The House Energy and Technology Committee is scheduled to take up HB 5524 regarding the regulation of electrical utilities this week. This will be the third major piece of the House energy package to come out of committee (renewable energy and energy efficiency being the others). House floor action could begin as early as this week.
SENATE
Passed:
On the floor:
HB 5865 – A bill to create and provide for funds for a Michigan promotion program to promote tourism.
HB 5866 – A bill to provide for the sale of residual interest for bonds issued in the Michigan tobacco settlement finance authority act and to have the proceeds deposited in the Michigan Promotional Program.
HB 5867 – A bill to provide for the deposit and disposition of additional tobacco bond proceeds into the Michigan Promotional Program.
HB 5607 – A bill to allow disabled individual using boat with motor in waterway prohibiting motorized watercraft.
SR 156 - A resolution to encourage the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulations to work cooperatively with all stakeholders to facilitate the offering of insurance discounts for alternative energy vehicles in Michigan.
SB 1126 – The bill would amend the Michigan Strategic Fund Act to require the Fund to identify, publish, and market an inventory of prime sites for the location of renewable fuel plants with existing industrial facilities having byproducts that renewable fuel plants could use to produce energy in this State.
SB 1128 – A bill to create publication regarding procedures and requirements for establishment of renewable fuel plants.
SB 1129 – A bill to create specialty plate for alternative fuel and earmark funds into alternative fuels fund.
SB 1130 – A bill to create the alternative fuels fund.
SB 1132 – A bill to extend the sunset on the renewable fuels commission and expand powers and duties of commission.
SB 727, SB 858, 859 and SB 860 – Bills to implement water use regulation required under the proposed Great Lakes Compact.
SB 212 – A bill to have Michigan ratify the proposed Great lakes Compact.
SB 723 – A bill to define the scope of the Water Resources Conservation Committee moving forward.
SCR 27 - A concurrent resolution to urge the Great Lakes states to resist changes to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and to adopt the compact as presented in December 2005.
SR 154 - A resolution to urge the Great Lakes states to resist changes to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and to adopt the compact as presented in December 2005.
SB 1037 - A bill to provide for the sale of certain municipal forest prime lands and allow for the relinquishment of reverter
1078-1083 – Bills to revise procedures to approve annexation petition for cities, villages, and townships. (SB 379-384 as passed the Senate in 2003)
HB 5100 - A bill to include agricultural crops in definition of renewable energy facility for renaissance zones purposes.
HB 4597 - A bill to provide for hunting on Department of Natural Resources controlled land.
SB 427 – A bill to provide a process for utilities to follow before building new facilities or entering into purchase power agreements, and to provide competitive bidding in that process. (Discharged from Committee)
SB 947 - A comprehensive energy bill that would set a renewable energy standard, establish an energy efficiency program and set forth a process for building new energy capacity. (Discharged from Committee)
SB 385 – A bill to require that utilities provide a certain amount of their energy from renewable sources – starting at 7% by 2009, up to 20% by 2020.
In committees:
Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs will meet on Wednesday (4/16) at 1:00 p.m. to take up:
SB 1234 – A bill to regulate the speed airboats near residences.
HB 4323 – A bill to allow local jurisdictions to approve operation of off-road vehicles on road shoulders and create a fund for enforcement and environmental remediation.
Appropriations:
Agriculture – Will meet on Wednesday (4/16) at 3:00 p.m. to take testimony on the Department of Agriculture budget for FY 2008-09.
Transportation – Will meet on Thursday (4/17) at 12:30 p.m. for the following testimony on the FY 2008-09 Department of Transportation Budget
- Department Overview by Director Kirk Steudle
- Information Regarding Interdepartmental Grants
HOUSE
Passed:
SB 47 – a bill to create water improvement tax increment financing authorities.
On the floor:
Water package:
HB 4343 – A bill which would adopt the proposed Great Lakes Compact in Michigan.
HB 5065 - Regulate water withdrawals and water diversions.
HB 5066 - Modify certain registration and reporting requirements for water withdrawals and require conservation measures.
HB 5067 - Enhance enforcement of water withdrawal regulations.
HB 5068 - Regulate water withdrawal.
HB 5069 - Provide for a water withdrawal assessment tool.
HB 5070 - Modify authority for water users committees and local ordinances.
HB 5071 - Require evaluation of certain proposed waterworks systems.
HB 5072 - Regulate bottled water facilities.
HB 5073 - Provide department of environmental quality with rule-making
HR 294 - A resolution to urge the Great Lakes states to reject changes to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and enact it as presented in December 2005.
HCR 76 - A concurrent resolution to urge the Great Lakes states to reject changes to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and enact it as presented in December 2005.
Energy Package:
HB 5525 – This bill establishes an energy efficiency program in Michigan. Utilities would be required to implement programs that would reduce energy use over time, or contribute to a fund which would be used for the same purpose.
HB 5548/5549 – These bills establish a renewable energy program that requires utilities to provide 10% of their energy from renewable sources by 2015.
HB 5383 – Allows the establishment of member-regulated electric co-ops reducing the oversight by the Public service commissions over rates and terms of service.
Other:
HR 309 - A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact strong legislation to end the flow of new aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes from ballast water.
HR 89 - A resolution to encourage the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Public Service Commission to promote the Safe Passage Initiative.
HB 4703 – A bill to designate the northern spring peeper as the official state amphibian
HB 4820- A bill to exempt from permit requirements under certain circumstances application of oil field brine to county roads.
HB 5677- A bill to include in the definition of agricultural use maple syrup production.
HB 5678- A bill to exempt from personal property tax maple syrup equipment.
HB 5679- A bill to designate maple syrup producers as food processing plants.
HB 5680- A bill to classify maple syrup production areas as agricultural property.
SB 338 – A bill to expand the use of gift cards issued by department of natural resources.
HB 5331 – A bill to eliminate participation licenses for bear and bobcat hunting.
HB 5031 - a bill to designate deer hunting season for certain disabled veterans to correspond with the special youth hunt.
HB 4052 – This bill would exempt from the Land Division Act property that would remain perpetually in an undeveloped state undeveloped under a conservation easement.
HB 4685 – Requires the MDEQ and MDA to prepare a booklet explaining environmental statute requirements that apply to farming operations.
HB 4222 – A bill that would provide a formula for the distribution of any trash surcharge fees authorized by the legislature.
HB 4484 – A bill to amend the Solid Waste planning process for counties.
In committee:
Energy and Technology will meet on Wednesday (4/16) at 9:00 a.m. to take up HB 5524, a bill to regulate electrical utilities in Michigan (PA 141 rewrite).
