Officials testify on the adverse possession issue. From right, Chris Hackbarth, Ann Arbor City Attorney Stephen Postema and Novi City Attorney Thomas Schultz.
In a flurry of activity following passage of the road funding package last week, both the House and Senate pushed through full agendas on Tuesday before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. Included among the bills seeing committee and floor movement were a number of bills that the League is supporting.
- Senate Bill 372 (Zorn) provides for reciprocity for firefighter training and certification earned in another state. The League has supported this legislation as it made its way through the Senate and the House. The bill is now on its way to the Governor for his signature.
- House Bill 4904 (McBroom) was also sent to the Governor Tuesday. As previously reported, this bill designates the March 2016 presidential primary election as a general election, allowing local ballot questions to be included on that election date.
- Senate Bill 556 (Horn), which extends the sunset date on the Commercial Rehabilitation Act, is one step closer to completion as the House floor positioned the bill for final passage upon their return following the legislative break.
- House Bill 4747 (Hughes) has been promoted by the League and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys to correct a recent court decision that had opened the door to adverse possession of municipal property. Working together over the past two years, the League and a group of municipal attorneys were successful in crafting language to address this problematic court decision. At a recent House committee hearing, League staff and attorneys from Ann Arbor and cities in Oakland County testified in support of the bill. The bill now moves to the House floor where we are requesting action in December.
Chris Hackbarth is the League’s director of state affairs. He can be reached at 517-908-0304