No. 14

STATE OF MICHIGAN

JOURNAL

OF THE

House  of  Representatives

103rd Legislature

REGULAR  SESSION  OF  2025

House Chamber, Lansing, Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

1:30 p.m.

The House was called to order by the Speaker Pro Tempore.

The roll was called by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who announced that a quorum was present.

e/d/s = entered during session

Pastor Leon Mullens, Pastor of Holford Street Church of Christ in River Rouge, offered the following invocation:

“Our Father, Who art in heaven, we thank You for this day and this opportunity for this body of legislators, to come together and discuss those things that will be beneficial and helpful for those they serve. Guide them in their decision-making, and the issues that will govern those whom they represent. Be with the speakers and others who will present their ideas, that will make our state better and represent their citizens’ needs and concerns. Bless these representatives, with wisdom and understanding, as they decide what is in the best interests of all, whom they serve and represent. We pray that their discussion on the issues will be without prejudice or malice. May they be courteous and respectful to all those who come before them, and to each other. Bless these representatives, their staff and others who help them with the information, as they move forward to making the laws and regulations. Forgive them for any shortcomings or faults and be with them as they keep in mind the time honored-privilege in serving their districts and communities.

Guide them and bless them in a special way, as they work together with the governor and other leaders, to make Michigan the best place it can be. May they continue to look forward to the guidance that You alone can give them. This, we ask in Your Son’s name, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

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Rep. Fitzgerald moved that Reps. Farhat and Whitsett be excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

Rep. Posthumus moved that Reps. Jaime Greene and Thompson be excused from today’s session.

The motion prevailed.

Announcement by the Clerk of Printing and Enrollment

The Clerk announced that the following bills had been reproduced and made available electronically on Thursday, February 6:

House Bill Nos. 4062 4063 4064 4065

Reports of Standing Committees

The Committee on Government Operations, by Rep. BeGole, Chair, reported

House Resolution No. 19.

A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives.

(For text of resolution, see House Journal No. 13, p. 97.)

With the recommendation that the following substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the resolution then be adopted.

Substitute for House Resolution No. 19.

A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That Rule 52 of the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Appropriations.

Rule 52. (1) No appropriations bill or conference report containing enhancement grants a legislatively directed spending item shall be brought for a vote without proper disclosure of the sponsor and the intended recipient, and a description of the grant legislatively directed spending item in a form and manner established by the House by resolution.

(2) An appropriations bill or conference report shall not be brought for a vote if it contains a legislatively directed spending item for which the intended recipient is a municipality or a university, including any official, department, or board of a municipality or university, that actively maintains any rule, policy, ordinance, or resolution that would subvert immigration enforcement in any way or that refuses to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.

(3) No appropriations bill or conference report containing a legislatively directed spending item for which the intended recipient is a municipality or university shall be brought for a vote unless the municipality or university has submitted the following information to the House:

(a) The municipality’s or university’s rules, policies, ordinances, and resolutions related to federal immigration law and immigration enforcement measures. This includes, but is not limited to, any rules, policies, ordinances, and resolutions regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests, and the municipality’s or university’s intent to work with federal authorities or actively harbor or shield illegal aliens from federal enforcement authorities or operations.

(b) In the case of a municipality, an official letter from the municipality, signed by the municipality’s chief executive officer, the municipality’s duly elected board, or an individual who is legally authorized to act on behalf of the municipality, certifying the following:

(i) The municipality’s rules, policies, ordinances, and resolutions do not include language that requires, encourages, or supports subverting immigration enforcement in any way or refusing to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.

(ii) The municipality will comply with federal immigration law.

(c) In the case of a university, an official letter from the university, signed by the university’s president, the university’s governing board, board of directors, or board of trustees, or an individual who is legally authorized to act on behalf of the university, certifying the following:

(i) The university’s rules, policies, ordinances, and resolutions do not include language that requires, encourages, or supports subverting immigration enforcement in any way or refusing to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.

(ii) The university will comply with federal immigration law.

(4) As used in this rule:

(a) “Legislatively directed spending item” means an appropriation that authorizes or obligates a specific amount of money for a contract or other expenditure with a grant, loan, or other economic assistance or incentive to a specific person, organization, unit of local government, or project or activity in a unit of local government, other than through a formula-driven or competitive award process.

(b) “Municipality” means a county, city, village, township, or authority established under the laws of this state.

(c) “University” means a state university described in Article VIII, § 4, 5, or 6 of the Michigan Constitution, or an independent college or university incorporated under 1931 PA 327, MCL 450.170 to 450.177.”.

Favorable Roll Call

To Report Out:

Yeas: Reps. BeGole, Harris and VanderWall

Nays: None

The Committee on Government Operations, by Rep. BeGole, Chair, reported

House Joint Resolution A, entitled

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending section 26 of article IV, to require approval by two-thirds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the legislature for certain bills.

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the joint resolution be adopted.

The joint resolution was referred to the order of Second Reading of Bills.

Favorable Roll Call

To Report Out:

Yeas: Reps. BeGole, Harris and VanderWall

Nays: None

COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT

The following report, submitted by Rep. BeGole, Chair, of the Committee on Government Operations, was received and read:

Meeting held on: Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Present: Reps. BeGole, Harris, VanderWall, Fitzgerald and McFall

Communications from State Officers

The following communication from the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity was received and read:

February 7, 2025

Under section 8 of the Michigan Employment Security Act, MCL 421.8, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Unemployment Insurance Agency must report annually to the Governor and the Legislature any amount, in excess of $1.00, that the maximum weekly unemployment benefit rate would increase if the annual increase in the United States Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) were applied to the maximum weekly benefit rate for Michigan.

Therefore, I am transmitting to the Governor, the House, and Senate for publication along with this letter in the Journals of their respective bodies the enclosed report showing that since the last increase in the maximum weekly benefit rate to $362.00, the increase in the CPI would result in an increase in the maximum weekly unemployment benefit rate to $617.83.

Respectfully submitted,

Brett Gleason, Interim Director

Unemployment Insurance Agency

The communication was referred to the Clerk.

Introduction of Bills

Reps. Woolford, BeGole, Kelly, Hoadley, Kunse, Robinson, Linting, St. Germaine, Beson, Carra, Wendzel, Wortz, Martin, Johnsen, Neyer, DeSana, Outman, Fox, Frisbie, Maddock, Rigas, Slagh, Alexander, Markkanen, Cavitt, Meerman, Bohnak, Fairbairn, Tisdel and VanderWall introduced

House Bill No. 4066, entitled

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The revised school code,” (MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1290.

The bill was read a first time by its title and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of

Reports of Standing Committees

The Speaker laid before the House

House Resolution No. 19, entitled

A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives.

(For text of resolution, see House Journal No. 13, p. 97.)

(The resolution was reported by the Committee on Government Operations on February 11, with substitute (H-1).)

(For substitute, see today’s Journal, p. 102.)

The question being on the adoption of the proposed substitute (H-1) recommended by the Committee,

The substitute (H-1) was adopted, a majority of the members present voting therefor.

The question being on the adoption of the resolution,

Rep. Tyrone Carter moved to amend the resolution as follows:

1. Amend page 3, line 15, after “(a)” by striking out ““Legislatively” and inserting “Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, “legislatively”.

2. Amend page 3, line 21, after “process.” by inserting “As used in subsections (2) and (3), “legislatively directed spending item” does not include any award or grant for which the intended recipient is a municipality or university with the express purpose of providing funding for critical public safety equipment related to law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, or other emergency services.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

Rep. Fitzgerald moved to amend the resolution as follows:

1. Amend page 2, line 6, after “enforcement” by striking out “in any way” and inserting “in a manner that is unlawful under federal law”.

2. Amend page 2, line 7, after “measures” by inserting “in a manner that is unlawful under federal  law”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

Rep. Fitzgerald moved to amend the resolution as follows:

1. Amend page 2, line 2, after “item” by adding a comma and inserting “other than obligated spending,”.

2. Amend page 2, line 9, after “item” by adding a comma and inserting “other than obligated spending,”.

3. Amend page 3, following line 27, by inserting:

“(d) “Obligated spending” means constitutional or statutory revenue sharing with a municipality, constitutional support to a university, or statutorily obligated spending to a university.”.

The motion did not prevail and the amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.

The question being on the adoption of the resolution,

Rep. Posthumus demanded the yeas and nays.

The demand was supported.

The question being on the adoption of the resolution,

The resolution was adopted, a majority of the members present voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

Roll Call No. 7 Yeas—56

Alexander Fairbairn Maddock Schmaltz

Aragona Fox Markkanen Schriver

BeGole Frisbie Martin Schuette

Beson Green, P. Meerman Slagh

Bierlein Hall Mueller Smit

Bohnak Harris Neyer St. Germaine

Bollin Hoadley Outman Steele

Borton Jenkins-Arno Paquette Tisdel

Bruck Johnsen Pavlov VanderWall

Carra Kelly Posthumus VanWoerkom

Cavitt Kuhn Prestin Wendzel

DeBoer Kunse Rigas Woolford

DeBoyer Lightner Robinson Wortz

DeSana Linting Roth Wozniak

Nays—50

Andrews Glanville Miller Skaggs

Arbit Grant Morgan Snyder

Breen Herzberg Myers-Phillips Steckloff

Brixie Hope Neeley Tate

Byrnes Hoskins O’Neal Tsernoglou

Carter, B. Koleszar Paiz Wegela

Carter, T. Liberati Pohutsky Weiss

Coffia Longjohn Price Wilson

Conlin MacDonell Puri Witwer

Dievendorf Martus Rheingans Wooden

Edwards McFall Rogers Xiong

Fitzgerald McKinney Scott Young

Foreman Mentzer

In The Chair:  Smit

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Rep. Paiz, having reserved the right to explain her nay vote, made the following statement: 

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

Title: Weaponization of gov’t and municipal autonomy

HR 19 (H1) would prohibit enhancement grants to be awarded to local units of government who choose not to do the work of federal ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement). My ‘No’ vote is based on the following: 1) It is a weaponization of government; 2) There is no legal definition of the word ‘sanctuary’; 3) loss of municipal control: there is neither a federal nor a state law that requires municipal law enforcement to participate in federal immigration activities, so financially penalizing a municipality and its residents for not having a policy about something that is not a law is both unlawful and unethical; 4) it would force municipalities to use their resources (budget funds, public safety) to do the work of the federal government instead of protecting its residents. Speaker Hall said that funding for ‘pork projects’ (his words) will only go to cities that are deemed *not* sanctuary cities, which holds cities hostage and denies them critical funding.”

Rep. Xiong, having reserved the right to explain her nay vote, made the following statement: 

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

This House Resolution unfairly targets municipalities and exemplifies government overreach. Under current federal law, local law enforcement is not required to participate in federal immigration enforcement. Linking taxpayer dollars to a community’s decision—whether voluntary or involuntary—to engage in federal immigration activities politicizes budgetary decisions and undermines the trust taxpayers have in the fair allocation of their money. This is a clear overreach that weaponizes government authority. Instead of burdening our municipalities with unnecessary red tape, we should focus on the real issues that matter most to our residents.”

Rep. Longjohn, having reserved the right to explain his nay vote, made the following statement: 

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

Today I voted against HR 19 because it is a clear example of government overreach. It’s apparent conflicts with the US Constitution and ambiguous language, which includes undefined terms like ‘sanctuary’, will just add to confusion and chaos at a time when many local municipalities are overwhelmed by uncertainty.”

Rep. Young, having reserved the right to explain her nay vote, made the following statement: 

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

Threatening to withhold funding from local municipalities to force local municipalities to do the job of federal immigration officers, which is not a requirement under federal law is unfortunate. Additionally, the lack of definition around ‘cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’ is concerning and can open a potential pandora’s box of issues.”

Rep. McFall, having reserved the right to explain his nay vote, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no because this resolution is a huge overreach on local control. It’s also an unfunded mandate that local municipalities should not be burdened with.”

Rep. Mentzer, having reserved the right to explain her nay vote, made the following statement: 

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I’m voting no on HR 19 because, coming from city government, I trust my communities to make the right decisions for themselves. As the daughter of a police officer, I understand firsthand the challenges law enforcement faces, especially when local agencies are already struggling with significant staffing shortages – like my community, which is currently 40 officers short.  This policy would only make their jobs harder, and I cannot support legislation that undermines the ability of local government to manage their own public safety needs effectively.”

By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of

Motions and Resolutions

Reps. Martin, Outman, Woolford, Aragona, Borton, Kuhn, Miller, Koleszar, St. Germaine, Beson, Markkanen, Bohnak, Jaime Greene, Kunse, Andrews, Neyer, Schuette, Jenkins-Arno, Fox, Johnsen, Alexander, Breen, Glanville, MacDonell, Paiz, Weiss, Wilson and Wooden offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 20.

A resolution to declare February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, A competitive economy requires workers who are prepared for skilled professions; and

Whereas, Career and Technical Education (CTE) training matches employability skills with workforce demand and provides relevant academic and technical coursework leading to industry-recognized credentials for secondary, post-secondary, and adult learners; and

Whereas, CTE ensures that competitive and skilled workers are ready, willing, and capable of holding jobs in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, allied health, construction, information technology, energy sustainability, and many other career fields that are vital in keeping Michigan competitive in our global economy; and

Whereas, Investing in CTE training for Michigan schools helps meet the very real and immediate challenges of economic development, student achievement, and competitiveness; and

Whereas, Providing real-world training to Michigan students during their secondary education gives them experience in multiple career field opportunities, and

Whereas, Over 529,000 Michigan job openings are projected through the year 2028, with a current median wage of nearly $59,000 per year for skilled trades jobs that do not require a bachelor’s degree yet increasingly require some level of postsecondary education; and

Whereas, Over 112,000 Michigan high school students were enrolled in CTE during the 2023-2024 school year. More than 95% of Michigan students who focused their education in CTE go on to participate in postsecondary educational opportunities, seek further advanced career and technical education training, volunteer for military service, or find employment within a year of graduation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month in the state of Michigan. We urge continued awareness of career and technical training for the students of Michigan to ensure the sustainability of Michigan’s workforce for the years to come; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Michigan and the State Superintendent.

The question being on the adoption of the resolution,

The resolution was adopted.

Reps. Neeley, Breen, Fitzgerald, Glanville, MacDonell, Myers-Phillips, Paiz, Rheingans, Rogers, Weiss, Wilson, Witwer, Wooden and Xiong offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 21.

A resolution to declare February 11, 2025, as White Shirt Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, We recognize Michigan’s members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) as they gather to mark the 88th anniversary of their first contract with General Motors. This anniversary is a reflection of the extreme sacrifice, commitment, and determination of those first UAW members who paved the way for higher pay and improved benefits that have created a positive atmosphere for all of America’s working men and women. We remember those historic members on this anniversary; and

Whereas, On February 11, 2025, UAW members and retirees will wear white shirts to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the famous Flint Sit-Down Strike in 1937. While the members of this distinguished organization celebrate the 88th anniversary of this event, we offer our thanks for the outstanding contributions they have made to the Flint community, our state, and our nation; and

Whereas, The origin of the UAW’s White Shirt Day can be traced back to 1948 when Bert Christensen, a UAW member of Local 598, first suggested it. His idea was to ask that workers wear the white shirts traditionally worn by managers to show the company that they were equally important to the business. The shirts represent equal respect and treatment for blue-collar workers and the unity and strength of UAW members; and

Whereas, With ceremonies to celebrate its history, the members and officers of the UAW will remember the vision of its founders and the commitment of its workers that have brought them to this point. Fittingly, as they look to the past, they will also be casting an eye to the future and to the many ways in which United Auto Workers will continue to serve the working men and women of this great country; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare February 11, 2025, as White Shirt Day in the state of Michigan. We commemorate the 88th anniversary of the first United Auto Workers contract with General Motors and commend everyone who has contributed to the UAW’s success. We applaud their accomplishments and thank them for helping to strengthen and build Michigan’s communities, workforce, and economy.

The question being on the adoption of the resolution,

The resolution was adopted.

Second Reading of Bills

House Joint Resolution A, entitled

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending section 26 of article IV, to require approval by two-thirds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the legislature for certain bills.

The joint resolution was read a second time.

Rep. Bollin moved that the joint resolution be placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

The motion prevailed.

By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of

Announcement by the Clerk of Printing and Enrollment

The Clerk announced that the following bills had been reproduced and made available electronically on Tuesday, February 11:

House Bill No. 4066

Senate Bill Nos. 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

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Rep. Wegela moved that the House adjourn.

The motion prevailed, the time being 4:15 p.m.

The Speaker Pro Tempore declared the House adjourned until Wednesday, February 12, at 1:30 p.m.

SCOTT E. STARR

Clerk of the House of Representatives