Michigan Vote: Legislature Repeals Governor's Emergency Powers

Michigan Votes provides this legislative summary:

Legislative Initiative Petition 1, Repeal one of two state emergency powers laws; REPEALED 60 to 48 in the House on July 21, 2021

To approve an “initiated law” that would repeal one of the two Michigan statutes that authorize a governor to assume extraordinary powers during an emergency, including statewide “lockdowns” like those ordered under the 2020 coronavirus epidemic.

Enacted in 1945, this law places no limit on the duration of a declared emergency. The state’s other emergency powers law adopted in 1976 puts a 28 day deadline on a governor’s assumption of emergency powers, with legislative approval required for any extensions.
Approval by the governor is not required for an initiated law approved by both the House and Senate. The Senate approved the proposal a week earlier, which means with this vote the 1945 law is officially repealed.

House Bill 4788, Authorize village term limit initiatives: Passed 59 to 49 in the House

To authorize voter initiatives to place term limits on elected officials of “general law” villages. A petition signed by 10% of registered voters would place a measure on the local ballot limiting future elected officials to four two-year terms or two four-year terms.

House Bill 4305, Repeal mandate on campaigns to report fundraiser turnout: Passed 103 to 5 in the House

To repeal a provision in the state campaign finance disclosure law which mandates that campaign fundraising committees must disclose to regulators the turnout at each fund-raising event.

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.

More News from Saline

• With Lyme Disease on the Rise, Washtenaw County Health Offers Tips to Prevent Tick Bites Preventing tick bites is especially important as local cases of Lyme disease have increased dramatically in recent years,
• Councillor Dillon Questions Messaging, Daytime Hydrant Flushing One member of Saline City Council wants to consider changing the hydrant flushing program and to provide clearer information about it after hearing from upset residents.