SE Grand Rapids News

Rep. Smit provided explanations for their votes on several bills during the week of June 10, 2025. The following are details of these legislative decisions.

House Bill 4044, sponsored by Rep. Farhat (D), proposed designating the wood duck as Michigan's official state duck. It passed with a vote of 92-17 and immediate effect. Rep. Smit voted against it, stating, "The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most harvested duck in Michigan and should be the official state duck."

House Bill 4011, sponsored by Rep. Hoadley (R), authorized the transfer of property owned by the state for the Department of Corrections in Standish, Arenac County. It passed with a vote of 62-47 and immediate effect. Rep. Smit supported this bill, explaining that "surplus property should not be kept and maintained by the state when better uses are available."

House Bill 4434 aimed to eliminate one-person grand juries by repealing related statutes and was sponsored by Rep. Meerman (R). The bill passed with a vote of 74-35 and immediate effect. Rep. Smit voted in favor because "the one-person grand-jury process is inconsistent with the principles of fair and impartial court proceedings."

House Bill 4246 sought to amend the Public Health Code to allow registered or licensed nurses from other states in the Nurse Licensure Compact to practice in Michigan and vice versa. Sponsored by Rep. Green (R), it passed narrowly with a vote of 57-52 and immediate effect. Supporting this measure, Rep. Smit noted that Michigan's exclusion from the compact created "a competitive disadvantage for recruiting nurses."

A package consisting of House Bills 4576-4580 represented House Republicans' FY26 Education Budget Bill Package covering various educational budgets including community colleges and higher education funding initiatives led by Reps. Kelly (R) & Markannen (R). These bills passed with close votes: HBs 4576-4578 at 56-53 and HBs 4579-4580 at 56-41, both with immediate effect. Rep. Smit supported these measures highlighting an increase in foundation allowance per student to $12,000 as part of efforts showing that "Michigan kids are worth the investment."

Another package consisting of House Bills 4394-4395 permitted barbers to provide services at veteran service organizations temporarily; it was sponsored by Reps Rigas (R) & Witwer (D). This legislation saw overwhelming support passing at a vote count of 95-2 with immediate effect due to its benefit for veterans according to Rep Smit.

House Bill 4192 changed annual groundwater discharge permit fee classifications for manufactured housing communities alongside RV parks/campgrounds backed by sponsor VanWoerkom(R). Passing through chamber approval via a voting margin set within boundaries marking majority support levels found upon counting results showing tallies reaching sums equating sixty-five supporting entries juxtaposed against thirty-two opposing stances leading toward finalization occurring instantly after enactment processes took place due unto further reasoning articulated around notions surrounding fairness based primarily upon inspection efforts performed therein.

Legislative attempts directed towards balancing anaerobic digestion technology promotion while maintaining environmental protections arose through passage successions encompassing dual components seen within configurations presented inside frameworks involving HB4257&H4265 led forward under sponsorships held between Neyer(R)&Andrews(D). Outcomes reflected figures displaying consensus attained when motions resulted favorably given numeric totals aggregating values indicating acceptance recorded among sixty-two proponents facing thirty-five detractors causing implementation speeds accelerated immediately thereafter grounded atop needs expressed about streamlined regulations ensuring operational efficiency without compromising ecological safeguards emphasized repeatedly throughout discussions preceding final decision-making moments transpiring ultimately hereafter.

Finally yet importantly acknowledged herein resides acknowledgment regarding HB4356 mandating Secretary-of-State-issued mail notices alerting voters inactive over eight-year periods concerning potential registration cancellations absent return correspondence confirmations prepaid beforehand contingent situations depicted thoroughly comprehensively thanks solely attributable credit owed toward initiator responsible known presently under identity labeled Hoadley(R). Majority thresholds reached completion following comprehensive deliberations concluding successfully once statistical outcomes derived conveyed satisfaction evident via numbers achieving heights equivalent matching fifty-six favorable instances counterbalanced opposite forty-one dissenters culminating likewise adopting similar expedited activation schedules post-ratification stages completing formalized adoption ceremonies observed conclusively closing segments previously left open-ended until recent developments brought closure finally realized now witnessed today entirely finalized henceforth definitively confirmed altogether.