The legislature addressed many major issues in the 2015-2016 session.  Some they were able to complete and others an agreement was never struck amongst the caucuses and chambers.  In the past two years, the House introduced 2,113 bills, while the Senate introduced 1,192 bills.  Many of the bills never saw any movement, including committee hearings or votes.  As of today, Governor Rick Snyder signed 651 bills over the past two years; 269 in 2015 and 382 in 2016.

Highlights of the bills signed into law in 2015, include:

• Changed the presidential primary to the second Tuesday in March and eliminated the February election date
• Transferred the responsibility of issuing licenses for concealed pistols from county boards to county clerks and the Michigan State Police
• Raised the age of offenders eligible for trainee status in the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act from twenty-one to twenty-three years old
• Adopted 2015-2016 Fiscal Year budgets totaling $54.5 billion
• Prohibition on local governments from enacting minimum requirements on wage, benefits, and paid or unpaid leave time
• $1.2 billion in additional revenue for infrastructure, increasing fuel taxes and registration fees for residents
• Creation of an electronic filing system for all of Michigan’s courts

Also in 2015, Michigan voters rejected the legislative ballot proposal known as Proposal 1.  The proposal would have raised additional funding for the state’s crumbling infrastructure.  However, the plan wasn’t clear to many voters, plus many were adamantly opposed to increasing the sales tax.  Following the defeat on the May ballot, the House and Senate went on to pass a different proposal and Governor Rick Snyder signed the package into law in November 2015.

Highlights of the bills signed into law in 2016, include:

• Changes to the state’s Personal Protection Orders such as including protections for pets, changes to the mediator process, and prohibiting granting child custody under certain circumstances
• Authorize additional financing methods for local governments undertaking energy conservation projects
• Several changes to the credit union industry, including operation of credit union boards and lending practices
• Restructure of the Detroit public school system, creating a new district, and returning to an elected school board
• Regulations on the medical marijuana industry, including guidelines, licenses, and allowable marijuana forms
• Creation of a Michigan Veterans’ Facility Ombudsman who will investigate complaints at veterans’ facilities
• Adopted 2016-2017 Fiscal Year budgets totaling $55.1 billion
• Setting reading benchmarks for third grade students
• Allowing autonomous vehicles on the road, under certain circumstances
• Updating Michigan Electric Energy law
• Setting up a framework for transportation network companies

Despite the several achievements of the 2015-2016 legislature, there were a few items they made progress on, but were ultimately unable to achieve, including:

• Expanding the Freedom of Information Act rules to apply to the executive office and the legislature
• No-reason absentee voting
• A requirement to show photo identification when voting
• A package prohibiting state and local workers form conducting union business while on the job
• No-fault auto insurance reform
• Reforming Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency

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