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Research Service Inc.
Policy Issues


Hall's Office Shooting Down Senate's Increased Hunting, Fishing Fees Upon Arrival
Hall's Office Shooting Down Senate's Increased Hunting, Fishing Fees Upon Arrival
3 days ago3 min read


No Kings Protests See Signature Gatherers Galore
No Kings Protests See Signature Gatherers Galore
4 days ago3 min read


Army Corps Of Engineers Line 5 Permitting Expected This Fall; Last Permit Next Fall
Army Corps Of Engineers Line 5 Permitting Expected This Fall; Last Permit Next Fall
4 days ago2 min read


Anti-Human Trafficking Bills Focus On 'Demand Side'
Legislation has been introduced to target the “demand” side of human trafficking or commercial sex. The proposed changes allow victims of trafficking to be expunged of crimes they committed while being exploited, and gives prosecutors tools to build cases.
Oct 133 min read


Fewer Car Wrecks Post COVID, But More Car Wreck Fatalities
The number of traffic crashes on Michigan roads has slowed since COVID, but the wrecks that do happen are more serious and more deadly, based on MIRS's look into Michigan Traffic Crash Facts data posted on the Michigan State Police's website.
Oct 132 min read


Payroll Tax Cuts For New Jobs May Become Michigan's Next Big Business Incentive Tool
(Source: MIRS.news , Published 10/08/2025) House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) said Tuesday he's open to working with the Governor on something that's been a part of her economic development wishlist since early 2024: the "HIRE Michigan" program. The plan would be to give away payroll tax exemptions to businesses creating new jobs in Michigan. Hall's goal is to repeal the defunded Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund law and eliminate the Michigan
Oct 94 min read


Civil Service State Shutdown Would Be Temporary Layoff, As Unions Call For Budget
(Source: MIRS.news , Published 09/24/2025) If the state Legislature and Executive fail to pass a budget or continuation resolution before...
Sep 253 min read


House, Senate R's Meet In Joint Caucus; 8 Session Days Added To House Calendar
House, Senate R's Meet In Joint Caucus; 8 Session Days Added To House Calendar
Sep 253 min read


Blanchard: Duggan Wins If Government Shuts Down, Calls Hall's Proposals 'Show Business'
Blanchard: Duggan Wins If Government Shuts Down, Calls Hall's Proposals 'Show Business'
Sep 174 min read


Children Living In A Tent Dominates Hertel's Hearing
(Source: MIRS.news , Published 09/09/2025) The House Oversight Committee’s questioning Tuesday of Department of Health and Human Services...
Sep 104 min read


AG Contends Legal Actions Against Trump Admin Preserves $1.8B In Funding
AG's Legal Actions Against Trump Admin Preserves $1.8B In Funding
Sep 92 min read


Rheingans Proposing Const'l Amendment, Other Legislation To Combat Trump
Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) is proposing a constitutional amendment to require multiple state government branches’ approval before declaring a rebellion or invasion and legislation to prohibit local law enforcement from being used for federal immigration law enforcement. She also pushed for stiffer habeas corpus and Miranda rights.
Sep 81 min read


Cannabis Industry Set To Fight 'Gas Station Weed'
Gas stations, liquor stores, and vape shops across Michigan have seen the rise in what the Cannabis Regulatory Agency called intoxicating hemp-derived products that the cannabis industry believes are illicit.
Sep 83 min read


School Bathrooms Designated To Sex Assigned At Birth Under House-Passed Bill
Rep. Joseph Fox (R-Fremont)’s HB 4024 to require schools to enforce individuals to only use the restroom or locker room of their sex assigned at birth passed the House Thursday, 58-46.
Sep 52 min read


Lack Of Lake Lifeguards Left High and Dry With Committee
Michigan has 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. Indiana has 45.
Aug 291 min read


Bathroom Sex Bill Flushed Out Of Committee To Floor
Transgender students would be required to use the school bathroom of their biological sex as written on their original birth certificate under legislation that moved out of a House committee along party lines Wednesday morning.
Aug 283 min read


Forum: Cannabis Shouldn't Be Treated 'Like It's Plutonium' By Policymakers
State regulators shouldn't treat cannabis “like it's plutonium," but regulate it based on the harms it could cause and not on “archaic” rules, according to Michael Bronstein, co-founder and president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, who spoke at a National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) forum earlier this month.
Aug 253 min read


No Outside Military In Michigan Without Governor's Approval Under Pohutsky Bill
Unless the President validly invokes the military to come to Michigan, only the Governor has the authority to let armed forces in from another state, territory or district, under legislation spotlighted Thursday y sponsor Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia).
Aug 221 min read


Suspending Lawmakers' Pay For Missing Budget Deadline Fails In House
The House failed by four votes to adopt a measure that would put on the ballot a constitutional amendment that would withhold the Governor’s and legislators’ pay if they don’t pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year by the July 1 statutory deadline.
Aug 225 min read


States in ‘Fairly Strong Position’ at FY '25 End But Challenges Loom
(Source: MIRS.news , Published 08/20/2025) (BOSTON) -- Thanks to strong revenue growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and robust...
Aug 213 min read
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