Governor Signs COVID Relief Funding, Vetoes Certain Items

Liz Gullett

Mar 12, 2021

This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation appropriating Federal funds to help in the state’s response to the pandemic. This includes, a $2.25/hour wage increase for direct care workers, $283 million in emergency rental assistance, up to $110 million for vaccine administration, and up to $555 million for testing and tracing.

However, the governor also vetoed a portion of the legislature’s appropriation plan due to requirements that were associated to those funds. House Bill 4049 would have prohibited the use of epidemic orders to close in-person learning and prohibiting a sporting event and would have changed the ability of local health departments to do the same. The use of epidemic orders during the pandemic has been a source of contention between Republican members of the legislature and the administration. Due to this language, the governor vetoed the bill. To read her full veto letter, please click here.

Additionally, Governor Whitmer signed two bills, but line-item vetoed two items in each of the bills. Those items are:

- $405 million in property and unemployment tax relief for businesses
- $150 million for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
- $86.8 million for nonpublic schools
- $10 million to offset costs associated with summer school

Following the governor’s veto, the House passed two bills, which incorporate the vetoed measures. Both bills are Senate bills and have been sent back to the chamber for their consideration of the House-made changes to the Senate-passed versions of the bills.

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