LANSING — Michigan power providers would have to reach a 100% clean energy standard by 2040 under sweeping climate bills approved late Thursday and early Friday in the Democratic-led House. Legislators also voted to let renewable developers seek state permits to site large-scale wind and solar farms in communities that block the projects. The party-line
LANSING – A bill passed by the Michigan House of Representatives last week that would study how the state could add more nuclear plants after one of the state’s existing plants closes. House Bill 6019, sent to the state Senate after passing in an 85-20 vote Thursday, May 19, would require the Michigan Public Service
LANSING – A group of the state’s largest cannabis companies is lobbying the Michigan state legislature to regulate Delta-8 THC, primarily manufactured from legal hemp-derived CBD, in the same way Delta-9 THC is grown by association members. On Tuesday, Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association Executive Director Stephen Linder testified before the Michigan House asking these elected
LANSING — The Michigan House has approved a bill to encourage internet companies to provide broadband access to underserved areas after the coronavirus pandemic shone a light on the need. The bill would exempt or defer select companies from paying personal property taxes on equipment for broadband access. Equity in internet access and how to fund it
LANSING - Under the radar, there are renewed legislative efforts to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to ban discrimination in housing and employment for the gay community, which, if approved, might negate the need for a statewide ballot proposal in 2022. MIRS has learned that House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) would like to get something
LANSING - Pharmaceutical companies would have to report to the state and the public annually how they set the prices of their prescription drugs under an eight-bill transparency package approved by the Michigan House Health Policy Committee. But the committee rejected, in party-line fashion, several attempts by Democrats to put more teeth into the bills,
LANSING - Businesses are reopening from the coronavirus pandemic into a "wild, wild COVID west" economic climate, Rep. Graham Filler (R-DeWitt) told the House floor Wednesday as he advocated for more protections against COVID-19 lawsuits he described as frivolous. Wednesday's climate includes "fewer employees, supply chain issues, razor thin margins and the prospect of business
LANSING - Legislation ensuring the Michigan Department of Treasury can collect sales and use tax from remote sellers – something it already does – passed unanimously through the House on Wednesday. HB 4540, HB 4541, HB 4542 and HB 4543 passed 110-0. Under the bills, marketplace facilitators would be those who sell tangible personal property at retail locations in the
LANSING - Despite a room packed largely with opponents to the package, the House Energy Policy Committee reported legislation Thursday that would set terms and fees for permits for new 5G cellular systems. The bills (SB 637 and SB 894) moved without changes from the Senate versions, but on 15-4 votes with bipartisan concerns raised about the
LANSING - The Michigan House and Senate are well on their way to completing their versions of the budget, and there are some striking differences between the two. The biggest one is that while the House budget bills spend $164.6 million less General Fund than Governor Rick Snyder, the Senate budgets are just $9.4 million under
