The legislature remains on summer break with no votes expected until September. Rather than votes this report contains some interesting or noteworthy recent bill introductions.

Senate Bill 386: Create and distribute opioid abuse video for 9th graders

Introduced by Sen. Michael MacDonald (R), to require the Department of Education to develop or adopt a model instructional video for 9th graders on the dangers of prescription opioid drug abuse, and require public schools to show it. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 388: Mandate no birth control copays in health insurance policies

Introduced by Sen. Winnie Brinks (D) to mandate that all health insurance policies pay for contraception products, sterilization and related advice, with no copay or deductible for the insured person and his or her spouse and dependents. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4675: Require “strict discipline academies” admit certain problem children

Introduced by Rep. Lynn Afendoulis (R), to require “strict discipline academy” charter schools to enroll a minor who requires “tier 3 supports,” meaning “intense individual intervention for a pupil with highly accelerated or severe and persistently challenging academic or nonacademic needs.” This refers to schools authorized by the state school code for students whose conduct threatens the safety of staff and other students in regular schools. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4676: Provide for civil rights deed restriction cleanup

Introduced by Rep. Sarah Anthony (D), to establish a process for removing deed restrictions and revising associated homeowner association rules that violate state civil rights law provisions that prohibit discrimination against a protected class. This would also apply to removing rules that prohibit homeowners keeping a service animal. House Bill 4677 would authorize lawsuits to enforce these provisions. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4679: Ban state housing loans to illegal and undocumented aliens

Introduced by Rep. John Reilly (R), to prohibit the Michigan State Housing Development Authority from making state-backed loans to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4691: Authorize rain taxes, and new layer of government to manage runoff

Introduced by Rep. Michael Webber (R), to create a new layer of government called a “stormwater management utility” for the purpose of building and operating stormwater management systems, and with the power to levy “stormwater utility fees” on property owners based on various factors including the amount of the property that is “impervious” (impermeable) to water, sometimes called a “rain tax”. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4693: Authorize park and recreation officers to enforce marijuana use restrictions

Introduced by Rep. Mike Mueller (R), to authorize park and recreation officers to enforce certain violations of the initiated law that legalized marijuana possession and use. The law bans using marijuana in a public place, and in some other specified places. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4699: Expand reach of “blight” liens

Introduced by Rep. Karen Whitsett (D), to allow a local government to foreclose on property anywhere in the state that is owned by a person who has failed to pay fines imposed by “administrative hearing bureaus.” These were authorized by a 2003 law that allowed most cities to create a bureau for enforcing blight violations outside of regular courts. Under that law, cities already have the power to place a lien against the blighted property, and this bill would also allow liens against any other property the person owns in this state. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

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Source: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit www.MichiganVotes.org.