HB 6309:  Would rename a portion of M-86 in Branch County as the Casey Rice Memorial Highway.

Sponsor:  Rep. Wortz (R)                           

Passage:  101-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES:  This highway naming allows us to express our gratitude and appreciation for Casey Rice for his service to the state.

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HB 6080:  Raises the standards of acceptable coursework for teacher personnel decisions.

Sponsor:  Rep. DeBoer (R)                        

Passage:  103-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The bill eliminates the pipeline of bad actors offering junk degrees, protecting taxpayers and ensuring students get high-quality teachers.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 5120-5121:  Would require that law enforcement officers serve PPOs at no cost to the petitioner. Law enforcement will be paid from a new state fund created by HB 5121.

Sponsors:  Reps. Scott (D) & Lightner (R)                          

HB 5120 Passage:  96-7 with Immediate Effect

HB 5121 Passage:  97-6 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill package may argue that this bill package takes important steps towards protecting women from acts of domestic violence, by creating a better system of serving personal protection orders and related documents on respondents.

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HB 6033:  Would increase the fees required for process of papers served out of a court in this state by a person authorized to serve process.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lightner (R)                      

Passage:  95-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill may argue that process servers are underpaid for the valuable service that they provide to litigants, and that the fees they can charge for their services should be increased.

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SB 947:  Amends Michigan’s dam safety laws by creating a statewide registration system, strengthening inspection requirements, and expanding state oversight and emergency authority to reduce risks from dam failures.

Sponsor:  Sen. McMorrow (D)                

Passage:  96-7 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This bill reduces the risk of catastrophic dam failures.

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SB 102:  Modifies requirement for county to provide property tax information.

Sponsor:  Sen. Wojno (D)                          

Passage:  103-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Treasurers would no longer be required by law to provide records they do not have.

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SB 478:  Would authorize the transfer of property currently owned by the state for the Department of Corrections in Green Oak Township to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

Sponsor:  Sen. Shink (R)                            

Passage:  101-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Surplus property should not be kept as unused property when the state identifies better uses are available.

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SB 198:  Creates the Motor Vehicle Dealer Data Collection Act.

Sponsor:  Sen. Singh (D)                            

Passage:  102-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This data is often shared without the knowledge or permission of customers, and dealers that collect this data should have an obligation to protect it.

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SB 413:  Allows psychologists to practice unsupervised with a limited license, after completing certain practice requirements.

Sponsor:  Sen. Wojno (D)                          

Passage:  100-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Removing the supervision requirement would mean that insurance providers reimburse for the master-level psychologists more frequently than they currently do.

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SB 433:  Requires DHHS to provide educational materials on the dangers of tobacco, vapes, and THC products.

Sponsor:  Sen. Polehanki (D)                  

Passage:  99-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Tobacco, nicotine, and THC use are rising among adolescents, and this notice could empower parents to help stop it.

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HB 4135:  Would authorize the transfer of property currently owned jointly by the state (Department of Natural Resources) and Jackson County.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lightner (R)                      

Passage:  101-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Surplus property should not be kept and maintained by the state when better uses are available, and the state does not seem to have any use for this parcel.