In just six weeks since being sworn in to office, House Republicans have led the charge to reduce burdensome government regulation on job providers, promote tourism and protect municipalities from fiscal crisis as well as encourage agricultural innovation and environmental protection. As of March 25th, 13 bills have been passed, compared with just one bill on this date two years ago.

The first bill was through committee and approved by the full House this session on February 10th. Two years ago, the House did not pass its first bill until February 24th.  In addition, the House has approved 21 resolutions that include expressing opposition to the possible ban of firearm hunting and snowmobiling in the Huron-Manistee National Forest and demanding action from the U.S. government on preventing Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. The bills and resolutions include a number of initiatives that Governor Rick Snyder addressed in his State of the State in mid-January, when he said he looked forward to working with the Legislature on getting things done quickly.

Bills approved include:

• House Bills 4214-18 and 4246, addressing Emergency Manager laws that are designed to help protect municipalities from entering a fiscal crisis and providing Emergency Managers with the power needed to make positive changes;
• HBs 4212-13, providing incentives for farmers to follow environmentally sound practices through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program;
• HB 4004, approving the sale of state property to the city of Jonesville so an unused railway line can be used for a local recreation project;
• HB 4158, eliminating the cumbersome and costly item-pricing law while preserving consumer protection provisions;
• HB 4160, providing additional funding for the Pure Michigan tourism campaign;
• HB 4135, establishing a seat on the Detroit Pension Board for a retiree from that system;
• Senate Bill 20, prohibiting onerous ergonomics regulations that are more stringent than federal law.