Advocacy 2024
The League of Women Voters of Michigan often takes positions on legislative or citizen initiatives and other proposed governmental policy or regulatory decisions. If an initiative reaches a legislative committee, a voting body or other decision makers, the League may take action (testimony, letters, phone calls, public statements, etc). The lack of public action is not indicative of the numerous decisions to support or oppose an issue that the League makes on a regular basis.
OCT 30, 2024 LWVMI SUPPORTS ‘SECOND LOOK’ LEGISLATION
A letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks urging her support of SB 321-325. The Second Look Legislation, the criminal procedure bills, would allow people serving very long sentences to petition their sentencing court to request a sentence reduction. The legislation would empower circuit court judges to review the facts of the case and combine that information with everything the person has done since the crime to determine whether the sentence can be reduced. The Parole Board will continue to have the power to decide whether the person can be safely released. A similar letter was also sent to House Majority Leader Joe Tate concerning parallel bills HB 4556-4560.
OCT 22, 2024 LWVMI SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SOLAR BILLS
LWVMI sent a letter to Sen. Sean McCann, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment urging him to hold a hearing and a committee vote on the Community Solar Bills, SB 152 and 153. It is important to encourage the use of renewable energy to address climate change. A letter was also sent to Rep. Helena Scott, Chair Michigan House Committee on Energy, urging her to hold a hearing and a committee vote on the Community Solar Bill, House Bill 4464. Over half of Michigan households are renters, live in shady areas, or can’t afford to install solar panels. The Community Solar bills are essential to allowing Michiganders to get the benefits of clean, renewable energy.
OCT 22, 2024 LWVMI SUPPORTS POLLUTER PAY BILLS
A letter was sent to Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, Chair Michigan House Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation asking her to hold a hearing and a committee vote on the Polluter Pay bills, HB 5242-5247. These bills will make polluters pay to clean up the contamination they cause on Michigan land and water. A letter was also sent to Sen. Sean McCann, Chair of the MI Senate Committee on Energy and Environment asking him to hold a hearing and a committee vote on the Polluter Pay bills, SB 605-610. Those who are responsible for environmental contamination need to be held responsible for cleaning it up. This is a basic issue of fairness – taxpayers should not be liable for cleaning up after wealthy corporations.
Oct 28, 2924 LWVMI SUPPORT REQUIRED SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTIONS
A letter was sent to Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, Chair Michigan House Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Recreation expressing our support for HB 4479 which would require statewide regulation of Septic systems. LWVMI urges Rep. Pohutsky to hold a hearing and a committee vote on the bill to Amend the Public Health Code to require statewide regulation of Septic Systems, HB 4479. Michigan is the only state in the nation that lacks a statewide septic code that sets minimum standards for construction, operation, and maintenance of septic systems. A letter was also sent to Sen. Sue Shank Chair Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, urging her to hold a hearing and a committee vote on the bill to Amend the Public Health Code to require statewide regulation of Septic Systems, SB 299. A quarter of our estimated, unregulated .4 million septic tanks are likely leaking billions of gallons of human waste onto our land, our lakes and streams, and into our drinking water
7-13-24 SUPPORT FOR SAFER MICHIGAN ACT
The League supports HB 4450-53 and SB 861-864 which would enact productivity credits, which incentivize only certain people sentenced to prison to participate in rehabilitative programs that reduce recidivism and make reentry into society more successful, resulting in safer communities, a stronger workforce and less taxpayer dollar spending. Productivity credits do not guarantee someone’s release from prison, but do permit earlier parole consideration through a credit-earning system.
6-18-24 SUPPORT MICHIGAN’S VOTING RIGHTS ACT
League members and friends were sent an “Action Alert” to urge our Michigan senators to pass SB 401-404. Specifically, the MVRA will: prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression (SB 401), establish Voting and Elections Database (SB 402), require and expand the jurisdictions that must translate election-related information into languages other than English (SB 403) and enhance and clarify protections for voters with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance to vote (SB 404). Action can still be taken by visiting our “Take Action” page.
5-23-24 SALES TAX EXEMPTION EXTENSION FOR DATA CENTERS IS UNNECESSARY
LWVMI opposes SB 238 and HB 4905 would reduce State and local revenue by an unknown amount that would likely be at least $52.5 million through Fiscal Year 2065-66 but would depend on when any affected purchases would take place, the number of affected taxpayers, the specific characteristics of any affected property, and the degree to which the activity would have occurred absent the bills or occurred elsewhere in the State absent the bills. The majority of any revenue reduction would likely lower School Aid Fund (SAF) revenue, although the bills would also reduce General Fund revenue and, through constitutional revenue sharing provisions, local unit revenue.
4-15-24 FUNDING FOR GUN PREVENTION LAWS
LWVMI sent letters to the MI House and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairs urging necessary funding for the new gun prevention law. “The League supports increasing the allocation for gun violence law implementation, training, and evaluation, primarily targeted at universities for ERPO from $4.3 million to 10 million. The League also supports increasing the proposed budget for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) from $5.5 million to at least $10.5 million.” Read the letters here.
4-13-24 BRITE ACT WILL BRING REFORMS IN INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS
HB 5580.5586 that the LWVMI supports would: 1) require organizations and political campaigns to submit financial disclosures regarding contributions they receive, 2) create increased lobbying guidelines for elected officials, aides, candidates and staff, 3) establish the Secretary of State’s office as the authority to create, implement and supervise the reporting process, 4) change the definition of “gift” from $76 to “anything of value”, 5) require disclosures from public officials, and 6) restrict lawmakers from becoming registered lobbyists within a year after their term ends.
4-13-24 PAY EQUITY BILL AMENDMENT
LWVMI supports SB 142 and HB 4406 which would require employers with more than 5 employees during a calendar year to create and maintain comprehensive job descriptions that also include salary and pay scale information.
3-13-24 TESTIMONY SUPPORTING RECOUNT PROCESS
The League delivered testimony to the MI Senate Elections Committee supporting SB 603 and 604 which will clarify the process for election recounts so that there is clarification that the process is administrative and not investigative. The bills would also clarify the documents used in the recount and the responsibilities of all parties. Read the testimony here.
2-28-24 ACTION ALERT – KEEP FIREARMS OUT OF ELECTION SITES
League members were encouraged to send a message to their state Senators urging them to support passage of HB 4127 and HB 4128. These bills would ban possession of firearms within one hundred feet of polling places, early voting places, and absent voter counter locations. The presence of firearms can intimidate voters and election workers. There are exceptions for concealed weapons with permit and on duty peace officers. Click here to send the message to your Senator!
2-5-24 WILL LABOR SHORTAGE IMPACT SAFETY OF PIPELINE?
The League joined the oil & Water Don’t Mix Coalition in a letter to the US Department of Transportation citing concern that the remaining staff at Enbridge after a sharp reduction in their labor force will have the capacity to protect the pipeline. Read the letter here.
1-18-24 PLEA TO CONGRESS RE: LINE 5 PERMIT
The League sent a letter to our US Congressional Representatives and US Senators strongly urging them to tell the Biden administration that it must revoke the presidential permit for Line 5 and stand with the American people in a huge legal battle pitting Big Oil and Canada against American laws and Tribal sovereignty. Read the letter here.
1-13-24 PETITIONS TO ELIMINATE POWER OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
The League urges its members and supporters to decline to sign this petition that will amend PA 233 taking power away from the Public Service Commission and returning it to local governments concerning siting authority for wind and solar energy projects as well as energy storage facilities granted under HB 5120, now PA 233 of 2033.
1-13-24 PETITION TO VOID THE EXTREME RISK PROTECTION LAW
The League urges its members and supporters to decline to sign this petition that will nullify this law that passed in 2023 (now PA 38 of 2023). The law allows family, police, mental health professionals, roommates and former partners to petition a judge to remove firearms from people they believe pose a threat.
1-13-24 FOIA APPLIES TO ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN MICHIGAN
The League supports SB 669 and SB 670 which would require the Governor’s office and the Legislature to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.