LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Votes have been slow-moving since the start of the session in January, and there are a few stand-out bills currently on hold, one of which would require divers to maintain a 200-foot following distance behind snow plows.
State Senator Sam Singh (D- East Lansing) said that after being approached by county officials about an increase in crashes involving snow plows and cars, he decided to write a piece of legislation similar to laws passed in other states that have resulted in a reduced number of crashes.
“What we’re hearing out of Wisconsin is that it’s showing some progress and that’s why we’re being asked to consider it here in Michigan,” Singh said. “In those rare instances where there is an accident and it’s clear that the person wasn’t following the law, then there’ll be a simple infraction that’s granted there.”
The senator’s bill passed unanimously in the Senate and now waits for a hearing date in the House Transportation Committee which Singh, said should be in April or early May
Another bill in the house aims to broaden and modernize renaissance zones, a goal Governor Whitmer laid out in her State of the State address.
Representative Kristian Grant (D – Grand Rapids) explained that the goal of her bill is to expand the tax incentives available to businesses in designated renaissance zones to more industries. She said Governor Whitmer has a focus on technology-related companies, but that the bill also includes benefits for legacy industries like logging, which could be beneficial in the U.P.
“By design, these zones are only available in areas that have seen a lack of opportunity or a lack of investment,” Grant said. “This bill has sparked a new conversation for people who maybe weren’t involved in that first round of things. These zones are really created to look around and say where do we need some investment and how can we incentivize businesses and communities to work together to create jobs to create investment.”
Grant’s bill passed in both chambers and is just waiting on final approval of changes in the house before it can be signed by the governor…
