Michigan Senate to Begin Consideration of Tax Reform Package

This week, the Michigan Senate begins taking testimony on the tax reform package that would replace the job-killing Michigan Business Tax with a flat, simple, and competitive 6% Corporate Income Tax. The Michigan House passed HB 4361 and 4362 and all companion bills two weeks ago and a vote in the full Senate is expected later this week! Visit our legislative Briefing Center for more information on this legislation. 

The Michigan Chamber will testify in support of the package on Tuesday morning, May 10, in the Reforms, Restructuring, and Reinventing Committee. But we need your help! We urge Chamber members to call their State Senator or send them a legislative action alert and ask them to support the tax reform package under consideration this week! Please visit our Legislative Action Center now to look up your State Senator and to access our action alert.

Regulatory Reform Package Passes Senate

Last week, the Michigan Senate passed a package of regulatory reform bills that limits state government power, forces departments to better explain actions taken, and creates a review process for best practices and rule making. 

One of the more noteworthy bills in the package is Senate Bill 272, which prevents state agencies from promulgating rules more stringent than the federal government. This bill is a step in the right direction for improving Michigan's regulatory environment. 

Other bills in the package include Senate Bill 277, which creates a program review process to help encourage the adoption of best practices; Senate Bill 279, which requires the Department of Environmental Quality to explain the need for all inspections and to provide a report to the Legislature of all inspections (It also requires the DEQ to use a "fair and equitable sampling process" in making determinations of who will receive inspections); and Senate Bill 278, which creates a process of review for all rules and requires departments to submit the rules that they intend to review each year. 

Each of these bills attempts to reduce government interference in the private sector by putting in place limits, reviews, and protections for the business community. We applaud our friends in the Michigan Senate for passing this package of bills. We are asking members of the State House to do the same.  

For more information on these bills, please contact Jason Geer at (517) 371-7673 or jgeer@michamber.com.