One of the lightest legislative years in memory roared to life Wednesday and then on toward dawn Thursday as the Democratic majority in the Legislature blasted the 2024-25 fiscal year budget through to passage just eight hours after it began to publicly leak and approved an avalanche of major bills.
A K-12 school aid budget unlike any other received final passage just before 5 a.m. Thursday as Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Democratic legislative leaders prevailed over a coalition of dismayed groups – traditionally Democratic allies – representing traditional public schools.
A legislative transfer of $250 million for a manufacturing megasite being planned in Genesee County received bipartisan approval Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee .
Legislation that would eliminate the legal defense of someone finding out someone is a member of the LGBT community as a justification for committing a crime passed the Senate with bipartisan support and is set to be sent to the governor.
Members of the Senate in bipartisan votes Tuesday passed legislation that would require individuals charged with animal cruelty or neglect to post bond to cover the cost of care for their animals pending trial or agree to forfeit their animals.
An expansion of eligibility requirements for medically frail inmates passed the Senate Tuesday with some bipartisan support after multiple floor amendments offered by Republicans were rejected.
The Senate's continued budget votes on Tuesday again saw Republicans unsuccessful in their attempts to amend the majority Democrat's proposal.
Some bipartisan effort highlighted business Thursday in the Senate as it began the process of moving their slate of appropriations bills, with members of both parties acknowledging work on an amendment to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development budget.
ROYAL OAK – Surrounded by families who relied on surrogacy and IVF to get pregnant, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Family Protection Act in Royal Oak on Monday.
A bill package intended to authorize contractual surrogacy relationships cleared its final major hurdle in the Senate following debate over the intent of the proposal and votes largely along party lines Tuesday.