MichiganVotes Weekly Report: October 21, 2021

Senate Bill 687: Create school choice tax credit and K-12 scholarships programPassed 20 to 16 in the Senate on October 19, 2021

To create a K-12 “student opportunity scholarship program” that would allow individuals and companies to get a tax credit for contributing to a nonprofit “scholarship organization” that would provide grants to lower income families to pay tuition at a non-pubic school, or pay for other education expenses, services and supplies. Beneficiaries would get individual accounts from which families could draw money for permitted expenses. Senate Bill 688 and House Bill 5405 would authorize up to $500 million in annual tax credits for this, which would increase with demand according to a specified formula.

House Bill 5404: Create school choice tax credit and K-12 scholarshipsPassed 55 to 48 in the House on October 19, 2021

The House version of the school choice tax credit bill described above.

Senate Bill 637: Add social/therapeutic welfare provisions to 9-1-1 call responsesPassed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 20, 2021

To authorize state grants to local governments, with the amounts determined using criteria devised by a particular social-welfare organization. This would pay for sending one or more “community crisis responder clinicians or community crisis responder peers” on 911 calls, who among other things would do “ screening and assessment” for referral of individuals to “mental health, substance use disorder, social, health, or other services and supports as needed.” Reportedly there are 51 organizations that would be the ultimate recipients of the money.

House Bill 4637: Authorize process to change township’s namePassed 36 to 0 in the Senate on October 19, 2021

To establish a process to allow a township to change the township’s name. Two thirds of the township board would have to agree to put the question on the ballot in a regular November or August election, and voters would have to approve it.

House Bill 5080: Exempt delivery and installation costs from sales taxPassed 69 to 34 in the House on October 19, 2021

To exempt from sales tax the delivery and installation costs necessary to complete a purchase, which are taxable under current law.

House Bill 4801: Impose licensure mandate on paid electric vehicle charging servicesPassed 85 to 18 in the House on October 19, 2021

To impose a new licensure and $75 per charger fee regime on paid electric vehicle charging services.