No. 72

STATE OF MICHIGAN

Journal of the Senate

103rd Legislature

REGULAR SESSION OF 2025

Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

10:00 a.m.

Pursuant to rule 1.101, in the absence of the Presiding Officers, the Senate was called to order by the Secretary of the Senate.

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—excused Santana—present

Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present

Cavanagh—present Lauwers—present Singh—present

Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present

Cherry—present McBroom—present Victory—present

Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present

Damoose—present McMorrow—present Wojno—present

Geiss—present

Senator Lana Theis of the 22nd District offered the following invocation:

Father God, what we meant to say was thank You. What a gift You have given us with this country and the freedoms it allows. Lord, we pray for Your guidance. Where there is chaos, help us to find order. Where there is anger, help us to find joy. Where there is evil, help us to find honesty, truth, and good. The Bible tells us that if we get down on our knees and pray, You will heal our land, and Lord, we pray for that. Help us as legislators to know Your will and help us to have the courage to do it. I pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Secretary of the Senate, Daniel Oberlin, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, assumed the Chair.

Motions and Communications

Senator Lauwers moved that Senators Webber, Damoose and Bumstead be temporarily excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

Senator Lauwers moved that Senator Johnson be excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

Senator Chang moved that Senators Anthony, Brinks, Geiss, Irwin, McMorrow, Cavanagh and Singh be temporarily excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

The following communication was received and read:

Office of the Auditor General

August 28, 2025

Enclosed is a copy of the following report:

• Preliminary survey summary of the Blue Water Bridge, Michigan Department of Transportation
(591-0122-25).

Sincerely,

Doug Ringler

Auditor General

The preliminary survey summary was referred to the Committee on Oversight.

Senator Bumstead entered the Senate Chamber.

Recess

Senator Chang moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.

The motion prevailed, the time being 10:04 a.m.

11:21 a.m.

The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Moss.

During the recess, Senators Brinks, Cavanagh, Anthony, Irwin, Webber, Damoose, Singh, Geiss and McMorrow entered the Senate Chamber.

Senator Singh moved that the rules be suspended and that the following bills, now on Committee Reports, be placed on the General Orders calendar for consideration today:

Senate Bill No. 394

Senate Bill No. 395

Senate Bill No. 396

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

Messages from the Governor

The following message from the Governor was received on August 28, 2025, and read:

EXECUTIVE ORDER

No. 2025-8

Declaration of State of Emergency

On July 23, 2025, a strong system of severe storms produced heavy rainfall of up to four inches over a four-hour period. This storm primarily impacted the Western Upper Peninsula, which resulted in a flash flood warning issued by the National Weather Service. This caused widespread damage to the public infrastructure in the counties of Houghton and Ontonagon. This damage included roadway blockages, the failure of at least one bridge, and the closure of public spaces.

Approximately four weeks after this storm system, all communities are still cleaning up and recovering from the event. Local officials in Houghton and Ontonagon counties have taken several steps to respond to the situation, including but not limited to activating their own local response and recovery plans. Despite these efforts, local resources have proven insufficient to address the situation. State assistance and other outside resources are necessary to effectively respond to and recover from the impacts of this emergency; protect public health, safety, and property; and lessen or avert the threat of more severe and lasting harm.

Section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 vests the executive power of the State of Michigan in the governor. Under the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, as amended, MCL 30.403(4), “[t]he governor shall, by executive order or proclamation, declare a state of emergency if he or she finds that an emergency has occurred or that the threat of an emergency exists.”

Therefore, acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, including the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, as amended, MCL 30.401 to 30.421, I find it reasonable and necessary to order the following:

1. A state of emergency is declared for Houghton County and Ontonagon County.

2. The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Department of State Police must coordinate and maximize all state efforts and may call upon all state departments to use available resources to assist in the designated areas pursuant to the Michigan Emergency Management Plan.

3. The state of emergency is terminated at such time as the threats to public health, safety, and property caused by the emergency no longer exist, and appropriate programs have been implemented to recover from the effects of this emergency, but in no case later than September 25, 2025, unless extended as provided by the Emergency Management Act.

Date: August 26, 2025

Time: 3:03 p.m.

Gretchen Whitmer

[SEAL] Governor

By the Governor:

Jocelyn Benson

Secretary of State

The executive order was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

The following message from the Governor was received:

Date: August 26, 2025

Time: 1:14 p.m.

To the President of the Senate:

Sir—I have this day approved and signed

Enrolled Senate Bill No. 70 (Public Act No. 10), being

An act to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “An act to consolidate prior acts naming certain Michigan highways; to provide for the naming of certain highways; to prescribe certain duties of the state transportation department; and to repeal acts and parts of acts and certain resolutions,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2092) by adding section 115.

(Filed with the Secretary of State on August 26, 2025, at 1:35 p.m.)

Respectfully

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor

By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of

Introduction and Referral of Bills

Senators Klinefelt, Shink, Lindsey, Bellino, Irwin, Cherry, Bayer and Santana introduced

Senate Bill No. 511, entitled

A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The Michigan penal code,” by amending section 301 (MCL 750.301), as amended by 2002 PA 672.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs.

Senators Singh, Hauck, Bellino, McMorrow, Hoitenga, Lauwers, Santana, Wojno, Bumstead, Hertel, Polehanki, Webber and Damoose introduced

Senate Bill No. 512, entitled

A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled “Michigan liquor control code of 1998,” by amending sections 105, 303, 526, 607, 609b, and 1025 (MCL 436.1105, 436.1303, 436.1526, 436.1607, 436.1609b, and 436.2025), section 105 as amended by 2022 PA 226, section 303 as amended by 2018 PA 154, section 526 as amended by 2020 PA 111, section 607 as amended by 2018 PA 417, section 609b as added by 2016 PA 81, and section 1025 as amended by 2019 PA 131, and by adding section 412.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs.

Senators Hauck, Bellino, McMorrow, Wojno, Singh, Hertel, Santana, Bumstead, Lauwers, Polehanki, Webber and Damoose introduced

Senate Bill No. 513, entitled

A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled “Michigan liquor control code of 1998,” by amending section 105 (MCL 436.1105), as amended by 2022 PA 226, and by adding section 604.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs.

Senators Bumstead, Hauck, Bellino, Singh, Santana, Hoitenga, Wojno, Hertel, Lauwers, Polehanki, Webber, Damoose and McMorrow introduced

Senate Bill No. 514, entitled

A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled “Income tax act of 1967,” (MCL 206.1 to 206.847) by adding sections 279 and 679.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs.

Senators Chang and Irwin introduced

Senate Bill No. 515, entitled

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 1e.

The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Housing and Human Services.

Senators Lindsey, Hoitenga, Daley, Lauwers, Victory and Nesbitt introduced

Senate Bill No. 516, entitled

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding sections 17771 and 17771a.

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

Senators Bayer, McMorrow, Moss, Klinefelt and Chang introduced

Senate Bill No. 517, entitled

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The revised school code,” by amending section 1351a (MCL 380.1351a), as amended by 2016 PA 192.

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

By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of

General Orders

Senator Singh moved that the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of the General Orders calendar.

The motion prevailed, and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, designated Senator Camilleri as Chairperson.

After some time spent therein, the Committee arose; and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, having resumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and without amendment, the following bills:

Senate Bill No. 394, entitled

A bill to establish the ownership of and conveyance rights associated with subsurface pore space.

Senate Bill No. 395, entitled

A bill to amend 1929 PA 16, entitled “An act to regulate the business of carrying or transporting, buying, selling, or dealing in crude oil or petroleum or its products, or certain substances consisting primarily of carbon dioxide through pipe lines; to authorize the use of public highways and the condemnation of private property; to regulate the purchase and storage of crude oil or petroleum or certain substances consisting primarily of carbon dioxide; to provide for the control and regulation of all corporations, associations, and persons engaged in such business, by the Michigan public service commission; to define the powers and duties of the commission in relation thereto; and to prescribe penalties,” by amending section 1 (MCL 483.1), as amended by 2014 PA 85.

The bills were placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

The Committee of the Whole reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:

Senate Bill No. 396, entitled

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending sections 502 and 1301 (MCL 324.502 and 324.1301), section 502 as amended by 2004 PA 587 and section 1301 as amended by 2018 PA 451, by adding section 52509, and by adding subchapter 6 to chapter 3 of article III.

Substitute (S-2).

The Senate agreed to the substitute recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of

Statements

Senator Nesbitt asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal.

The motion prevailed.

Senator Nesbitt’s statement is as follows:

It’s fitting that during this Labor Day week, thousands of laborers are gathered on the steps of our State Capitol. But make no mistake: these men and women would prefer to be elsewhere today. They’d prefer to be on the job—fixing our roads and bridges. Instead, they’re here. They felt compelled to come to Lansing from all over the state because they’ve been ignored by Lansing Democrats, because they’ve been taken for granted by Lansing Democrats, and because the Democratic politicians who instead insist that they would fix the damn roads haven’t done a damn thing in six years—just more photo ops during campaign season. Is it any wonder why working-class Michiganders continue to abandon the Democratic party? Hardworking families who are just trying to make it here in Michigan, trying to make a living here in Michigan—they are sick and tired of the empty promises made for endorsements, made for support out on the trail, and then immediately abandoned in favor of growing the size and scope of the social welfare far-left agenda.

There is a plan to fix the roads here in the Senate—it’s collecting dust. After years of empty promises from Democrats, it was a bipartisan majority in the House who actually did something. They passed a plan that will fix the roads without raising taxes and will provide economic stability to the men and women on the steps of this Capitol right now.

Well, Mr. President, no Democrat in this chamber should go out onto those steps today. We should come together and pass this bipartisan plan that was passed earlier this year. Have some shame—have the decency not to use these workers for yet another photo op while you continue to ignore their pleas to actually fix the damn roads. Let’s stay here; let’s do our job; let’s finally fix these roads.

Announcements of Printing and Enrollment

The Secretary announced that the following House bill was received in the Senate and filed on Wednesday, August 27:

House Bill No. 4706

The Secretary announced the enrollment printing and presentation to the Governor on Tuesday, August 26, for her approval the following bill:

Enrolled Senate Bill No. 70 at 11:48 a.m.

The Secretary announced that the following bills and joint resolution were printed and filed on Thursday, August 21, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:

House Bill Nos. 4781 4782 4783 4784 4785 4786 4787 4788 4789 4790 4791 4792 4793 4794 4795 4796 4797

House Joint Resolution M

The Secretary announced that the following bills and joint resolution were printed and filed on Tuesday, August 26, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:

House Bill Nos. 4798 4799 4800 4801 4802 4803 4804 4805 4806 4807 4808 4809 4810 4811 4812 4813 4814 4815 4816 4817 4818 4819 4820 4821

House Joint Resolution N

The Secretary announced that the following bills and joint resolution were printed and filed on Wednesday, August 27, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:

Senate Bill Nos. 507 508 509 510

House Bill Nos. 4822 4823 4824 4825 4826 4827 4828 4829 4830 4831 4832

House Joint Resolution O

The Secretary announced that the following bill was printed and filed on Thursday, August 28, and is available on the Michigan Legislature website:

House Bill No. 4833

Committee Reports

The Committee on Energy and Environment reported

Senate Bill No. 394, entitled

A bill to establish the ownership of and conveyance rights associated with subsurface pore space.

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Sean McCann

Chairperson

To Report Out:

Yeas: Senators McCann, Hertel, Camilleri, Polehanki, Lauwers, Outman, Hauck and Bellino

Nays: Senators Bayer and Shink

The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole.

The Committee on Energy and Environment reported

Senate Bill No. 395, entitled

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Sean McCann

Chairperson

To Report Out:

Yeas: Senators McCann, Hertel, Camilleri, Polehanki, Lauwers, Outman, Hauck and Bellino

Nays: Senators Bayer and Shink

The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole.

The Committee on Energy and Environment reported

Senate Bill No. 396, entitled

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Sean McCann

Chairperson

To Report Out:

Yeas: Senators McCann, Hertel, Camilleri, Polehanki, Lauwers, Outman, Hauck and Bellino

Nays: Senators Bayer and Shink

The bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the Committee of the Whole.

COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT

The Committee on Energy and Environment submitted the following:

Meeting held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 9:15 a.m., Room 403, 4th Floor, Capitol Building

Present: Senators McCann (C), Bayer, Shink, Hertel, Camilleri, Chang, Polehanki, Lauwers, Outman, Hauck and Bellino

Excused: Senators Singh and Damoose

Scheduled Meetings

Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety – Thursday, September 4, 12:00 noon, Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373‑5312

Labor – Thursday, September 4, 8:30 a.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373‑5314

Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.

The motion prevailed, the time being 11:31 a.m.

The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, declared the Senate adjourned until Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

DANIEL OBERLIN

Secretary of the Senate