Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 30, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

 

Governor Whitmer Signs a Series of Bills Into Law

 

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed and vetoed a series of bills today. The bills are outlined below.

 

Bill

Description 

Sponsor

Signed Bills 

Amends the Occupational Code to allow a one-time extension to the license cycle for real estate professionals, for the purpose of continuing education requirements.

Rep. Thomas Albert (R- Lowell)

Amends the Support and Parenting Time Enforcement Act to abate, or suspend, child support responsibilities if the payer will be incarcerated for at least 180 consecutive days and will not have the ability to pay the support.

Senator John Bizon (R- Battle Creek)

Amends the Friend of the Court Act to add a new section that requires monthly support payment be abated, by operation of law, when the parent becomes incarcerated for 180 days or more and has no ability to pay support.

Senator John Bizon (R- Battle Creek)

Creates an appeals board within the Michigan Veterans Facility Authority (MVFA) to hear appeals regarding admissions decisions, involuntary dismissals, and requests for interment. Membership on this board would first be offered to the current members of the board of managers, who currently oversee Michigan veteran homes and facilities.

Senator Winnie Brinks (D- Grand Rapids)

Modifies the Michigan Veterans’ Facility Authority to repeal all remaining statutes in Chapter 36 of the MCL, thereby dissolving the Michigan Veterans’ Facilities Board of Managers.

Senator Tom Barrett (R- Charlotte)

Amends the General Property Tax Act to provide businesses with a one-year reprieve by freezing the location of all personal property (i.e. computers, printers, and other equipment) being used by remote workers and assessing it at the business’s ordinary location for the 2021 tax year.

Senator Jim Runestad (R- White Lake)

Allows a city to enter into a public-private agreement for a public bridge.

Senator Ken Horn (R- Frankenmuth)

Specifies that if a county board of commissioners previously approved the construction of a bridge across a navigable stream in the county, then any reconstruction, renovation, or replacement of that bridge will not require county approval.

Senator Ken Horn (R- Frankenmuth)

Exempts all real and personal property constituting a public bridge facility from the collection of taxes under the act.

Senator Jeremy Moss (D- Southfield)

Adds property that qualifies as a public bridge facility used by a concessionaire under a public-private agreement to the list of taxation exemptions.

Senator Wayne Schmidt (R- Traverse City)

Provides that current provisions govern certain circumstances regarding when a governmental agency can pay for, engage, or furnish the services of an attorney.

Senator Tom Barrett (R- Charlotte)

Amends the Small Wireless Communications Facilities Deployment Act to create a definition for “county road commission” and to include the term within the definition of “authority.”

Senator Dan Lauwers (R- Brockway)

Requires financial institutions to implement a policy for training employees to recognize signs of covered financial exploitation and for reporting that activity to a law enforcement agency or Adult Protective Services.

Senator Pete Lucido (R- Shelby Twp.)

Amends the Social Welfare Act to allow a county department of social services to notify a financial institution of the status of a report of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation that was made by that financial institution.

Senator Pete Lucido (R- Shelby Twp.)

Amends the Income Tax Act to restore the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program.

Senator Wayne Schmidt (R- Traverse City)

Amends the Social Welfare Act to make the act’s FOIA provisions subject to the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act.

Senator Pete Lucido (R- Shelby Twp.)

Allows a person to hold an on-premises tasting room permit and an off-premises tasting room license in conjunction at the same location under certain conditions.

Senator Kim LaSata (R- Bainbridge Twp.)

Changes definitions and provisions pertaining to those who build, repair, or maintain residential structures.

Senator Ed McBroom (R- Vulcan)

Allows certain counties that meet listed population parameters to establish an event center financing program under the Regional Event Center Financing Act.

 

Rep. Brandt Iden (R- Oshtemo Twp.)

Vetoed Bills

Would join Michigan to the interstate Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), taking away the state’s authority to regulate the nursing profession. Click here to view the veto letter.

Rep. Mary Whiteford (R- Casco Twp.)

Would authorize the use of unattended self-service fuel pumps, and significantly restrict the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ ability to regulate safety. Click here to view the veto letter.

Rep. Beau LaFave (R- Iron Mountain)

Would extend the definition of a historical vehicle to include a military surplus vehicle that is over 25 years old, thereby allowing those vehicles to be used on public streets and roads. Click here to view the veto letter.

Rep. Steve Johnson (R- Wayland)

Would create the Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act, which would create additional requirements for individuals seeking reasonable accommodation for emotional support animals. Click here to view the veto letter.

Rep. Matt Hall (R- Emmett Twp.)

Would amend the Revised Judicature Act to allow a housing provider to recover possession of a premises by summary proceedings after termination of a lease under the proposed Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act. Click here to view the veto letter.

Rep. Sarah