SENATE
On
the calendar:
SB
337 - A bill to create a tax credit for historical buildings
renovations. The bill however creates them as SBT credits,
which although generated by nonprofit groups would be sold
to SBT tax payers. A grant program to the nonprofits could
serve the same purpose directly.
Committee
Meetings:
Natural
Resources and Environmental Affairs will meet on Tuesday
(11/28) at 3:00 pm to take up the following bills:
SB
123
– A bill to prohibit the sale or use of blood pressure
devices that contain mercury.
SB
124
– A bill to prohibit the sale of thermostat devices containing
mercury.
SB
186
– A bill to prohibit the sale of certain medical devices
containing mercury.
SB
361
– A bill to require state agencies to avoid purchasing
products containing mercury.
SB
1418-1424
– Bills to revise the scrap tire program to, among other
things, establish an advisory committee and extend the sunset
for tire disposal surcharge.
SB
1481 – A bill to authorize general permits under
the Inland Lakes and Streams Act for maintenance, repair or
restoration of certain pipeline projects.
HB
5960 – A bill to authorize townships to regulate
activities at a public boating access site or an inland lake
or stream.
HB
5885
– A bill to shorten the period for a county to review
municipal plans.
HB
5886
– A bill to shorten the period for a county to review
township plans.
HOUSE
Passed:
SB
1167
– A bill to create an agricultural roundtable to discuss
the commercialization of agricultural products.
SB
1168
– A bill to establish a grant and revolving loan program
for the commercialization of agricultural value-added products,
processes, and services.
SB
1169
– A bill to create and administer the agricultural development
fund.
On
the calendar:
Public
Land/Land Use:
HB 5814
– A bill to make payments in lieu of taxes on certain
state lands subject to local governmental approval and to
revise payment allocation.
HB
6045 – A bill to allow local governments to partner
with private investments to purchase state land. The bill
requires that if local government purchases state land and
then within one year conveys the property for use other than
public purpose, they must pay the state 50% of the net profit
gained.
HB
6046
– A bill to allow local government to purchase land under
the jurisdiction of DNR.
HB
5294-5296
– Establish grace period and limit fines for zoning ordinance
violations for cities and villages, counties, and townships.
HB
5565-5567 – Bills to expressly allow for mixed use
zoning in townships, counties, and cities and villages.
Energy:
SB 803 – A bill to include alternative energy systems
in the definition of personal property, providing it favorable
tax treatment.
HB
4647 – Provide for a Single business tax credit for
a production tax credit for wind energy from wind turbines.
HB
4648 – Provide for a definition and outline the regulation
of wind energy systems by townships.
HB
4649 – Provide for a definition and regulation of
wind energy systems by counties.
Agriculture:
HB 5711 (H-6)
- New broad exemption for sewage discharges that occurs during
a rain events. Factory farms under the MAEAP would have no
civil or criminal liability for discharges.
HB
5712 (H-4)
– Exempts large CAFOs under the MAEAP program (or even
those who have just applied) from having to get Clean Water
Act permits.
HB
5713 (H-4) - Requires the MDEQ to prepare a booklet identifying
environmental laws of interest to farming operations.
HB
5714 (H-4) – Prohibits anonymous complaints regarding
factory farms. If a party puts in three unverified complaints
they can be assessed costs for further complaints.
HB
5715 -16
– Makes some grant or loan money available to factory
farms.
HB
6219 (H-2)
– Adds some new definitions, including one for MAEAP.
Some concerns have been raised that this program is not part
of state law but is not providing exemptions for permits for
enrollees.
HB
6220
– Gives priority for water quality monitoring grants
to communities with high concentrations of livestock production
facilities
HB
5878
– A bill to require the DEQ to prepare a compliance booklet
for agricultural processors.
Public
Health:
HB
5851
– A bill to delineate conditions under which civil actions
can be brought for damages that include asbestos and silicosis
claims.
Transportation:
SB
248
– A bill to revise procedures to establish and issue
vehicle fund-raising registration plates.
Committee
Meetings:
Energy
and Technology
will meet on Wednesday (11/29) at 9:00 am to take up bills
including:
SB
583
– A bill to revise Michigan Next Energy Authority Act
to include items related to research, development, and manufacturing
of an alternative energy system.
SB
584
– A bill to amend the Michigan Renaissance Zone Act to
add requirements for alternative energy zones.
Transportation
will meet on Wednesday (11/29) at 9:00 am to take up bills
including:
SB
567, 568, and 911
– Bills to revise regulations of billboards, including
vegetation removal at those billboards.
Natural
Resources, Great Lakes, Land Use, and Environment
will meet on Thursday (11/30) at 9:00 am to take up bills
including:
HB
6576
– A bill to provide for meeting between permit applicant
and MDEQ to review inland lakes and streams permit application.
HB
6577
– A bill to provide expedited permits for waterworks
systems.
HB
6636
– A bill to adopt federal exceptions for air emissions
standards for automotive cooling operations.
SB
1408
– A bill to clarify the treatment of gas and oil rights
in tax foreclosure process.
HR
288 – A resolution to memorialize Congress to increase
funding to dredge Michigan’s deep draft Great Lakes ports
and waterways.
HR
313
– A resolution to memorialize Congress to approve full
federal funding for the barriers designed to protect the Great
Lakes from Asian carp.
Submitted
by:
James
Clift
Kate Madigan
Michigan Environmental Council
119 Pere Marquette, Ste 2A
Lansing, MI 48912
(517) 487-9539
www.mecprotects.org
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