Michigan Roll Call Report: Foreclosure Change, Tickets for Low Level Crimes, Tax for Solar Installations and More

The House held no votes this week due to members in quarantine. This report includes Senate votes through Wednesday; noteworthy bills among the 55 that passed the Senate on Thursday will appear in the next weekly roll call report.

Senate Bill 1105, Create alternative tax for multi-acre industrial solar installations: Passed 23 to 14 in the SenateTo exempt large industrial solar energy arrays covering many acres from the state “personal property tax,” and instead levy a tax on an installation equal to $3,500 per megawatt of the solar panels’ nominal “nameplate capacity,” with the revenue allocated to different taxing units using the same formula as regular property taxes. Estimates suggest this would reduce net local tax collections slightly but have a greater impact on taxes levied for schools.

Senate Bill 1133, Create government “propane commission” with interest groups and officialsTo create a new government “propane commission” comprised of specified officials and political appointees, with the power to impose a 1/10 of one cent per gallon "marketing assessment" on retail propane sellers if a majority of firms in the business vote for this. The mission of this new government entity would be to provide rebates for consumers to buy more efficient appliances.

Senate Bill 54, Give some developers tax breaks for rehabbing “historic” structures: Passed 32 to 5 in the SenateTo grant certain developers approved by state or local officials business income tax credits that are worth up to 25 percent of the amount spent to restore a structure that meets various criteria for being considered “historic.” Developers could "carry forward" any unused credit amount for up to 10 years. The bill would explicitly authorize foregoing up to $5 million in state revenue each year in order to deliver these subsidies to some developers.

Senate Bill 676, Require government foreclosure sale “profit” go to homeowner: Passed 37 to 0 in the SenateTo require the amount by which proceeds from the foreclosure sale of an individual’s tax-delinquent home exceeds the unpaid tax bill to be returned to the homeowner. Under current law owners with a small tax debt can lose everything in foreclosure.

Senate Bill 1046, Let low level theft and vandalism perpetrators go with just a ticket: Passed 37 to 0 in the SenateTo expand a law that lets police issue an “appearance ticket” and release an offender for certain low level offenses (as with traffic tickets). Under the bill police would not be permitted to detain and book a suspect for a misdemeanor or ordinance violation, not including domestic violence, with specified exceptions.

Senate Bill 1215, Authorize local government bridge operation deals with developers: Passed 37 to 0 in the SenateTo establish rules for a city that contracts with a private developer (a “public-private partnership”) to build and operate a toll bridge for as long as 75 years.

Senate Bill 464, Authorize more financial abuse safeguards in financial institutions: Passed 37 to 0 in the SenateTo require financial institutions to adopt various procedures, protocols, staff training, reports and more intended to reveal and prevent financial exploitation of individuals. The bill also prescribes the responses that law enforcement or other relevant agencies must adopt for responding to reports of financial exploitation. Among other things bank and financial institutions would have the authority to delay the disbursement of funds or freeze accounts in some cases.

Senate Bill 1222, Ease medical license mandate for veterans licensed elsewhere: Passed 37 to 0 in the SenateTo make current military personnel, veterans, and their dependents with a medical services occupational license issued by another state eligible for license reciprocity in Michigan.

Senate Bill 1234, Establish conditions for poverty-based property tax break: Passed 37 to 0 in the SenateTo require a person granted a poverty property tax exemption to sign a form affirming he or she still owns the property and lives there.

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.

Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that www.MichiganVotes.org is properly cited.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

More News from Saline

• BASEBALL: Reeves, Klein Lead Help Hornets Close Out Sweep of Pioneer. Noah Reeves pitched five shutout innings and Nolan Klein drove in four runs as Saline beat Pioneer 13-0 in a mercy-rule-shortened game at Pioneer Thursday.
• SOFTBALL: Dorr Helps Saline Ace Pickney Saline senior Karli Dorr crunched four hits, drove in four runs and earned the victory with a complete game against Pinckney on Wednesday.