MICHIGAN BILLS

HB 4905 & SB 237 - Use tax: definitions; data center equipment used by an enterprise data center; exempt. 

Michigan data centers would destroy state’s nation-leading climate plans, opponents charge

Michigan data center legislation halted, for now

Michigan Lawmakers Introduce "Michigan Indigenous Culture and Heritage Package"

HB4853 and HB4854  are designed to protect the rights of Indigenous students wearing ceremonial regalia at graduation ceremonies and those who wear traditional regalia or bring cultural objects to their schools and universities. 12/4/24 HB4854 passed Higher Ed Committee; support letter to be sent to legislators & House & Senate leaders TELL YOUR MI REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR TO VOTE YES!

from https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/michigan-lawmakers-introduce-michigan-indigenous-culture-and-heritage-package

SB 90 -  A bill to amend 1976 PA 453, entitled "Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act”

Generally, the ELCRA prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodations and public services, educational facilities, and housing and real estate based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.

The bill would define "race" as inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. "Protective hairstyles" would include such hairstyles as braids, locks, and twists.

HB4852, would declare Manoomin, or wild rice, as the state’s official native grain. Designating wild rice as the state grain will enable Michigan to create a stewardship plan to protect the cultivation of wild rice.  PASSED!

The remaining bills in the package would protect Michigan’s pollinators and vital plants:

HB4857 would make milkweed exempt from the designation of noxious plants, ensuring the plant would no longer subject to state and local eradication efforts. PASSED!

HB4858 would prohibit the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on public land and require the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to produce a report to the legislature detailing the costs and benefits of the use of the pesticides. NOT PASSED

from https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/michigan-lawmakers-introduce-michigan-indigenous-culture-and-heritage-package