Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Pat Outman, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Pat Outman, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
It has been a busy week in Lansing as legislators worked both in committee and on the House floor. More than a dozen bills were passed out of the House with bipartisan support, aiming to advance practical policy solutions for Michigan residents.
The Chair of the House Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure Committee led a hearing to discuss several important bills. These bills aim to ensure that tow trucks, ambulances, and other critical vehicles can access people during emergencies. The discussed bills include:
- House Bill 4203 by Johnsen: Allows tow trucks to remove vehicles even on roads with seasonal weight restrictions.
- HB 4343 by Borton: Exempts vehicles providing assistance in a declared State of Emergency from seasonal weight restrictions.
- HB 4344 by Prestin: Exempts emergency response drivers from driving hour limits during a State of Emergency.
Additionally, Senate Bill 71 by Damoose was passed. This bill designates the Mackinac Bridge as a "key facility" within Michigan's infrastructure network. The designation aims to help prosecutors protect the bridge from trespassers who could jeopardize its security and driver safety.
On the House floor, support was given to a series of bills designed to protect Michigan from hostile foreign influence and interference. The Foreign Influence Protection Package (HBs 4233–4235 and 4238–4241) includes measures such as banning foreign adversary ownership of Michigan farmland and agricultural assets, prohibiting foreign influence over public bodies and higher education institutions, requiring cybersecurity standards for electronic health records, banning certain apps on state devices, and prohibiting economic development incentives for hostile foreign nations.
Support was also expressed for HB 4007 and HB 4283 in response to last term's radical green energy package pushed through by the Democrat majority. That package banned continued use of a critical type of natural gas generator essential for powering much of the Upper Peninsula. These new bills seek to mitigate harm while restoring balance and common sense to Michigan’s energy policy.
Finally, approval was given for HB 4328 which provides $100 million in emergency response funding. This funding is intended to assist communities in Northern Michigan recovering from an ice storm earlier this spring that left some areas without power for over three weeks. It will aid schools, businesses, and local governments in their recovery efforts while collaboration with federal partners continues to bring additional disaster relief as damage estimates reach into hundreds of millions.
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