Wednesday, June 11th, 2025:

I voted NO on HB 4044 (Rep. Farhat) would designate the wood duck as the official duck of the state of Michigan. EXPLANATION: The wood duck does not need special designation from the state.

PASSED: 92-17

I voted NO on HB 4011 (Rep. Hoadley) would authorize the transfer of property currently owned by the state for the Department of Corrections in Standish (Arenac County). EXPLANATION: Authorizing the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) with the opportunity to sell the property for less than fair market value goes against market principles.

PASSED: 62-47

I voted YES on HB 4434 (Rep. Meerman) would eliminate one-person grand juries by repealing all the sections of statute that create and authorize this process. EXPLANATION: Americans have a right to a trial by jury of their peers. Limiting the jury to one peer takes transparency away from the legal process. Defendants do not know what evidence the prosecution has brought before them. AG Dana Nessel is known for using this tactic as lawfare, for example, when she prosecuted Snyder administration officials. Lawfare is a flagrant abuse of legal procedure and a one-person grand jury disrespects the due process rights of the people.

PASSED: 74-35

I voted NO on HB 4246 (Rep. Green) would amend the Public Health Code to enter Michigan into the Nurse Licensure Compact to allow registered or licensed nurses to practice in states other than Michigan and allow registered or licensed nurses in other states that are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact to practice in Michigan. EXPLANATION: Licensure compacts come with potential fees, increased data sharing, and an out of state commission in charge of the operations. Licensing should be streamlined here at home to cut red tape and decrease administrative burdens on these occupations. Out-of-state occupational therapists would be more inclined to move here and work if our regulatory environment was greatly reduced. Additionally, licensure reciprocity would be a good alternative to this compact.

PASSED: 57-52

I voted NO on HB 4576-4578 (Reps. Kelly, Markkanen) would provide for appropriations for the FY 25-26 school budget. EXPLANATION: Ample time was not provided to review this portion of the school budget package, and I will not vote for legislation that is not thoroughly reviewed. These bills were made available the night before, but with a full day of committee and other meetings, along with reviewing the bills previously on the agenda, there was not adequate time to analyze this lengthy budget proposal. Legislators should vote on the content of each bill, and that takes proper time and review. Legislators should not vote based on the abstract concepts within a bill or bill package, as that is how disastrous Trojan Horse legislation is passed. Combined, these three bills amount to a $1.1 billion increase for our taxpayer-funded schools that have continued to fail our kids.

PASSED: 56-53, PASSED: 56-53, PASSED: 56-53

Thursday, June 12th, 2025:

I voted NO on HBs 4394&95 (Reps. Rigas, Witwer) would establish a $20 fee for a temporary permit to allow a licensed barber or cosmetologist to provide services at a veteran service organization. Would allow the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to issue temporary permits for a licensed barber or cosmetologist to provide services to a veteran at a veteran service organization. EXPLANATION: Barbers and cosmetologists should not need the government’s permission to offer their professional services to veterans. Creating new fees and ceding more authority to LARA is the wrong approach, and any government entity that would shut down a barber or cosmetologist for voluntarily providing services to veterans is disgraceful.

PASSED: 95-2, PASSED: 95-2

I voted YES on HB 4192 (Rep. VanWoerkom) would change the annual groundwater discharge permit fee classification structure for manufactured housing communities, and RV parks/campgrounds. EXPLANATION: In late 2023, the Democrat trifecta extended a sunset and raised fees on groundwater discharge permit fees. EGLE took it upon themselves to penalize anyone who dared comply with regulations. EGLE reclassified their groups of facilities, thereby forcing manufactured home communities and RV campgrounds to pay the same rate as municipalities. The result was an astronomical fee increase for these operators, making it harder for them to do business.

PASSED: 65-32

I voted YES on HB 4257, 4265 (Reps. Neyer, Andrews) would represent a legislative effort to balance the promotion of anaerobic digestion technology with the need for environmental protection. By defining key terms, setting operational standards, and clarifying permitting requirements, the bills aim to provide a framework that supports sustainable waste management practices while safeguarding natural resources. EXPLANATION: Digestate is a byproduct from anaerobic digestion of organic matter, and it is commonly used by farmers as fertilizer. The State of Michigan has unfortunately been well known for cumbersome digestate regulations. Notably, the Fremont Facility is in the process of decommissioning its facilities after having dealt with EGLE for over a decade. Digestate appears in three states: solid, partially-solid, and liquid. Previously, digestate was classified only as a liquid, allowing EGLE to regulate the substance through wastewater regulations and groundwater discharge permits. Defining digestate as a solid shields the substance from EGLE’s harshest regulations, better protecting the freedom of those who wish to produce or use digestate.

PASSED: 62-35, PASSED: 62-35

I voted YES on HB 4356 (Rep. Hoadley) would require the Secretary of State to send a mail notice to voters, informing them that if they do not return the prepaid postage correspondence, their voter registration will be canceled. EXPLANATION: Secretary Benson’s mismanagement of the Qualified Voter File (QVF) has made our elections ripe for fraud. Testimony before the Committee on Election Integrity revealed instances where people who were not politically active had been registered to vote, sometimes at different addresses. Since Secretary Benson will not clean the voter rolls, it’s on the Legislature to do as much as we can to secure our elections. Twelve other states have enacted legislation that removes voters who have been inactive for eight years. Removing inactive people is a way to ensure the QVF is more accurate, and the timeline of eight years allows people many opportunities to vote.

PASSED: 56-41

I voted NO on HB 4579&80 (Rep. Markkanen) would provide FY 26 appropriations for community colleges. Would provide FY 26 appropriations for the higher education budget. EXPLANATION: For far too long, Lansing has stuck to practices of increased spending. It is critical that budget proposals include substantial cuts to reduce the size and scope of government. In order to start negotiations off on the right fiscal footing, proposed cuts are necessary, otherwise budget increases are inevitable. These two budget bills ultimately included small reductions in proposed funding; however, there was more to be done. Aside from Democrat involvement, our Republican majority working in good faith will continue to bring these bills in the right direction where adjustments may be made.

PASSED: 56-41, PASSED: 56-41