Whitmer signed 1,000 laws in first term as governor; here’s 8 she vetoed

In her first term as Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer signed 1,000 laws. That number indicates a high level of engagement between Whitmer and the Republicans who ran the Legislature back then.

She noted the milestone Thursday on Twitter. The 1,000th law, Whitmer said, “will strengthen Michigan Reconnect and put more Michiganders on a tuition-free pathway.”

“What a great day to reflect on all we accomplished by working together!” Whitmer added.

But the governor and the lawmakers did not always agree. In that spirit, MichiganVotes Monday offers eight bills that legislators approved but Whitmer vetoed. The descriptions are provided courtesy MichiganVotes.org. The links track back to the bills. We always encourage people to read the bills for themselves.

• Senate Bill 686 of 2019. Introduced by Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, on Dec. 10, 2019. “To establish a state employee whistleblower protection law that prohibits a state department or agency from retaliating against a person for communicating with a legislator on the way the department or agency is performing its duties.” Vetoed in July 2020.

• House Bill 4687 of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton, on June 4, 2019. “To explicitly permit deer and elk baiting for hunting, and feeding deer and elk during hunting season. Separately, the bill would also establish that feeding wild birds or other wildlife is permissible if done in such a manner as to exclude wild, free-ranging white-tailed deer and elk from gaining access to the feed. The bill is a response to a baiting ban imposed by a state Natural Resources Commission in 2018.” Vetoed in December 2019.

• Senate Bill 956 of 2020. Introduced by Sen. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township, on June 3, 2020. To ban the transfer of patients in a medical care facility to nursing homes if they test positive for COVID-19. State regulators would be required to create a centralized intake facility in each of the state’s eight health care regions to treat coronavirus patients who could not be transferred to a hospital.

• Senate Bill 11 of 2021. Introduced by Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, on Jan. 13, 2021. “To establish that the emergency executive orders issued by the governor or the state health department do not relieve county clerks of their duty to process concealed pistol carry permits, or the State Police of their duty to provide fingerprinting services for this.” Vetoed in March 2022.

• Senate Bill 277 of 2021. Introduced by Sen. Michael MacDonald, R-Macomb Township, on March 24, 2021. “To establish a process for removing dead voters from the eligible voter rolls. This is part of a Republican election integrity package comprised of Senate Bills 273 to 311.” Vetoed in October 2021.

• Senate Bill 768 of 2021. Introduced by Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, on Dec.2, 2021. “To cut the state income tax rate from 4.25% to 3.9% starting Jan. 1, 2022; authorize a $500 tax credit for dependents age 18 and below; and reduce the corporate income tax from 6.0% to 3.9%.” Vetoed in March 2022.

• House Bill 4127 of 2021. Introduced by Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall, on Feb. 4, 2021. “To revise the procedure specified in state election law to remove certain registered voters listed in the qualified voter file who haven’t voted since 2000 or who have unknown dates of birth in the voter rolls, and do not respond to a mailing.” Vetoed in April 2021.

• House Bill 6184 of 2022. Introduced by Rep. Julie Alexander, R-Hanover, on June 9, 2022. “To revise the law that authorizes the state health department to impose emergency orders in response to an epidemic, by requiring each such order to identify the epidemic, describe how any restrictions on gatherings or procedures will protect the public health, and more. The bill would also require disclosure of any information the state health department has used to justify issuing an emergency order, including the data or statistics used to determine if it is necessary. Such orders could not extend beyond 28 days without legislative consent.” Vetoed in October 2022.

House Bill 6184, and seven similar bills vetoed by Whitmer, were borne of Mackinac Center research that found Michigan still has 30 emergency powers laws on the books.

Below, we have linked to the Public Acts Tables for Michigan since 2019. It has every bill signed into law signed and every veto recorded through Dec. 19, 2022.

Michigan Public Acts Table for 2022

Michigan Public Acts Table for 2021

Michigan Public Acts Table for 2020

Michigan Public Acts Table for 2019

Do you see anything of interest? Tell us. Email me at dickson@mackinac.org. I read every single email.