December 09 MichiganVotes.org Roll Call Report

To establish procedures for managers of the state public school employee pension system to select a vendor for the defined-contribution annuity option authorized by a 2017 reform law. That law largely replaced the perennially underfunded “defined benefit” school pension system with one that offers employees 401k accounts with generous employer contributions, or an annuity to be created later. This bill authorizes the actual creation of that annuity option. House Bill 4188.

To cancel a reduction of annual “registration” fees imposed on “transportation network companies” like Uber and Lyft that under current law goes into effect in March 2023, and instead keep collecting the higher fees until Sept. 30, 2027. The impositions were authorized by a 2016 law establishing a comprehensive regulatory regime on this industry. Senate Bill 1203.

To use money from a state “internet gaming fund” to cover the cost of administering regulations on charitable gambling operations that use casino-type games (“millionaire parties”). Senate Bill 1111.

To prohibit state or local officials from imposing emergency orders that prohibit or limit a family member or patient representative from visiting a patient or resident in a health care facility or nursing home, subject to reasonable limits on the number of visitors at one time and other precautions. Senate Bill 450.

To revise details of the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans, and reimburse local governments for the foregone revenue this represents, by using a new state income tax credit to deliver the benefit rather than local property tax breaks. Also, to make widows of servicemembers killed in action eligible for these tax breaks, and provide benefits for veterans who are at least 50% but less than 100% disabled. Senate Bill 783.

To extend for another 15 years the generous tax exemptions authorized by lawmakers for the corporate and other beneficiaries of a particular “renaissance zone” in Oakland County. Senate Bill 1221.