May 11, 2007
Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to take up legislation on Thursday regarding the regulation of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). These bills fail to address the widespread impacts these facilities are having across the state. Alternative legislation has been introduced to place a moratorium on new CAFOs while we put in place a reasonable regulatory scheme for current ones.
Budget talks continue and the replacement for the business tax is to be taken up in Senate Finance this week.
SENATE
Introduced:
SB 0481 – A bill to prohibit smoking on public bathing beaches.
On the floor:
SB 473 - A bill to require the DNR to maintain a website showing lands open for hunting.
SB 412 - A bill to require state agencies to avoid purchasing products containing mercury under certain circumstances.
SB 441 - A bill to require the DNR to protect the right to hunt and fish.
SB 442 - A bill to require the DNR to protect the right to hunt.
SB 443 - A bill to require the DNR to protect the right to fish.
SB 473 – A bill to require the DNR to maintain a website showing lands open for hunting.
In committee:
Appropriation subcommittees:
Environmental Quality and cancelled its meeting for Tuesday (5/15) for work on the FY 2007-08 Department of Environmental Quality Budget (watch for it to be rescheduled). At the next meeting expect :
- Air Quality (1 pm)
- Geological Survey
- Land & Water Management
- Water Bureau
- Criminal Investigations
- Public Testimony
Natural Resources also cancelled for 5/15.
Standing Committees:
Finance will meet on Tuesday (5/15) at 12:00 noon or after session to take up bills related to Michigan’s new proposed business tax.
HOUSE
Introduced:
HB 4733 - A bill to provide for an income tax deduction for the cost of energy efficient appliances.
Adopted:
HR 64 - A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to take action to investigate and provide remedies for those injured by the recent contamination of pet food and deaths of family pets.
HR 77 - A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to fund fully the Select Michigan agricultural program through the United States Department of Agriculture.
On the floor:
HB 4641 – A bill to allow a county board of commissioners to change name of office of county drain commissioner to office of the water resources commissioner and authorize and increase amount of bond.
HB 4642 – A bill to provide for a definition of the term "visibly in existence".
HB 4643 – A bill to clarify liability for certain legal expenses of a drainage district.
HB 4644 – A bill to increase the enforcement power for removing obstructions or interferences with drains.
HB 4688 – A bill to double the amount a drain commissioner can spend on maintenance of a drain (from $2,500 to $5,000) – and assess those costs to taxpayers within a special assessment district. The taxpayers in such a district have no right to a vote on the maintenance project.
SB 350 - A bill to create an animal welfare fund.
HB 4463 - A bill to require the issuance of a permit to operate a marina at a public road. The MDEQ is concerned that the “shall issue” nature of the application could result in environmental degradation and possible overcrowding on inland lakes.
HB 4464 - A bill to clarify the intention of a plat donation of a road, street, or alley terminating at a lake or stream contiguous to a shoreline.
In Committee:
Appropriations subcommittees: n/a
Standing committees:
Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources will meet Tuesday (5/15) at 10:30 to take up:
- HB 4471: A bill to define terms for double-crested cormorant control program.
- HB 4614: A bill to provide for a double-crested cormorant control fund.
Energy and Technology will meet Wednesday (5/16) at 9:00 for a presentation on Transmission by Joseph L. Welch, President and CEO of ITC Holdings Corporation.
Transportation: Public Transit will meet on Wednesday (5/16) at 9:00 to take testimony from:
- Rochelle Cotey, Executive Director, Alger County Public Transportation Authority
- Cameron McCollum, General Manager, City of Jackson Transportation Authority
- Jim Dunn, General Council, Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority
- Vance Edwards, Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority, MASSTrans
- Mike Stoner, Bay Metro Transit Authority, MASSTrans
Submitted by:
James Clift
Jamie Weitzel
Michigan Environmental Council
