MichiganVotes Weekly Report: March 27, 2020

Senate Bill 712: Let villages compel absent council members to attend meetings

To empower the presiding officer of a village council to compel the attendance of other council members at a regular or special meeting, and to enforce orderly conduct in the meeting. A board member who refuses to attend or behave in an orderly manner would be guilty of gross neglect of duty and subject to removal by “any police officer designated by the presiding officer.” The bill would also revise procedures for filling a council vacancy, among other things eliminating a requirement for voters to petition for a special election if the council membership falls below the number needed for a quorum.

House Bill 4729: Authorize COVID-19 epidemic response spending: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate

To appropriate $125 million for state response activities to the coronavirus epidemic, with $50 million going to the state Department of Health and Human Services and $75 million to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget to be distributed to relevant programs.

Senate Bill 718: Expand roadside drug testing pilot program: Passed 28 to 9 in the Senate

To revise a 2016 law that ordered a roadside drug testing pilot program in five counties by extending it to the entire state.

House Bill 4908: Increase cap on state housing subsidy debt: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate

To increase to $5 billion the current $3.4 billion cap on the amount of debt backed by the Michigan State Housing Developing Authority, which subsidizes housing developer borrowing.