BILL PACKAGE HBs 4077 & 4078:  Alters the process for the certification of death records by physicians through the Electronic Death Registration System and clarifies when a county medical examiner certifies a death record.

Sponsors:  Reps. Rogers (D) & Mueller (R)                        

Passages:  106-2 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Requiring electronic submission of the medical certification will speed up the process and alleviate some of the work of form completion by funeral directors.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4260 & 4261:  HB 4260 (Harris) distributes an amount of the sales tax into the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund. HB 4261 (Farhat) creates the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund and specifies how money is distributed from the fund.

Sponsors:  Reps. Harris (R) & Farhat (D)                            

Passages:  104-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The performance-based portion of the formula incentivizes municipalities to use the money where it is needed most and in a way that delivers results instead of wasting it on fruitless endeavors.

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HB 4122:  Would update and modernize Michigan’s Cottage Food Law by allowing increased revenue, enabling internet, mail order and third-party delivery sales, and providing safeguards for participants with an optional registration system.

Sponsor:  Rep. Alexander (R)                  

Passage:  101-7 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Michigan’s Cottage Food law has proven successful over its first decade of existence, and it is time to increase the freedoms available to these startup entrepreneurs.

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HB 4245:  Would increase the allowable annual gross sales to qualify for exemption from licensure for honey and maple syrup producers from up to $15,000 to up to $25,000.

Sponsor:  Rep. Alexander (R)                  

Passage:  105-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: It makes sense to make the thresholds for honey and maple syrup on par with Cottage Food products.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4207 & 4208:  HB 4207 (Harris) would amend the Insurance Code by updating the definition of health benefit policy to clarify that supplemental insurance providers are not subject to future changes under the Code.  HB 4208 (B. Carter) would amend the Insurance Code by updating the definition of health insurance policy to clarify that supplemental insurance providers are not subject to future changes under the Code.

Sponsors:  Reps. Harris (R) & B. Carter (D)                       

Passages:  106-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Supplemental insurance is meant to be distinct from major health insurance, and should be treated as such.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4033 & 4034:  Would adopt a new act called the “Unitrust Act,” and would make technical changes to probate laws regarding the statutory rule against perpetuities.

Sponsor:  Rep. Wozniak (R)                     

Passages:  106-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the Unitrust Act may argue that it will provide additional flexibility for individuals to conduct their estate planning through the creation of complex trusts.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4255 & 4256:  Would increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking, which includes the manufacture, creation, and distribution of fentanyl, and the possession with intent to manufacture, create, and distribute fentanyl.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lightner (R)                      

HB 4255 Passage:  66-40 with Immediate Effect

HB 4256 Passage:  65-41 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Proponents of the bill would argue that fentanyl overdoses are killing Michiganders, and that criminal penalties for trafficking in fentanyl should be increased.

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4047 & 4048:  Would impose civil liability and criminal penalties for the nonconsensual creation and dissemination of deep fake sexual images.

Sponsors:  Reps. Bierlein (R) & Tsernoglou (D)                

Passages:  104-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Advances in technology have made it more possible to produce photos and videos that seem to depict a particular individual, even though the images are altered or faked. Individuals can suffer great harm to their reputations if such images are circulated widely on social media. The law should be changed to prohibit the production and publication of such images.