STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
102nd Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2024
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
10:00 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, Senator Jeremy Moss.
The roll was called by the Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Albert—present Hauck—present Moss—present
Anthony—present Hertel—present Nesbitt—present
Bayer—present Hoitenga—present Outman—present
Bellino—present Huizenga—present Polehanki—present
Brinks—present Irwin—present Runestad—excused
Bumstead—present Johnson—present Santana—present
Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present
Cavanagh—present Lauwers—excused Singh—present
Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present
Cherry—present McBroom—excused Victory—present
Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present
Damoose—present McDonald Rivet—present Wojno—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present
Senator Joseph N. Bellino, Jr. of the 16th District offered the following invocation:
My Creator, I am now willing that You should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that You now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows. Grant me the strength as I go off from here and do all of Your bidding. Amen.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motions and Communications
Senator Theis moved that Senators Lauwers, McBroom and Runestad be excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
The President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, assumed the Chair.
Senator Singh moved that Senators Anthony and Santana be temporarily excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
The following communication was received and read:
Office of the Auditor General
January 12, 2024
Enclosed is a copy of the following report:
• Performance audit on the AASHTOWare Project Construction and Materials, Michigan Department of Transportation and Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (591-0591-23).
Sincerely,
Doug Ringler
Auditor General
The audit report was referred to the Committee on Oversight.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Messages from the Governor
The following messages from the Governor were received and read:
January 11, 2024
I respectfully submit to the Senate the following appointment to office pursuant to Public Act 368 of 1978:
Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts
Jonathan Baker of 5236 Heathrow Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49009, Kalamazoo County, succeeding Christie Nutkins whose term has expired, appointed to represent a member who is affiliated with a university in the state and provides instructions or conducts research in applied behavior analysis, for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027.
January 11, 2024
I respectfully submit to the Senate the following appointment to office pursuant to Executive Order No. 2012-17:
Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board
NiCole Buchanan of 1288 Sebewaing Road,
Okemos, Michigan 48864, Ingham County, reappointed to represent persons with
experience handling the problems of domestic violence and/or sexual violence,
for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 4, 2026.
January 11, 2024
I respectfully submit to the Senate the following appointments to office pursuant to MCL 333.17421, MCL 333.16121, Public Act 368 of 1978:
Michigan Board of Optometry
Velma Overman of 27717 Carlysle Street, Inkster, Michigan 48141, Wayne County, reappointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring June 30, 2026.
Lauren Plawecki of 49435 Plymouth Way, Plymouth, Michigan 48170, Wayne County, succeeding Hrisais Skorna whose term has expired, appointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring June 30, 2027.
Virginia Manolakoudis of 1852 Olympian Way, Howell, Michigan 48843, Livingston County, reappointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring June 30, 2026.
January 11, 2024
I respectfully submit to the Senate the following appointment to office pursuant to MCL 333.18221, Public Act 368 of 1978:
Michigan Board of Psychology
Gary Harper of 223 E. Ann Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104, Washtenaw County, reappointed to represent the general public, for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2027.
January 11, 2024
I respectfully submit to the Senate the following appointments to office pursuant to Public Act 48 of 1963 (2nd Ex. Sess.), MCL 390.551:
Western Michigan University Board of Trustees
James Liggins of 4438 Willow Point Lane, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49004, Kalamazoo County, succeeding Shani Penn who has passed, is appointed for a term commencing January 11, 2024, and expiring December 31, 2024.
Kara Wood of 71
Campau Circle, N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, Kent County, succeeding
Kurtis Trevan who has resigned, appointed for a term commencing January
11, 2024, and expiring
December 31, 2028.
Respectfully,
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
The appointments were referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Senator Anthony entered the Senate Chamber.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Introduction and Referral of Bills
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The Michigan penal code,” by amending section 224a (MCL 750.224a), as amended by 2012 PA 122.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
Senator Santana entered the Senate Chamber.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The
motion prevailed, the time being 10:05 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Brinks’ statement is as follows:
It is my pleasure today to welcome some honored guests from my district to the Capitol. Matt Vriesman is a teacher in Kentwood Public Schools, which is the most diverse district in the state of Michigan. It is in the top-five for diversity in the entire nation and it is a tapestry of cultures, languages, backgrounds, and perspectives where everyone can thrive.
Thriving for Mr. Vriesman has meant teaching students in his history class to understand where our nation has come from so his students can help shape where we are going. They’re empowered to ask real questions about race, wealth, power, and privilege. They’re equipped to become active engaged citizens in our democracy, which relies on participation from every single voice. In short, Mr. Vriesman is making tomorrow’s Michigan stronger. He is investing in the ones who will someday likely be in these seats—Senators.
That’s why I am so proud that his contributions have been recognized nationally. This past year Matthew Vriesman was named the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Colleagues, I would ask you today to please join me in offering congratulations to Mr. Vriesman for this prestigious honor, in thanking him for devoting his life to the honorable and profoundly important profession of teaching, and help me welcome this honored group from Kentwood Public Schools to the Capitol today. Joining Mr. Vriesman in the Gallery are the assistant principal of East Kentwood High School, Lindsay Kimbrough; Kentwood Superintendent Kevin Polston; and a few brilliant students, Kian, Sam, Dibya, and Gracelynn.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
General Orders
The motion prevailed, and the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, designated Senator Damoose as Chairperson.
After some time spent therein, the Committee arose; and the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, having resumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and without amendment, the following bills:
Senate Bill No. 415, entitled
A bill to amend 1933 PA 167, entitled “General sales tax act,” by amending sections 12 and 18 (MCL 205.62 and 205.68), as amended by 2022 PA 3.
A bill to amend 1937 PA 94, entitled “Use tax act,” by amending sections 14a and 14b (MCL 205.104a and 205.104b), as amended by 2022 PA 4.
The bills were placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
Announcements of Printing and Enrollment
House Bill Nos. 5390 5391 5392
The Secretary announced that the following bills were printed and filed on Thursday, January 11, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
Senate Bill Nos. 682 683 684 685 686 687 688
The Secretary announced that the following bills were printed and filed on Tuesday, January 16, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
House
Bill Nos. 5393 5394 5395 5396 5397 5398
Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:32 a.m.
The President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, declared the Senate adjourned until Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
DANIEL OBERLIN
Secretary of the Senate