legislature

The Legislature returns to state Capitol Tuesday as lawmakers bargain over what to do before this session wraps up at the end of the year. One subject of negotiations is road funding.

The Michigan House of Representatives passed a series of bills Wednesday on wide-ranging topics as the year's legislative session winds down

Democratic leaders want to finish budgets for state departments, aid to local governments and spending on K-through-12 schools, community colleges and public universities

At first the fund depended entirely on lawmakers appropriating money for it every time it started to run low. That changed with the passage of legislation last year that created an automatic funding mechanism through the end of Fiscal Year 2025. The new funding mechanism would run for ten years

The issue of trial court funding has been a pressing matter for years. A 2017 state law passed under then-Republican Governor Rick Snyder created a Trial Court Funding Commission to review concerns and come up with recommendations for lawmakers to pass

The new year presents a chance for lawmakers to finish priorities they started last year but didn’t get done.Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) predicted swift action on a host of items.

In a split decision last week, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected a challenge to how judges handle criminal sentencing decisions. That may not be the final word.

Judge Robert Redford ruled that the House violated the Open Meetings Act by limiting testimony on bills that would expand background checks, implement so-called red-flag laws and mandate safe storage in homes when children are present

This week Michigan’s Legislature adjourned for the rest of the year—leaving several policy proposals on the table. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Winnie Brinks says there is progress being made.

Adjournment starts the clock ticking on laws that cannot take effect before 90 days have passed. That includes new gun rules, lifting some abortion restrictions and clearing the way for a February presidential primary