Sen. Thomas Albert

Maddy summarySB 647 amends Michigan's Income Tax Act to remove outdated references to the Michigan Strategic Fund, which was eliminated by prior legislation. The bill updates specific sections of the tax code (including Sections 51f, 266a, 270, and others) that previously referenced the Strategic Fund or its related provisions. This is a procedural update to align the tax code with current law, with no new tax rates, credits, or programs created. The changes solely correct administrative references and do not affect existing tax credits or funding mechanisms like the "Good Jobs for Michigan Fund."

Maddy summarySB 648 allows film producers in Michigan to use military-owned property for free when filming, under terms set by the state's adjutant general. It directly affects film production companies seeking to shoot on military land, requiring them to avoid obscene content or material involving minors under 18. The bill updates the definition of "film" to include modern formats like streaming content, documentaries, and video games, and mandates cooperation between the military department and the Michigan Film Office. It does not change funding but streamlines access to military locations for the film industry.

Maddy summarySB 650 amends Michigan's Home Rule City Act to update procedures for cities establishing administrative hearings bureaus that handle blight violations. The bill specifies which property violations qualify (like zoning, building maintenance, or vehicle abandonment), limits fines to $10,000, and prohibits incarceration. It requires cities to provide landlords with correction opportunities before issuing fines for residential properties during inspections, unless an emergency exists. Hearing officers must be licensed attorneys with specific training, and the bureau cannot address criminal offenses or certain state-level violations. The bill does not create new fines but refines existing administrative processes for city-level enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 649 amends Michigan's State Convention Facility Development Act to eliminate the Michigan Strategic Fund as a recipient of convention fund distributions. It removes a specific provision that previously allocated up to $4 million (for fiscal year 2021) to the Michigan Strategic Fund for pandemic-impacted convention centers. The bill maintains other distribution mechanisms, including annual payments to metropolitan authorities for convention facility operations and county allocations based on liquor tax collections. These changes directly affect convention centers, local governments, and metropolitan authorities managing convention facilities. The amendment reflects updated funding priorities for the convention facility development fund.

Maddy summarySB 634 amends Michigan's lobbying law (1978 PA 472) to remove references to the Michigan Strategic Fund, which was eliminated by prior legislation. The bill updates the statute to reflect current government structure by deleting outdated provisions related to this fund. It does not change lobbying rules, registration requirements, or definitions - only corrects obsolete language in Section 5 of the law. This is a technical correction affecting the statute's text, not the substance of lobbying regulations.

Maddy summarySB 680 amends Michigan's Community Convention or Tourism Marketing Act (1980 PA 395) by removing references to the "Michigan Strategic Fund" from Section 2 of the law. This change updates the legislation to reflect the elimination of that fund, affecting tourism marketing programs and nonprofit bureaus that previously referenced it. The bill does not alter how assessments are calculated, who pays them, or the structure of marketing programs. It solely adjusts legal references to align with current state funding structures. The amendment is contingent on another bill (SB 631) being enacted.

Maddy summarySB 682 amends Michigan's Convention and Tourism Marketing Act to remove references to the Michigan Strategic Fund and update the law to reflect that the Michigan Travel Bureau (renamed "Travel Michigan") now oversees tourism marketing. The bill directly affects hotels and tourism venues that pay assessments under the act, as it updates the administrative authority managing these funds. The amendment is contingent on another bill (SB 631) being enacted, as noted in the "TIE BAR" provision. This is a procedural update, not a substantive policy change, to align the law with current organizational names and responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 656 removes references to the Michigan Strategic Fund from a law governing business improvement zones (BIZs). It specifically deletes the definition of "affiliate" that was previously tied to the Strategic Fund's rules (1984 PA 270, Section 90l). This amendment affects how property owner voting is calculated in BIZ elections, ensuring proportional voting rules no longer depend on the eliminated Strategic Fund definition. Core processes like election requirements, city reimbursement for administrative costs, and zone plan adoption remain unchanged.

Maddy summarySB 657 amends Michigan's General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.9f) to remove references to the Michigan Strategic Fund, which is being eliminated. The bill allows eligible local assessing districts and Next Michigan development corporations to grant tax exemptions on new personal property for qualifying businesses in designated areas, such as distressed parcels or economic development zones. For agreements after December 31, 2016, it requires written contracts with businesses including remedies like repayment of exempted taxes if terms are violated. The exemption process now bypasses the Michigan Strategic Fund's approval role, streamlining local tax incentive programs for economic development.

Maddy summarySB 662 amends Michigan's Pure Michigan byway program to require the state Department of Transportation to obtain a trademark license from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) before designating routes as "Pure Michigan byways." It mandates that all existing "Michigan heritage routes" be officially designated as Pure Michigan byways by December 30, 2015, contingent on securing this MEDC trademark license. The bill affects state agencies responsible for highway planning and route designation, specifically changing the process for adopting the "Pure Michigan" branding. It does not create new funding or alter the program's core purpose, only formalizing the trademark requirement for route designations. The bill is tied to another pending measure (SB 631) and remains under committee review.