Michigan House Archives - The Michigan Star

Michigan House Flips Republican, Ending Trifecta of Democratic Control

November 8, 2024November 8, 2024 The Center Square

Republicans have taken back control of the Michigan House, flipping the chamber they lost in 2022 and ending Democrats’ governing trifecta.

Republicans will likely work to change the series of Democrat pieces of legislation implemented over the past two years, such as repealing Michigan’s Right To Work law, passing gun safety restrictions, handing out corporate subsidies in efforts to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and adoption in the state, and allowing state regulators to override local zoning laws and public choice to expand green energy projects across the state.

Michigan House OKs $81 Billion Budget with Drone, E-Bike Funding

May 11, 2024May 10, 2024 The Center Square

Michigan House Democrats passed budget bills totaling nearly $81 billion – larger than Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recommendation.

Republicans in the minority for the first time in 40 years decried the spending proposals as wasteful as Democrats said the budget would invest in all Michiganders.

Michigan House OKs Bills to Enter Physical Therapist Compact

May 4, 2024May 3, 2024 The Center Square

The Michigan House approved bills to allow physical therapists to practice in states that have entered a compact.

House Bills 4504 and 4505 aim to enter Michigan into the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, which allows physical therapists to practice physical therapy in states within the compact without having to be licensed in each state.

Democrats Retake Michigan House

April 19, 2024April 18, 2024 The Center Square

Michigan Democrats have regained the House after a Tuesday special election.

The wins give Democrats a 56-54 House majority from the victories of Peter Herzberg and Mai Xiong in the 13th and 25th state House districts.

Michigan House Republican Leader: Pass FOIA Reform During Sunshine Week

March 13, 2024March 12, 2024 The Center Square

House Republican Leader Matt Hall urged House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, to pass reform to records requests during Sunshine Week, which celebrates government transparency.

Sunshine Week, observed this year from March 10-16, highlights the need for transparency and accountability at all levels of government.

Michigan House Deadlocked After Mayoral Wins

November 8, 2023November 8, 2023 The Center Square

The Michigan House will be deadlocked 54-54 after two Democratic House members won local mayoral races.

After Reps. Lori Stone of Warren and Kevin Coleman of Westland won their respective mayoral races, House Democrats will still craft legislative agendas but won’t have the votes required to enact legislation without Republican votes until a special session is called to fill those seats.

Michigan House Approves Tax Changes for Prepared Foods

June 25, 2023June 24, 2023 The Center Square

The Democrat-dominated Michigan House passed two sales and use tax bills critics say are unnecessary and will confuse business owners.

House Bills 4377 and 4378 passed on votes of 56-53. The bills cover prepared food either sold in a heated state or heated by the seller or that is two or more food ingredients that are mixed or combined by the seller for sale as a single item.

Michigan House OKs Teacher Union Bargaining Rights, Deductions

June 22, 2023 The Center Square

The Michigan House approved six bills to boost union membership that critics say would prioritize union politics before the quality of education.

House Bill 4357 aims to allow school districts to deduct automatically union dues from teacher salaries.

Michigan House OKs Distracted Driving Bills

May 5, 2023May 4, 2023 The Center Square

The Michigan House approved a trio of bills that aim to require hands-free cellphone use.

The goal is to reduce distracted driving and fatalities.

Michigan House Votes to Repeal Right-to-Work, Reinstate Prevailing Wage, End A-F Grading System

March 23, 2023March 22, 2023 The Center Square

The Michigan House on Tuesday voted to repeal right-to-work, reinstate the prevailing wage, and trash the state’s A-F grading system for public schools.

The Democrat-dominated House approved Senate Bill 34 on a vote of 65-52. The bill aims to allow unions to require workers to pay dues to a labor organization as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment. The Senate approved the bill last week to repeal the policy enacted in 2012 by former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.

Michigan House Approves $1.3 Billion Spending Bill; $630 Million for Ford Subsidy

March 3, 2023March 2, 2023 The Center Square

The Michigan House approved a $1.3 billion spending bill with about half going to a planned Ford electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall.

The House voted 59-49 on House Bill 4016, which the Senate approved a day prior.

Michigan House OKs Dem Tax Plan, Could Block Income Tax Break

February 12, 2023February 11, 2023 The Center Square

Michigan House lawmakers voted 56-53 on House Bill 4001, which aims to provide some tax relief, but also block an automatic, permanent tax break for all Michiganders triggered by an influx of money in state coffers.

The package would increase the earned income tax credit from 6% to 30%, reduce taxes on public and private pensions, and possibly provide a $180 check to Michigan tax filers.

Michigan House Passes Bipartisan Budget, Including Historic Increases in Education Spending

June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 The Center Square

Although she thinks it’s only a “start,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer applauded the bipartisan budget passed Thursday night by the Michigan House of Representatives.

The House voted to pass the budget before the July 1 deadline, and includes the governor’s proposal to implement the largest increase in K-12 public school spending in the state’s history. Whitmer’s office claims the $16.7 billion in school expenditures will “close the gap between the lowest- and highest-funded school districts for the first time since the goal was introduced in 1994.”

Bill Aims to Make Government Reimburse COVID-19 Fines

May 27, 2021May 26, 2021 The Center Square

Just 14 months after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Michigan House approved a bill that requires the government reimburse private businesses for COVID-19 fines based on restrictions that were found unconstitutional.

The vote was 74-34.

Michigan House Unanimously Expands FOIA to Include Governor and Legislature

March 20, 2021March 19, 2021 The Center Square

The Michigan House unanimously passed a flurry of bipartisan bills seeking to reform the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by including the governor and legislature under the new Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).

The House passed the package during “Sunshine Week,” which celebrates government transparency, and after reporters used FOIA to expose Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration gifting $253,000 in secret, taxpayer-funded severance packages.

The bill package is virtually identical to bills introduced in the 2015-16, 2017-8, and the 2019-20 legislative session other than technical changes and effective dates.

Those packages all failed.

Michigan House Approves over $4 Billion of COVID-19 Recovery, Sends to Gov. Whitmer

March 5, 2021March 4, 2021 The Center Square

On Wednesday, the Michigan House passed over $4 billion of COVID-19 recovery spending that ties over $1 billion of the funding to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer relinquishing the pandemic powers she’s held for nearly a year.

Federal funding comprises about $3.4 billion of the funds.

Legislative Oversight Committees Assume Subpoena Authority in Election Investigations

December 19, 2020December 18, 2020 The Center Square

The Michigan House and Senate Oversight Committees are assuming authority to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and examine books and records related to the 2020 election.

The committees immediately proceeded to issue subpoenas to election clerks in Detroit and Livonia. Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey and Livonia Clerk Susan Nash have until the end of business on Jan. 12 to turn over documents pertaining to their respective elections.

Senate Republicans Block ‘Gun-Grabber’ from Leading Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission

March 3, 2020March 2, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Michigan Senate voted to reject Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appointment of former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell to lead the Natural Resources Commission last week.

Michigan Dems Want to Follow New York’s Lead in Banning Cat Declawing

February 26, 2020February 25, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan House Democrats have introduced a bill that would ban the practice of declawing cats in the state.

Michigan Dems Want to Amend Sex Ed Curricula to Be ‘Inclusive of Same-Sex Relationships’ and ‘Gender Expression’

February 21, 2020February 20, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan House Democrats have introduced a slate of bills to provide what they describe as “much-needed updates to the sexual education curriculum” taught in the state’s public schools.

Michigan Democrat Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving Charge

February 19, 2020February 18, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

State Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a lower charge than she initially faced.

Michigan Bill Responds to Student Facing Up to 20 Years in Prison for Posting Picture of Gun Online

February 16, 2020February 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A bill making its way through the Michigan House seeks to tighten the state’s definition of terrorism after a Lake Superior State University student was charged for posting a picture of his AR-15 on Snapchat.

Republican Resolution Would Make Michigan ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary State’

February 15, 2020February 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

House Republicans are sponsoring a resolution that would declare Michigan a “Second Amendment sanctuary state.”

Republicans React to Gov. Whitmer’s $61 Billion Budget Proposal

February 8, 2020February 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan Republicans said they are committed to working with the governor to avoid more budget drama, but expressed a number of concerns with her new budget proposal.

Michigan Democrat Accuses Republican Colleague of Sexual Harassment

January 22, 2020January 21, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Michigan Democrat filed a sexual harassment complaint Tuesday against State Sen. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township) just a week after he was accused of making “sexist” and “belittling” comments towards a female reporter.

Michigan Bill to Make Public All Executive Branch Salaries Clears First Hurdle

January 20, 2020January 19, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Michigan bill that would require every executive branch department and division to post the salary and benefit information of their employees unanimously cleared its first hurdle Thursday. House Bill 5015 easily cleared the House Oversight Committee and is now on its way to the House Ways and Means…

Michigan Rep Wants to Phase Out State’s Income Tax

January 16, 2020January 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan’s state income tax was raised in 2007 in what was supposed to be a temporary fix, but it ended up being permanent. More than a decade later, one Republican state lawmaker plans to change that.

Effort to Recall Larry Inman Officially Over After Coming Up Short on Signatures

January 12, 2020January 11, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Michigan Bureau of Elections announced Friday that a group seeking to recall Rep. Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) from office did not submit enough valid signatures, officially ending the months-long effort.

Michigan Providing State Documents, Self-Service Kiosks in Spanish and Arabic

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The new self-service stations being installed across Michigan will allow customers to complete their transactions in Spanish or Arabic, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced.

State Supreme Court Allows Recall Effort of Larry Inman to Move Forward

December 31, 2019December 31, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

The Michigan Supreme Court allowed a recall effort against Rep. Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) to move forward in a Monday decision, quickly reversing a lower court’s decision.

Michigan Democrat Spent the Night in Jail After Being Arrested for Drunk Driving

December 29, 2019December 30, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A Michigan Democratic lawmaker spent Thursday night in jail after being arrested for suspected drunken driving.

Michigan Bureau of Elections Rejected Inman Recall Petition Because of Typo, Group Plans Appeal

December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A group seeking to recall Michigan Rep. Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) plans to take its case to the Michigan Court of Appeals after the state’s Bureau of Elections rejected the group’s recall petition because it contained a typo.

Speaker Chatfield Ordered to Testify in Rep. Inman’s Trial

November 28, 2019November 27, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A federal judge has ordered Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) to testify in the trial of a fellow Republican lawmaker set to begin next week.

Former Lawmakers Sue to Overturn Michigan Term Limits Passed By Voters

November 24, 2019November 23, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A bipartisan group of former lawmakers filed a lawsuit last week in an effort to overturn Michigan’s “draconian” term limits law.

Michigan Lawmaker Calls on National Park Service to Establish Moose Hunt on Isle Royale

September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Michigan State Rep. Steve Johnson (R-72) recently introduced a resolution calling on the National Park Service to establish a moose tag lottery hunt on Isle Royale National Park in an effort to help control the island’s exploding moose population.

New Texts Describing Sale of Votes in Michigan House Back Up Bribery Claims in Inman Case

August 10, 2019August 9, 2019 Jordyn Pair

New texts have been revealed in the case of Michigan State Rep. Larry Inman (R-Traverse City), who was indicted earlier in May on charges of extortion, bribery and lying to a federal agent. The texts back up claims that Inman had attempted to sell his vote.