Legislature

Minnesota dominated the week with a string of governor signatures. The omnibus public safety bill and a workers' compensation advisory council package were signed May 18 alongside a housing finance and policy bill and two election-related measures covering administration, absentee voting and campaign finance reporting. A paraprofessional qualifications bill and an environment and natural resources trust fund finance bill followed May 19 and 20. The governor also signed bills increasing criminal penalties for impersonating a peace officer while armed, adding disability accommodations to anti-discrimination protections, allowing virtual-currency custody services and updating tenant utility billing rules.

Minnesota's legislature also cleared both chambers on a large batch of bills before the week closed. Major items passing both chambers included an omnibus education finance bill, a higher education finance and policy bill, a capital bonding bill, a taxation and local government finance bill and an omnibus health and human services supplemental appropriations package. Both chambers also approved a social media bill setting requirements for minor accounts, a grooming criminal offense bill and a measure establishing a reimbursement program for underground petroleum storage tank systems with pressurized single-walled steel piping.

Michigan's legislature was equally active, sending a large number of bills through at least one chamber. Both chambers cleared a package increasing fines for discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle when a minor is present, along with updated sentencing guidelines for the same offense. Both chambers also passed a bill requiring surgical smoke plume evacuation plans in health facilities, a measure prohibiting state funds from being used to purchase certain drones and a bill allowing multistate lottery winners to remain anonymous.

Michigan also cleared both chambers on several children and housing measures. Bills modifying eligibility and definitions under the guardianship assistance act passed both chambers, as did a measure revising ferry regulation and a Selfridge Air National Guard Base appropriations bill. A package of mobile home commission revisions passed one chamber, accompanied by related bills on abandoned mobile home procedures, a tax credit for mobile home park sales to residents and a resident ownership revolving fund.

Michigan's House passed a sweeping set of tax-related bills in a single day, including measures to repeal the state real estate transfer tax, eliminate the personal property tax, eliminate the state education tax and require utilities to reduce residential rates in line with personal property tax savings. Those bills are tied to each other and to at least one additional measure not yet cleared, meaning all must pass before any can take effect.

Looking ahead, the large volume of Minnesota bills that cleared both chambers this week now head to the governor, including the omnibus cannabis bill, the bonding bill, the education finance bill and the social media minors bill. In Michigan, the tied tax repeal package will need its remaining companion bill to advance before any piece can move to the governor, making that bundle the key item to watch in the coming days.