LANSING, Mich. — Nine bills introduced by Sen. Jim Runestad during the 2021-2022 legislative session were signed by the governor to become law, among the most of any state senator over that time.
“Every year, many good bills fall short of passing through both legislative chambers — and a good number find themselves vetoed by the governor,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “I am proud to have had nine of my bills become law over the past legislative session — among the most of my fellow senators. I remain committed to being an effective public servant on behalf of the people of my district in western Oakland County, especially as a voice for the many vulnerable, families, seniors and others who need someone fighting for them in Lansing.”
The nine public acts first introduced by Runestad include:
- Public Act 164 of 2021 created the ability for personal property located at an alternate location to be considered at its ordinary location for the purposes of assessment to ease the burden of tracking personal property that was dispersed due to work-from-home policies for the 2022 tax year. It was signed into law by the governor on Dec 23, 2021.
- Public Act 36 of 2022 worked to deter fraudulent court process servers and restored integrity in the judicial system by requiring servers, under penalty of perjury, to sign a declaration that the proof of service has been examined and that its contents are true. It was signed into law by the governor on March 23.
- Public Act 49 of 2022 established a local federal aid swap program to allow local road agencies to “sell” their anticipated federal aid funds to the state in exchange for state road dollars, providing for a more efficient use of federal transportation funds between the state, counties and cities. It was signed into law by the governor on March 29.
- Public Act 136 of 2022 amended the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998 to safely allow for tabletop and wall-mounted taps to be installed in Michigan bars and restaurants and set serving limits. Patrons access these self-serve taps through prepaid key cards worn as a necklace or bracelet that also track their consumption. It was signed into law by the governor on July 11.
- Public Act 148 of 2022 amended the state Income Tax Act to provide a mechanism to allow partnerships to file, and a process by which to file an amended return, should they get a federal audit that determines they owe additional dollars following changes made to the federal Bipartisan Budget Act. It was signed into law by the governor on July 19.
- Public Act 171 of 2022 made changes to product definitions, licensure requirements, fees, recordkeeping requirements, stamping protocols, and enforcement practices as part of a bill package that modernized the Tobacco Products Tax Act to align with advances in the industry and technology. It was signed into law by the governor on July 21.
- Public Act 172 of 2022 amended the Health and Safety Fund Act to make necessary technical changes due to the consolidation of the revenue earmarks as part of a bill package that modernized the Tobacco Products Tax Act to align with advances in the industry and technology. It was signed into law by the governor on July 21.
- Public Act 173 of 2022 made technical changes to the Tobacco Product Manufacturers’ Escrow Accounts Act of 1999 to bring it up-to-date with required statutory and subsection citations as part of a bill package that modernized the Tobacco Products Tax Act to align with advances in the industry and technology. It was signed into law by the governor on July 21.
- Public Act 174 of 2022 added organized retail fraud to the list of items that qualify as racketeering under the Michigan Penal Code, giving law enforcement officials more leverage to fight against the criminal rings that take advantage of very poor, drug addicted, and human trafficked individuals to steal high-value items from retail stores and put innocent customers and store employees in unnecessary danger. It was signed into law by the governor on July 21.