In order to help make our state government more transparent and accessible to my constituents, each week that there is session I am going to post to my website a synopsis of the work each House committee will do for the week. This will include the time and location for the meeting as well as any bills or presentations the committee will hear. Each agenda item will include the bill number, the sponsor, and a brief summary of the legislation. If you would like to read in greater detail about any of these bills, you can read them in their full-text at www.legislature.mi.gov.

Please also note that you and your neighbors are welcome to observe any committee meeting or legislative session. Most House committee meetings are in the House Office Building (124 N. Capitol Avenue, Lansing, Michigan) but some convene in the Capitol across the street.

As your elected officials, it is our job to conduct legislative business with efficiency and transparency. I hope you find these posts helpful and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Week of Feb. 2, 2015: Committee Meetings

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Natural Resources

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 426, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

– Departmental overview presentation by Department of Natural Resources
– Hunting and fishing license and fee restructuring presentation by Department of Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time 9 a.m.

Location: Room 326, House Office Building

Agenda:

Organizational Meeting

A presentation given by Director Dan Wyant on the Department of Environmental Quality’s role in Michigan.

Health Policy

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentations By:

Michigan Health and Hospital Association
Trinity Health
Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health
Beaumont Health System
Spectrum Health System
Sparrow Health System

Criminal Justice

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 327, House Office Building

Agenda:

Overview of Criminal Justice System

Commerce and Trade

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

HB 4119 – (Rep. Garcia) – Civil procedure; garnishment; garnishment of periodic payments; revise procedure.

HB 4120 – (Rep. McCready) – Labor; fair employment practices; deductions from wages without written consent of employee; include certain reimbursements related to garnishment.

A Presentation from the Michigan Retailers Association

Transportation and Infrastructure

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 521, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation by Kirk Steudle, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 307, House Office Building

Agenda:

House Fiscal Agency overview of the FY 2014-15 MDARD budget

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Human Services

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

HFA Presentation: Background Briefing on the Department of Human Services Budget

Judiciary

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 521, House Office Building

Agenda:

PRESENTATION BY:

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young

Communications and Technology

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 521, House Office Building

Agenda:

Organizational Meeting

Appropriations

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

HB 4078 – (Rep. Bumstead) – Appropriations; capital outlay; Michigan natural resources trust fund; provide appropriations.

Families, Children and Seniors

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 327, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentations By:
Nick Lyon- Interim Director, Department of Human Services
Scott Dzurka- President and CEO, United Way’s Michigan Association of United Ways

Agriculture

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation from:
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Jim Byrum, President

Tax Policy

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 521, House Office Building

Agenda:

Organizational Meeting

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 521, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation on Transportation Funding by House Fiscal Agency

Regulatory Reform

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation by Andrew Deloney – Chairperson, Michigan Liquor Control Commission

Local Government

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 307, House Office Building

Agenda:

Organizational meeting

Financial Liability Reform

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 327, House Office Building

Agenda:

HB 4059 – (Rep. Hughes) – Retirement; public school employees; retirant employed at a reporting unit under certain circumstances without forfeiting retirement allowance or health care coverage; eliminate sunset.

A Presentation from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Time: Noon

Location: Room 326, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation from the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association.

Joint Committee Meeting: Education and Appropriations: Subcommittee on School Aid

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Overview of the School Aid Budget by House Fiscal Agency

Overview of the Michigan Department of Education Budget by House Fiscal Agency

Insurance

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Presentation by the Department of Insurance and Financial Services:
Overview of Department’s Mission, Responsibilities and Structure

Ann Flood, Director, Teri Morante and Senior Deputies

Oversight and Ethics

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 326, House Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation given by the Office of the Auditor General

Workforce and Talent Development

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 519, House Office Building

Agenda:

PRESENTATIONS:

Michigan Manufacturers Association
Michigan Association of Home Builders
Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan

Military and Veterans Affairs

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 308, House Office Building

Agenda:

Organizational Meeting

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Corrections

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Room 307, House Office Building

Agenda:

Overview Presentations
– Department of Corrections
– Legislative Corrections Ombudsman

Appropriations: Subcommittee on Higher Education 

Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Room 352, House Appropriations, State Capitol Building

Agenda:

Overview of Higher Education Budget