Senate Bill 584: Expand concealed pistol “no-carry zone” exemptions

Passed 25 to 12 in the Senate on November 8, 2017

To authorize an exemption from the “no-carry zone” restrictions in the law authorizing shall-issue concealed pistol licenses, if a licensee gets extra training. No-carry zones include schools, day care facilities, sports stadiums or arenas, bars, bar/restaurants, places of worship, college and university dorms and classrooms, hospitals, casinos, large entertainment facilities and courts. Under the bill private property owners, colleges and universities could still ban guns, schools could prohibit teachers and staff from carrying guns, and licensees could not openly carry a gun in a no-carry zone.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 4500: Define fetus as “person” in criminal sentencing

Passed 63 to 44 in the House on November 9, 2017

To revise a provision of the state’s criminal sentencing guidelines that includes the number of actual or potential victims among the factors on which sentences for violent crimes are assessed. The bill would define an embryo or fetus as a “person” and a victim for purposes of this provision.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 5013: Adopt auto insurance reforms and price controls

Failed 45 to 63 in the House on November 2, 2017

To allow vehicle owners to purchase auto insurance policies with personal injury protection (PIP) coverage below the currently mandated unlimited coverage; cap the amount that hospitals, doctors and long-term care providers could charge to treat people injured in crashes; and more. Among other things the bill would require insurance companies to lower rates if these provisions lowered the cost of treating crash victims, which reportedly are much higher in Michigan than any other state.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 5040: “Bad driver tax” repeal and amnesty

Passed 103 to 5 in the House on November 2, 2017

To repeal the “driver responsibility fees” that are assessed for various violations, effective Sept. 30, 2018. The bill would also clear any outstanding liability an individual may have to pay these fees. These very expensive fees were originally adopted in 2003 to increase state revenue collections. The Senate has passed a repeal that only clears liabilities older than six years.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 5012: Restrict election recounts when outcome isn’t close

Passed 98 to 10 in the House on November 1, 2017

To make more rigorous the definition of “aggrieved candidate” in the law that authorizes recounts of elections where the vote margin isn’t close. The bill reflects court rulings after the 2016 Green Party presidential candidate (reportedly with the assistance of Democratic Party operatives) orchestrated a statewide recount, even though this candidate received less than 2 percent of the Michigan vote.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 5095: Adopt Coast Guard ballast water discharge permit standards

Passed 66 to 42 in the House on November 2, 2017

To adopt the U.S. Coast Guard standards for ballast water discharges from oceangoing vessels. Michigan adopted its own standards in 2006, which was before the Coast Guard finalized theirs in 2012. The standards are intended to combat the threat of invasive species.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

House Bill 4805: Ban imposing “educational development plan” on home school students

Passed 101 to 5 in the House on October 26, 2017

To prohibit officials from requiring the parents of a homeschooled student who is enrolled in a public school part time and taking some public school classes (including “virtual” or online classes) to file an “educational development plan” with a public school district. These plans often but not necessarily apply to public school students who are falling behind.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R) ‘Voted Yes’

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