House passes Revenue Sharing Trust Fund Bills – Senate needs to act NOW In a promising development for Michigan’s counties, the state’s Revenue Sharing Trust Fund (RSTF) bills have passed the House this week with overwhelming bipartisan support. By a vote of 106-4, HB 4274 sponsored by Rep. O’Neal (D-Saginaw) and HB 4275 sponsored by […]
Senate rushes through ‘clean energy’ package Controversial legislation setting standards for “clean energy” in Michigan advanced through the Senate this week. Senate Bills 271, by Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Wayne), 273, by Sen. Sam Singh (D-Ingham), and 502, by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Washtenaw), passed the Senate Energy and Environment Committee on party lines on Wednesday. The […]
A MAC-commissioned report on the services that counties provide to other local governments will be reviewed at the MAC Policy Summit set for Dec. 7, 2023. The fee to attend the summit at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing is $50. This includes registration, lunch and continental breakfast. UPDATE: On-site seats are sold out, but […]
Controversial energy bills get committee nod despite MAC opposition Legislation to usurp local control over the siting of solar and wind power facilities advanced out of a House committee this week, despite voiced opposition from MAC and others. MAC testified in opposition in another tense hearing of the House Energy Committee hearing on Wednesday on […]
Senate approves juvenile justice reform bills A portion of the 20-bill package to make sweeping reforms to the juvenile justice system, and which is backed by MAC, gained approval in the Michigan Senate this week. The Michigan House had planned action on the bills but did not take any. Senate Bills 418-423, 424, 425, 426, […]
Storey urges county leaders to ‘prepare for four’; MAC members fill board slots, approve policy platforms The coming year will be an historic one in Michigan county government, MAC Board President Jim Storey a 2023 Annual Conference audience this week after being sworn in as the association’s 115th Board president. Speaking on the theme of […]
During regional caucuses held at the Michigan Counties Annual Conference Oct. 1-3 in Kalamazoo, MAC members re-elected four members of the 16-member MAC Board of Directors: Stan Ponstein of Kent County Richard Schmidt of Manistee County Joe Bonovetz of Gogebic County Jim Storey of Allegan County Storey also was sworn in on Oct. 2 as […]
Juvenile justice reform package clears House, Senate committees A 20-bill package to reform juvenile justice work in Michigan cleared House and Senate committees this week. Senate Bills 418–437 and House Bills 4624–4643 are a result of the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform’s recommendations provided last July. The Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform […]
Expansion of binding arbitration clears Senate committee Legislation to extend binding arbitration to county correctional officers has advanced this week, despite opposition from MAC and others. House Bill 4438, by Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Oakland), was approved by the Senate Labor Committee unanimously on Thursday. A substitute was adopted during the committee process to include all […]