Sen. Ed McBroom
Email: SenEMcBroom@senate.michigan.gov
Phone: 866-305-2038

Sponsored bills introduced
Senate Bill 401  would set the allowable annual purchase of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine at 61.2 grams, and lower the maximum allowable purchase in a 30-day period from 9 to 7.2 grams. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are commonly found in some cold and flu medicines and can be used in the production of illegal drugs. There are also already daily purchase limits and possession limits in Michigan.

It’s tie-barred with Senate Bill 402, which would also lower the amount of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine allowed to be sold in a 30-day period from 9 to 7.2 grams.

These bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services, chaired by Sen. Curt Vanderwall (R).

Senate Bill 356 would restore a second judge to the Marquette County circuit court.

It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, chaired by Sen. Roger Victory (R).

Senate Bill 400 would allow for the first drunk driving conviction on someone’s record to be expunged. It has passed the Senate with broad, bipartisan support. It has been sent to the House, who referred it to the House Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Rep. Graham Filler (R).

Votes of note
McBroom voted in favor of Senate Bill 353 and 354, which would waive license fees for many food-based establishments that are usually paid to the State of Michigan or local health departments. The bill passed the Senate strictly on party support from Republicans.

“...it’s estimated that this bill would reduce revenue to the state by approximately $5 million and it’s an indeterminate loss of how much revenue would be lost by the local public health departments and as a result, this bill is opposed by the department, by the Michigan Association of Counties, and by the Michigan Association of Local Public Health,” Sen. Jeremy Moss (D) stated in the Senate Journal from the day of the vote.

The Senate Fiscal Agency analysis backs up Moss’s statement, and also estimates that the food service fees support 50% to 75% of the cost of food safety activities on the local level.

Moss said he could not support the bill until it included funding to replace what would be lost by the local health departments and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The bill is currently in the House Committee on Regulatory Reform, chaired by Rep. Roger Hauck (R).

McBroom also favored Senate Bill 230, which would waive liquor license fees for a year to make up for a year in which many restaurants and bars couldn’t serve freely because of the pandemic and associated restrictions. The bill received full Republican support, but none from Democrats.

“I guess I’m a little bit shocked and disappointed at opposition to this legislation,” McBroom said in the Senate Journal from April 28. “We are basically saying to people that, ‘Hey, pay your fees, pay your dues, but you don’t get to use the license that you paid for. Stay home.’ I don’t understand how we can in good conscience accept that idea.”

Moss, in a statement several other Democrats concurred with, again pointed out the millions of dollars it would cost the department. According to the Senate Fiscal Analysis, the bill would cost the Michigan Liquor Control Commission approximately $37.5 million between July 1, 2021 and December 31, 2023. It would also reduce money distributed to local units of government and alcohol treatment programs. Moss asked for a provision that would replace that money in the budget before he would support the bill.

McBroom voted for Senate Bill 146, which would offer a tax incentive for first-time home buyers. The bill has broad support, passing the Senate 29-5. It has now been referred to the House Committee on Tax Policy, chaired by Matt Hall (R). Another House version of this bill has also received broad support, but is now in committee.

Rep. Greg Markkanen 
Email: GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov
Phone: 517-373-0850

Sponsored bills introduced
None in April.

Votes of note
Markkanen voted in favor of House Bill 4530, which has a mix of support from House Democrats and Republicans. The bill would eliminate the statewide May and August election dates and establish one in June instead.

The bill passed the House 63-46 and was sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Committee on Elections, chaired by Sen. Ruth Johnson(R).

Markkanen also supported Senate Bill 17, which would let some employees be on the government payroll for more than one job. The bill has a mix of support from Democrats and Republicans, and has also passed both the Senate, where McBroom has also supported it. It will soon be presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Markkanen supported the generally popular House Bill 4448, which would prohibit limiting the fulfillment of Freedom of Information Act requests during a declared state of emergency. The bill has moved to the Senate and was referred to the Senate Committee on Oversight, chaired by McBroom.

Markkanen voted for House Bill 4257, an interesting bill that only garnered the support of a single House Democrat. A memorandum of understanding is an informal agreement, which imposes no contractual duties or obligations, that governors sometimes enter into with other states or entities. HB 4257 would require that these memorandums be filed similar to laws and made available to the public, and also formalize that after the governor who establishes a memorandum leaves office, “that memorandum of understanding shall remain in effect during the term of the successive governor and subsequent successive governors until rejected by a successive governor or until it expires by its terms.”

After passing the House, it was referred to the Senate and their Committee on Oversight, chaired by McBroom.

Markkanen voted for House Bill 4289, which would offer a tax incentive for first-time home buyers. The bill has broad support, passing the House 89-15. It has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Jim Runestad (R). Another Senate version of this bill has also received broad support, but is also now in committee.

Markkanen voted in favor of the broadly supported House Bill 4454, which sets out curbside recycling criteria and goals, and rewrites other definitions and recycling mandates. The bill passed the House 87-17 and is now in the Senate Committee on Regulatory Reform, chaired by Aric Nesbitt (R).

Markkanen is also among the supporters of House Bill 4202, which would authorize automated school bus passing citations. It passed the House 102-7 and is now in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Sen. Tom Barrett (R).

A more controversial vote, House Resolution 60 passed almost purely on party lines, with Markkanen and other Republicans in favor. 

Excerpt from House Resolution 60.

The resolution passed 59-50. This is related to the departure of former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon.