did not take their democratic process for granted. I wish I could get you to believe that the immeasurable gifts given to us by our previous generations are worth preserving. I wish I could convince you that the cynical politics of trying to win elections through rigging the system is something everyone will one day regret. I’m only speaking today because it is not actually too late. The majority still has time to take action before this election to fix fundamental problems. For instance, I have a blueback of a bill on my desk today that would help ensure the identity of voters is verified when they come out to vote. It wouldn’t solve all of our problems, but it would help. Many such ideas could be adopted by the Democrats and they would have bipartisan support if they wished to make our elections stronger. But time is running out. Please take action before it’s too late.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
It is with vile and gruesome irony that I must report to you that yesterday, the very day we passed an irresponsible bill allowing a 21-year-old kid with 12 hours of training and a background to have full access to the records of an abused and neglected child with removal of the case being the only penalty should they disclose to the world the child’s sensitive confidential information, at that very same moment we passed that bill, a jury in Detroit convicted the murderers of little 5-year-old Ethan Belcher on all counts with life sentences. Yesterday, Ethan Belcher’s case was the very catalyst that compelled me to put in Senate Bill No. 53 to require CPS cases to be opened up in cases of egregious failure like Ethan’s to any sitting member of the Legislature or to the credentialed media provided that we sign a confidentiality agreement at penalty of a misdemeanor. This bill I believe might save hundreds of lives of abused and tortured kids in Michigan and yet this vital legislation has been stalled dead on arrival in the Oversight Committee since I introduced it back on February 7, 2023.
After yesterday’s verdict, Ethan’s aunts called me to relay how horrifying and life-altering this catastrophic experience has been, that no one who has not experienced this kind of heartbreaking tragedy can possibly imagine trying to go to sleep at night with these atrocious images swirling in your head. They also told me categorically that they are absolutely committed to continuing this fight to make a difference, that they are committed to coming to Lansing again and again and again to work to get Senate Bill No. 53 passed. Ethan’s aunts made Herculean efforts to inform CPS over a dozen times about his being repeatedly beaten head to toe and these reports going nowhere, and Ethan once again and again being sent back to the tender mercies of those monsters.
For the edification of members here in this chamber who do care, the Detroit News reported 5-year-old Ethan “was forced to sleep in a small, unfinished closet with a [urine-soaked] blanket…in the cold, sewage-filled basement.” Ethan was beaten with a broken fly swatter and a kitchen pipe. The medical examiner said Ethan’s body was covered with injuries. “He died from blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries, with complications from sepsis and pneumonia.” He “had a fractured rib, a dislocated hip, a severe cut in between his toes, puncture wounds to his buttocks and extremities, ligature marks on his wrists and ankles, cuts and bruises all over his body, a swollen knee,” frostbitten toes, rotted with gangrene, and a necrotic left toe.
Many of those in this chamber I am sure will forget this case, perhaps even by the very end of this session day, but I will never forget 5-year-old Ethan, nor will his aunts. I believe all loving concerned parents here in the state of Michigan will not forgive the cold, iceberg hearts of those on the other side of the aisle who refused to allow a hearing on this vital, long overdue bill that would allow us members in this chamber and credentialed media to get involved and begin to stop the seemingly endless horrific brutal tortures and murders of Michigan’s children. The emotional toll on Ethan’s family, particularly his aunts, is unimaginable and their commitment to fight for this reform could be just the critical step needed toward educating and garnering the public support and the sharing of these details about Ethan’s horrific suffering just underscores the urgency of passing this legislation to prevent future tragedies.
Senator Albert’s statement is as follows:
Progressive activists are claiming victory with a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling related to minimum wage and paid sick leave laws. In reality, there is nothing to celebrate. The decision is actually a massive loss for just about everyone: restaurants and other small businesses, their employees, and their customers. Listen to what restaurant servers and others across the state are saying. They are worried about widespread closings and losing their jobs if the Supreme Court ruling goes into effect. The hardworking Michiganders actually affected by this decision know they will not benefit from these mandated progressive policies if they lose their job as a result.
Time is of the essence here, and the Legislature has a responsibility to help avoid this looming disaster that will negatively impact Michigan families. I have introduced legislation that would keep our current laws on the books before the Supreme Court decision starts to be implemented early next year. These laws are working and provide a good framework moving forward, sustainably raising minimum wage, keeping the tipped wage system in place, and maintaining common-sense sick leave exemptions for small businesses. If Democrats have an alternative solution, now is the time to get it in the open. We must act before it is too late.
Under the court ruling, early next year the minimum wage is expected to increase 21 percent to $12.48 per hour. It is expected to increase to nearly $15 an hour over the next three years. Why is this an issue? One does not need a doctorate in economics to see what happens when the government artificially inflates wages to a point that is unaffordable for employers. If you own a small business and the cost of hiring an employee is greater than the revenue you bring in to pay for that employee, you either reduce the position’s hours or you don’t hire that employee at all. It’s simple math. Progressives might genuinely think they are doing workers a favor by raising their wages but in real life, they are making more jobs unsustainable and promoting job cuts.
Even more damaging is the elimination of the tipped credit which will decimate an already weakened restaurant industry. Under current law, a server earns 38 percent of the minimum wage as a payment from their employer. The remaining 62 percent comes from customer tips. If tips fall short, the employer is required to make up the difference, but in reality, that rarely happens. Servers often make much more than the mandated minimum wage under the current system. The system that would be put in place in the aftermath of this decision would phase out this tipped credit entirely. Most or all of the labor cost would shift to employers, who would be forced to pass on the cost along to customers through higher menu prices. That would translate to drastically reduced tipping, or not seeing tipping at all, and servers could very likely wind up taking home less money than they do right now. Like anything else, if prices are too high people will stop buying or using the product. Fewer customers means less business, which translates to operating with fewer employees or closing altogether. This is not theoretical; this is real life. Thousands of restaurant jobs were lost in Washington, D.C., after the tipped credit was eliminated there. On top of all this is the fairness issue. Why is someone who is busting their hump working six tables getting paid the same as someone who’s working two?
The paid sick leave mandates are more complex but also troubling because small businesses would not be able to absorb the costs. We must keep the exemption for small businesses. Even Obamacare exempted business with 50 employees or less. The part of the new law enabling no-call-no-show employees must also be adjusted. Employers, especially small ones, need to know they can be staffed reliably, and they need to know that so they can keep their doors open. People who go to a dentist, a school, or even a hardware store need to know there will be someone working there when they walk through the doors.
All told, the Supreme Court ruling does not create opportunities for the Michiganders who need opportunities the most. It is taking those opportunities away. We must work together to enact a solution before it is too late.
Senator Cavanagh’s statement is as follows:
Today I stand before you with mixed emotions as we bid farewell to a remarkable individual who has been the backbone of my office ever since entering the Senate. Most of you may have met Lauren during her time in Senator Hertel’s office or through her fierce work in the House, being that favored phone call to let you know to raise more money. From minority Appropriations chair’s office to flipping the House, Lauren Bohac had equipped herself with skills, tenacity, and determination to be beyond qualified to serve as my first chief.
In November 2022, when I became Senator-elect, I knew I needed a chief who not only fit the roles and responsibilities but could help my office hit the ground running on my priorities, the priorities of my newly- established Senate district, and the priorities of all of Michigan. With minutes to spare, I asked Lauren to be my chief just days before the new session with an interview that not only was taken by her but Winnie too. Lauren was always giving her all for every position she’s been in, and my office was no different. From the first interview, to laying on the floor during budget season, filing your nails, to standing next to me on the floor today, Lauren is leaving behind a legacy of hard work and integrity that will not be forgotten.
I could continue to gush about Lauren and her quality of work or her love for U of M—Go Green!—or highlight her incredible skirt collection, but I think the best representation of leadership is through the words of your team. This is what your team had to say about you: Lauren is incredibly detail-oriented and is always available when her team needs her. She exhibits the type of leadership we should all hope to emulate. Lauren is organized, patient, thoughtful, and treats her team with respect. She takes her position seriously and executes it gracefully. And from the Senator, it was an honor to have you as my chief. While I will certainly miss your presence, I am excited to see the incredible impact you will have in your next role, and I certainly know Winn will love to see his mom a little more. Thanks for believing in the vision of my office and for your service to the state of Michigan.
Senator Anthony’s statement is as follows:
As Appropriations Chair, I rarely stand before you during Statements to provide any thoughts at the conclusion of session. Most of my time is spent negotiating, thinking through the details of our $80-plus billion budget. Yesterday, I had some interesting thoughts after many of the speeches that went before us. We took the time to negotiate and bring forward a school supplemental that unlocked $125 million of additional funding for our schools to support mental health and safety, and I watched in disappointment as many of my colleagues with a lot of fake outrage and shouting decided to put politics over our young people. As most of us know, you can always come to me if you have thoughts or ideas about ways we can make this institution better, ways we can utilize these precious state resources for the betterment of our people.
As I sat and listened to these speeches, I started to reflect on the invocation I gave just yesterday. At that point, I’d balled it up and put it in the recycling bin and I sat quietly and actually took it out of the recycling bin. There was a portion of the invocation I wanted to lift up yet today. I quoted and I said, Give us the courage to do the complicated things, the challenging things, the less politically popular things, if it means a brighter future for the generation after us. Remind us to disagree without being disagreeable, knowing that even different opinions and ideas, we have the ability to work in the spirit of unity. I just said at the beginning of session, and what I saw at the end of session was some of the worst of politics. But, I wake up every day and it’s a fresh start, another opportunity just to get it right.
I’m reminded of the words of my colleague from the Upper Peninsula. Some of those words resonated with me because he mentioned an area that I’m very passionate about and it is the health and safety of state workers. I’m the daughter of an auto worker and a state employee and over the last few years, we have been barreling over corrections officers’ safety and the shortage of so many corrections officers across the state that are taking care of over 30,000 of our loved ones in many of the correctional facilities across the state. These corrections officers—again, state employees—are leaving their positions in alarming numbers due to exhausting forced overtime and mandated double shifts, mandated overtime that spans multiple days in a row and often many days per week. These men and women are entrusted with the lives of Michiganders in 26 correctional institutions and there are currently over 900 vacancies statewide. That number continues to grow every day. Corrections officers suffer from suicide, substance abuse, higher rates of divorce, and mental illness at some of the highest rates of all professions in Michigan. These are stressful conditions, a level of stress that most of us—you know, when we sit in this beautiful State Capitol and spend, yes, some long hours debating and negotiating, we cannot imagine the stress they are under each and every day. Each and every day the crisis continues to grow.
Make no mistake: we tried multiple approaches both under Democratic and Republican control to try to address this crisis. We’ve done retention bonuses, we’ve had creative recruitment efforts, so many things that we’ve tried to do in the past few years, but nothing is working. Today I call upon all of us on both sides of the aisle, in both chambers, and, yes, even the executive, to come together to bring together that spirit of unity that I talked about in our invocation and actually listen to the outcry of these state employees because we cannot afford to wait any longer.
Senator Irwin’s statement is as follows:
Years ago, citizens across our state gathered together, organized, spent their time and money, to gather signatures for a ballot initiative. They wanted to put the issue of living wages on the ballot here in Michigan. They wanted to increase the minimum wage. After those citizens, our voters, went out and spent their time and money to put that question before the voters to let the people of Michigan decide on that, unfortunately this Legislature under Republican control short-circuited that ballot initiative and committed a dastardly and unconstitutional act when they ripped that measure off the ballot and adopted it with the open, cynical intent of then gutting it after the election after the voters had the opportunity to hold them accountable. We all thought it was gutless, we all knew it was gutless, we all wondered if it was unconstitutional, and now we know that it was.
That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re hearing concerns from folks in the business community about how this change is going to affect them. You can point fingers at the Michigan Constitution and you can point fingers at the Michigan Supreme Court, but there are fingers pointing back at this Legislature and the Republican majority that violated the rights of the people in our Constitution, took away their democratic rights, and now some of those same people are trying to point the finger at the new Democratic majority and asking us to clean up the mess that you all made.
Not only do I want to point that out, but I also want to ask you to spare me the crocodile tears and the questionable concern that has been raised on behalf of employees, as if keeping wages low is good for employees. That’s not what you’re here to do. You’re here to try to upend this new increase in wages policy on behalf of businesses in Michigan. Well, once again, you’re bringing this issue to the table here, you’re introducing legislation, you’re asking us to clean up the mess that Republicans made, but I want to point out a couple things. One, I think all the alarm we’ve heard is a little bit premature. I want to point out that these wage increases don’t happen all in February of next year. In fact, only a small portion of these wage increases for workers here in Michigan go into effect next February. We have a lot of time to address these issues before they’re going to start affecting anybody’s payroll, and before they’re going to start putting more food and more resources on the table of workers here in Michigan. I want to point out that that increase to our minimum wage is gradual and the change to the tipped wage isn’t going to be fully phased in until 2029. This change to the tipped wage doesn’t take effect fully until 2029. That’s a long time from now.
What I think we should do is have a serious conversation. I think we should take comment from workers and from businesses, and I think we should take seriously the idea that workers in Michigan who are out there putting in a full-time schedule should earn enough money to have decent shelter, to have food on their table, to be able to provide for their families. I just want to share with my colleagues across the aisle that when citizens went there and they put their blood, sweat, and tears onto the pavement of Michigan to try to fight for a living wage for employees, I think it was wrong of this Legislature to disrespect that effort, to rip it off the ballot, to adopt it, and then to gut it afterward. Let’s begin the serious conversation about what we’re going to do going forward, but please spare me the blame game for the very results that the Republican Legislature caused to happen.
Senator Nesbitt’s statement is as follows:
Mr. President, under Governor Whitmer, Michigan families and job creators have experienced failure after failure by this one-party rule in our state. The reading scores of our students have hit a ten-year record low. This isn’t just a number. It’s a dramatic failure that damages our children’s future. What did Democrats do while students continue to struggle? They repealed reading assistance for struggling students. They eliminated student performance for teachers. They stole $650 million from the teacher pension fund, and now just made it ongoing year after year after year. They refused to increase per-pupil funding in this year’s budget. They rejected reading scholarships for students in low-income families.
Our children are at risk because of the repeated failures of Lansing Democrats and this Democratic trifecta. When our children are in school, their physical and mental well-being must be a top priority. What did Governor Whitmer and the Democratic majority do? They decided to slash $300 million from the school safety and mental health funding, and now they’re patting themselves on the back for giving back only half for one year.
How benevolent of them. That isn’t leadership, that isn’t common sense, that is failure. Our Corrections Department is in shambles. Instead of rehabilitation and safety, we’re seeing leaderless chaos at the top. The director has failed time and time again to address major issues that are forcing our corrections officers into unworkable settings. The response from Governor Whitmer? Crickets. Silence. To make matters worse, we’re now forced to tackle a misguided State Supreme Court decision, a decision that is set to cost our state 50,000 jobs if we don’t do something about it. Where I’m from, 50,000 jobs is a lot of jobs. Maybe if they were Chinese Communist-sponsored enterprises, maybe they would work to save them. Restaurant owners, bartenders, and wait staff across the state will see their take-home pay cut if not worse—them getting laid off. In my district a woman who runs a small family diner almost a decade says she’ll be forced to close her doors. Earlier this week, I was at a restaurant in South Haven and the owner turns to me and says, This is probably the last time you’ll be served in this restaurant. We’ll likely not be able to reopen next summer if this stands. These are not just jobs; these are livelihoods of Michigan workers and their families. Where’s the urgency? Where’s the leadership in the Democratic-controlled Senate and House? Where’s the leadership from the executive branch? Silence.
Yes, Mr. President, it’s safe to say this majority has been a failure for the people. They seem to be more focused on protecting the tax-hiker than the taxpayer, protecting the tax-taker instead of the taxpayer. Senate Republicans stand here ready with common-sense solutions to reverse these damaging trends. We want to empower parents to make Michigan a leader in education again, not a state that is outperformed by Mississippi. We want to bring back jobs and grow our economy without the burden of having to battle government at every step of the way. We want to safeguard our children’s future by making Michigan a place they want to stay and raise their future family. Make no mistake about it, Governor Whitmer has failed Michigan families and job creators with a radical, left-wing agenda, but Senate Republicans and the people of Michigan aren’t taking this anymore. We need real, common-sense solutions that will fix the failures of Governor Whitmer and this Democratic majority.
Announcements of Printing and Enrollment
House Bill Nos. 4361 5204 5328 5394 5551 5583 5600 5682 5717 5922
The Secretary announced that the following bills were printed and filed on Wednesday, September 25, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
House Bill Nos. 5947 5948
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules submitted the following:
Meeting held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 9:15 a.m., Room 403, 4th Floor, Capitol Building
Present: Senators Wojno (C), Bayer, McMorrow, Theis, Runestad
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture submitted the following:
Meeting held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building
Present: Senators Shink (C), Cherry, Singh, Polehanki, Daley, Victory
and Hoitenga
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Appropriations submitted the following:
Meeting held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room, 3rd Floor, Capitol Building
Present: Senators Anthony (C), McCann, McDonald Rivet, Bayer, Santana, Shink, Irwin, Hertel, Camilleri, Klinefelt, McMorrow, Cavanagh, Bumstead, Albert, Damoose, Huizenga, Outman and Theis
Excused: Senator Cherry
Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 1:06 p.m.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, declared the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
DANIEL OBERLIN
Secretary of the Senate