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 403: Define fetus as a “dependent” for income tax deduction

Introduced by Sen. Rick Outman (R), to define a fetus at least 12 weeks old as a “dependent” for purposes of claiming a state income tax deduction. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 409 and House Bill 4789: Subsidize electric car charging stations

Introduced by Sen. Michael MacDonald (R) and Rep. Joseph Bellino, Jr. (R), respectively, to authorize refundable income tax credits for a small business (50 employees or less) or a multiple unit rental housing operator who installs an electric car charging station that is accessible to the public. “Refundable” tax credits are the equivalent of cash subsidies and these would be worth between $1,250 and $1,750 for business and rental housing owners. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Senate Bill 421 and House Bill 4813: Subsidize certain home purchases

Introduced by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D) and Rep. Kyra Bolden (D), respectively, to authorize an income tax credit of up to $5,000 for a person who purchases a residence with accessibility features that make it more “visitable,” or retrofits a residence in this way. Unused portions of the tax credit could be used to offset future tax liability for up to seven years. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4721: Give second chance on driving without a license

Introduced by Rep. Beau LaFave (R), to let a person who gets a ticket for driving without a license beat the charge by obtaining a license within 60 days. Second offenses would be a misdemeanor punishable by 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, which would also apply if a violator is not eligible to get a license. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4724: Ban investigating or enforcing immigration law violations

Introduced by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D), to prohibit state or local law enforcement agencies from spending any money or using any personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest individuals for immigration enforcement purposes. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4725: Restrict police “stop and frisk”

Introduced by Rep. Ronnie Peterson (D), to prohibit law enforcement officers and agencies from using “stop-and-frisk” procedures and policies. This would only be allowed if an officer has a reasonable suspicion that a person has, is or soon will be engaged in criminal activity, or is “armed and dangerous.” Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

House Bill 4727: Require taxpayer-funded legal aid for illegal or undocumented aliens

Introduced by Rep. Kyra Bolden (D), to require the state to pay for legal aid to illegal or undocumented aliens subject to deportation. The state would have to provide this either directly or through a contract with a nonprofit agency. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.

Correction: In the Aug. 16 Roll Call Report the wrong bill number (House Bill 4679) and tagline were attached to the following licensure bill:

House Bill 4710: Impose full licensure on acupuncturists

Introduced by Rep. Bronna Kahle (R), to convert a registration mandate now imposed on acupuncturists into a more comprehensive licensure regime, including training and apprenticeship requirements, license fees, regulations specified in the bill and additional ones that state licensure officials would be authorized to impose, and more. A 2005 law imposed a less intrusive “registration” mandate on acupuncturists. Referred to committee, no further action at this time. 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.