The legislature did not vote on any bills of general interest last week, although in the Senate a voice-vote was held on requesting the state Supreme Court to give an opinion on legislative actions related to two initiated laws enacted last fall. This report describes that request, and some interesting or noteworthy new bill introductions.

Senate Resolution 16: Request Supreme Court opinion on amending citizen-initiated legislation

Introduced by Sen. Peter MacGregor (R) and adopted by a voice-vote, to ask the state Supreme Court to give an opinion on whether the state constitution permits the legislature to enact a bill placed before it by a initiative petition before the general election, and then subsequently amend that law after the election but during the same legislative session. This refers to the process used to enact-and-amend two initiated laws in 2018; see Senate Bill 1171 and Senate Bill 1175 of 2018, which amended measures increasing the state minimum wage and imposing a paid-leave mandate on employers.

Senate Bill 85: Increase state child care income tax credit

Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D), to authorize a child care tax credit against the Michigan income tax that is based on the credit authorized by the 2017 federal income tax reform law. The federal credit is a means-tested credit that is based on a percentage of child care expenses that are related to the taxpayer having a job, and is worth up to $6,000, or $3,000 if there is just one dependent. The Michigan credit would be “refundable,” meaning the taxpayer would get a check from the state for the amount the credit exceeded their income tax liability. It would be equal to the federal credit for a person whose adjusted gross income was below $40,000, with the value gradually declining as income approached a $100,000 income cut-off point. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 86: Authorize student loan tax credits

Introduced by Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. (D), to authorize an income tax credit equal to 50 percent of the amount of student loan payments made by a resident (subject to some caps) who got a degree from a college or university in Michigan and is employed in this state. The credit would not be “refundable,” but would reduce an individual’s tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 103: Repeal a restriction on state department rulemaking powers

Introduced by Sen. Sean McCann (D), to repeal the provisions of a 2018 law that prohibits a state department from promulgating rules more stringent than required by federal standards, unless specifically required by state statute, or if the department director determines there is a “clear and convincing” need to do so. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 54 and House Bill 4100: Give some developers tax breaks for rehabbing “historic” structures

Introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt and Rep. Ben Frederick (R), respectively, to grant certain developers approved by state or local officials credits against the business income tax that are worth up to 25 percent of the amount spent to restore a structure that meets various criteria for being “historic.” Up to 90 percent of a credit valued below $250,000 would be “refundable,” making these virtual cash subsidies. Developers could also “carry forward” any unused credit amount for up to 10 years. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4122: Assert right to drinking water

Introduced by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D), to assert in statute that each person has a “right” to “safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water” for cleaning, cooking and drinking, subject to specified limits on the duty this implies for the government to provide water. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4126: Require medical marijuana pregnancy warning label

Introduced by Rep. Thomas Albert (R), to impose a warning label requirement on producers and sellers of medical marijuana that is focused on women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Products would be required to have a label warning pregnant women that use may result in “fetal injury, preterm birth, low birth weight, or developmental problems for the child.” Retailers would have to give every buyer a pamphlet with safety information on marijuana use by minors, and a poison control hotline number. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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Source: MichiganVotes.org