(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/07/2023) An 1895 law created to prevent people from paying to transport voters to the polls in exchange for their vote was repealed under legislation Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Tuesday.
The old law was put in place to prevent a practice called “vote hauling.” In 2023, this meant that anyone who picked up the tab for someone else’s Lyft or Uber ride to the polls faced a 90-day, $500 misdemeanor.
HB 4568, sponsored by Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit), passed on party-line votes in the House and Senate as Republicans have long contended that offering someone something of value in exchange for their vote for a candidate or issue is a type of bribery.
There's also a belief that reinstating “vote hauling” will help Democrats politically. Democrats see the new law as removing a barrier to voting.
“By eliminating outdated restrictions on hiring transportation to polling places, we are removing barriers and expanding access to voting for many in our community,” Whitsett said. “Whether it’s reimbursing a neighbor for gas or hiring an Uber, citizens should have flexibility in getting to the polls . . . This is a victory for voter accessibility and freedom.”
In another election-related bill, the Governor penned HB 4567, sponsored by Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing), which repeals a requirement in law that someone must present a state-issued I.D. to register to vote within 14 days before an election, although they can use other official, identifying material beforehand.
Currently, a voter who registers within 14 days of an election with some other form of ID has their ballot marked as “challenged” until the voters can produce proper ID.
Online Overseas Military Voting Signed Into Law
A bill that requires the Secretary of State to provide overseas active duty military members with the option to return their ballots via an electronic system was also signed Tuesday.
SB 470 sponsored by Sen. Paul WOJNO (D-Warren) would be piloted during odd-year elections before going statewide in 2026.
Former Secretary of State and current Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) has supported voting accessibility for overseas military members since she held the SOS’ office, but opposed the legislation this time around for not requiring the preparation deadline to fall in 2024, allowing overseas military members to use it in the next presidential cycle.
The Governor also signed Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grand Rapids)’s HB 4573 Tuesday, which gives community colleges 10 more years to enter into new New Job Training Program (NJTP) agreements. It also requires that the employer pay 175% of the state’s minimum wage, or $17.68 an hour.
The extension garnered support from the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), which said in a statement that the programs provide newly hired employees with the “precise training needed as they expand operations in Michigan.
“The program has played a critical role in closing the skills gap and strengthening partnerships between community colleges and local businesses,” said MCCA President Brandy Johnson.
Governor Signs Bill Preventing Bans on Life Insurance Coverage for Organ Donors
After only missing one Senate vote and six House votes, the Governor signed Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores)’s SB 384 that bans life insurance providers from denying or limiting coverage based on someone’s organ donor status.
Living organ donors also can't have more expensive premiums.
“When living organ donors give the gift of hope to another person, they make a heroic personal sacrifice,” said Anita Fox, director of the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). Prior to the signing, she said that living organ donors could have their coverage abridged or denied, despite medical evidence showing no greater health risk than people who have not donated an organ.
The statement said the newly signed policy is part of an initiative to increase the pool of potential living organ donors and reduce the years-long wait time for lifesaving kidney, liver, and other organ transplants.
Also signed into law were:
- HB 4376, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), adopts new national insurance industry standards into state law that’s designed to prevent brokers from commingling their customers’ funds.
- Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)’s SB 55, which allows local governments to adopt resolutions that automatically re-enroll residents into a poverty property tax exemption program for the 2023 tax year by Dec. 1.
- Rep. Denise Mentzer (D-Mount Clemens)’s HB 4998 and HB 4999, which give the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) 60 days to issue or deny licenses, up from 30 days. It’s an amendment to the Grain Dealers Act, which was enacted to provide financial regulatory oversight in response to grain elevator bankruptcies prior to the Great Depression.
- HB 4644, HB 4645 and HB 4646 creates a standardized, comprehensive power of attorney statute that codifies common practice across the country into state law. Retired Judge Carl Marlinga said during a House Judiciary Committee in June that this package would reduce the docket on guardianships and conservatorships.
- Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe)’s SB 506, extends the sunset on the collection of food establishment licensing fees to Dec. 31, 2027.
- Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing)’s SB 507, allows cities that levy an income tax to enter into agreements with the Department of Treasury.
- Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores)’s SB 508, increases per diem compensation and mileage reimbursement for Farm Product Insurance Authority Board members from $0 to $75, and Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo)’s SB 511, recognizing the additional $200 million payment to reduce remaining unfunded accrued liabilities by approximately 75%.
