League Legislative Team Breaks it Down

Michigan Municipal League’s advocacy efforts are a double-sided coin. On one side, our legislative team – comprised of Chris Hackbarth, John LaMacchia, and Jennifer Rigterink – continually works to promote legislation that furthers the interests of our members. On the flip side, they also work to block detrimental bills from becoming law. The team was busy on both fronts during the 2019 Lame Duck session. In that short time period, about 400 bills went to the Governor’s desk, and about 100 of those received League attention. Here are some that we were successful in passing or blocking.

Passed

  • Pension/OPEB Bonding Extension & Expansion – PA 575
  • Personal Property Tax Changes & Fire Protection Grants – PA 616
  • Fireworks – PA 634-636
  • “Emily” FOIA – PA 523
  • Assessing Reform – PA 659
  • Rural Jobs & Capital Investment Program – PA 423

Blocked

  • Short-Term Rental Zoning Preemption
  • Vegetation Ordinance Preemption
  • Utility Distribution Equipment PPT Exemption
  • Sportsman Club Property Tax Exemption
  • Pet Shop Zoning Preemption Vetoied
  • Billboard Expansion Vetoed

As we look ahead to to the activity of the 100th Legislature, we’re seeing some early legislative priorities:

  • Civil Asset Forfeiture
  • FOIA/Transparency for Legislature & Executive
  • N-Fault Insurance Reform
  • Pension Tax Repeal – HB 4006
  • Raise the Age

And, of course, a major issue is Governor Whitmer’s budget proposal. The $60 billion budget holds promising news for our members in regard to constitutional and statutory revenue sharing. The Governor is also proposing a bold plan to fix Michigan’s roads with the following tenets:

  1. Sustainable Long-Term Solution
    • Return state roads to 90% good and fair condition
    • Targeted investment
  2. Replace Diversion from the General Fund with Constitutionally Protected Revenues for Roads
    • Increases gas tax by 45 cents
  3. Provide Tax Offset to Mitigate the Impact for Low-Income Families
    • Doubles Earned Income Tax Credit

MML Supports $2.5 Billion in New Transportation Revenue

During Capital Conference, the League Board of Trustees voted to support Governor Whitmer’s overall plan to boost transportation revenue by $2.5 billion, whether that be a 45 cent gasoline and diesel fuel tax increase or by other means. League Board President Melanie Piana said Whitmer’s proposed increase in state taxes for transportation is a bold first step to addressing Michigan’s appalling roads, while ensuring the state has the resources to address other major needs, including beginning to restore vital local government revenue sharing that has been cut repeatedly for more than a decade. Read the full statement here.

MML 2019 Priorities

As we move forward, here are the League’s primary focus areas for the coming year:

  • Dark Stores Reforms – HBs 4025 & 4047, SBs 26 & 39
  • Veteran Property Tax Exemption – HB 4176
  • Reinstate State Historic Tax Credit – SB 54 & HB 4100
  • Clean-UP PA 202 of 2017 Pension/OPEB Reporting
  • Stormwater Utilities & Basement Back-Up Liability Protections
  • Online Public Notice Reform
  • Exempting telecom equipment from PPT – SB 163 & HB 4268
  • Short-term rental zoning preemption – HB 4046
  • Sanctuary City Penalties – HB 4083

For the latest information on legislative activities, read our Inside 208 blog.