HB 4284:  Would reduce the fee for renewing a CPL license, from $115.00 to $30.00. The county would keep the entire fee for the concealed pistol licensing fund of that county.

Sponsor:  Rep. Paquette (R)                     

Passage:  63-46 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The current renewal fee of $115.00 is prohibitively expensive, and interferes with individuals’ constitutional right to bear arms. 

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4947-4948:  Would require that retailers who sell products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine participate in the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx).

Sponsors:  Reps. BeGole (R) & McFall (D)                          

HB 4947 Passage:  87-22 with Immediate Effect

HB 4948 Passage:  84-25 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Law enforcement needs reliable tools to track the precursor ingredients that are used to make more dangerous illegal drugs. 

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HB 4492:  Allows an employer to require tip pooling between their employees.

Sponsor:  Rep. Mueller (R)                        

Passage:  57-52 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: The bill empowers employers to decide whether tip pooling is in the best interest of their employees and business, rather than leaving that decision to individual employees. 

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BILL PACKAGE HBs 4805-4808:  Children Trust Fund modifications

Sponsor:  Rep. Posthumus (R)                 

HBs 4805 & 4807 Passages:  101-8 with Immediate Effect

HB 4806 Passage:  102-7 with Immediate Effect

HB 4808 Passage:  100-9 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: A higher disbursement rate allows for more programs and therefore more impact. 

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HB 4141:  Requires schools to implement a wireless communication device policy and adds minimum requirements for the policy.

Sponsor:  Rep. Tisdel (R)                            

Passage:  99-10 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Electronic devices are becoming an increasingly prevalent distraction in schools, both to the user and those around them. 

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HB 4749:  Would allow Antrim County to operate its own District Court, allowing local residents to have a District Court that is not a 1-hour drive from their homes and businesses.

Sponsor:  Rep. Roth (R)                               

Passage:  103-4 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Local residents and businesses will be better served by a District Court that is closer to their homes and businesses. It is not convenient to drive 1 hour to reach the current District Court in Grand Traverse County. 

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HB 4911:  Allows a barber to operate a mobile barbershop.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schmaltz (R)                    

Passage:  107-0 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This is a regulation consisting of burdensome red tape – there is no reason services cannot be performed adequately and safely in someone’s home or in a trailer outfitted for that purpose. 

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HB 4692:  Allows cosmetology schools to operate branch facilities.

Sponsor:  Rep. Rigas (R)                             

Passage:  106-1 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This allows cosmetology schools to expand and operate new facilities, serving additional students. 

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HB 5127:  Prevents the department when regulating child care centers from regulating occupants or areas of a multiple occupancy building which are not child care centers or used by the child care center.

Sponsor:  Rep. Schuette (R)                     

Passage:  99-8 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: This will ensure that the department cannot impact the operations of other occupants that reside within a building that also includes a child care center. 

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HB 5207:  Modifies barber instructor licensing requirements.

Sponsor:  Rep. Rigas (R)                             

Passage:  104-3 with Immediate Effect

Why I voted YES: Providing a license to just cut and color hair lowers the barrier of entry for individuals who just want to pursue their career solely to provide those services.