Michigan State Capitol Building in Lansing.
Education Images/Universal Images Group via GettyHouse Bill 5859, Give COVID learning loss grants to parents: Failed 51 to 56 in the House
To authorize grants up to $1,500 to parents whose children experienced “learning loss” due to school closures during the COVID epidemic, with 40% of the amount based on household income and the rest based on how many days a child’s classrooms were closed.
- Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97
- N Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100
- Y Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102
House Bill 5427, Make permanent permission for some government boards' remote meetings: Passed 81 to 24 in the House
To make permanent the permission granted to local government employee retirement boards to hold their meetings remotely, which was was granted temporarily by state epidemic response laws enacted in 2020. This is one of a growing number of proposals to grant this privilege to various public and quasi-public bodies (like agricultural commodity "marketing boards").
- Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97
- Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100
- N Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 10
House Bill 6020, Authorize internship grants for social worker and related trainees: Passed 93 to 12 in the House
To authorize paying individuals in a professional training program that is required to obtain a state social worker, school counselor, psychologist or mental health professional license, a stipend for serving as an intern in various capacities at a public school.
- Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97
- Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100
- N Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102
Senate Bill 656, Authorize “robo-bartenders:” Passed 78 to 28 in the House
To place in statute authorization for “robo-bartender” alcoholic dispensing machines in restaurants, bars and other establishments with a liquor license. The machines could dispense up to 96 ounces of beer, wine, or mixed spirit drink in a single order, and staff would be required to monitor their use. Rules adopted under an existing law permit a much more limited version of this, which the industry has sought to expand.
- Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97
- Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100
- Y Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102
House Bill 5984, Permit liquor at some swimming pools: Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate
To permit establishments with an “on-premises” liquor license that also have a “public swimming pool” and pay an additional $350 license fee, to sell drinks at the pool subject to a broad range of additional regulations and requirements.
- Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33
- Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35
House Bill 5983, Permit food service at public pools: Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate
To revise a state ban on the consumption of food and beverages in public swimming pools, and instead allow this in “qualified premises,” defined as “a park, school, motel, camp, resort, apartment, club, hotel, mobile home park, subdivision, waterpark,” and more.
- Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33
- Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that www.MichiganVotes.org is properly cited.
Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
