Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my e-newsletter! I’m honored and humbled to serve as our community’s voice at the Capitol in Lansing. As we continue into the term, rest assured that the challenges families in our community and state are facing are at the top of my legislative priorities.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0152 or email at AmosONeal@house.mi.gov if we can help.

Sincerely,

Amos O’Neal

State Representative, 95th House District

In this issue:

  • Nexteer Grant Funding Approval
  • MI Home Heating Credit Application
  • Legislation
    • HB 4916 – Peer to Peer Car Sharing
    • SB 844 – Thomas Township Receives $27 Million Investment

Nexteer Grant Funding Approval

Saginaw received amazing news this week when the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved grant funding to retain jobs at the Nexteer Automotive Corp. site in Buena Vista Township. I am proud to say that I was a strong advocate to secure these funds, submitting my letter of support to the board, visiting Nexteer with colleagues, and doing everything I could to stay on top of this opportunity for our community.

The funding will help Nexteer purchase more equipment needed to support and retain Nexteer’s only U.S.-based manufacturing site. The funding is expected to retain a minimum of 1,100 jobs and generate a total investment of $51 million through June 2024 and $261 million of capital and research and development investment over the next 10 years. The MSF approved $25.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief block grant funding and a 15-year tax exemption worth about $2 million.

This award is not just an investment in one company — it is a major step toward securing our economic future. With the rise in electric vehicle manufacturing, Nexteer will stay in our community and maintain good-paying job opportunities for years to come. I am overjoyed for Buena Vista Township as it will continue to thrive — thanks to this smart investment.

MI Home Heating Credit Application

The Michigan Department of Treasury’s Home Heating Credit application is due Friday, Sept. 30. This application helps pay energy bills for those who qualify — individuals include homeowners or renters that are low-income; deaf, disabled or blind; disabled veterans; or senior citizens. The department has been processing Home Heating Credit applications since late January. To date, the average credit is $253. Applicants do not need to file a Michigan income tax return to get the Home Heating Credit.

The Home Heating Credit form can be found at www.michigan.gov/taxes. Additional information about the credit can be found here. The Michigan Public Service Commission offers consumer tips on energy assistance and how to apply for energy assistance. Click here for a variety of additional energy resources and information.

HB 4915-4917 — Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing 

This week House Bill 4916 passed out of committee. I introduced this bill earlier this term, pertaining to peer-to-peer car sharing. This bill came about in response to the existence of many car sharing rental platforms. With these new rental options available, it was time we updated the tax requirements on these transactions as well as regulate operations for them at airports to create a level playing field for them within our competitive marketplace.

This bill would make the owner of a motor vehicle liable for an injury caused by the negligent operation of the vehicle whether the negligence is a violation of a state law or the ordinary care standard required by common law. My bill would provide that this liability imposed on an owner would not apply to a shared vehicle owner during a car sharing period. Similar legislation has been passed over the last few years in over 25 other states.

SB 844 — Thomas Township Receives $27 Million Investment

Last night in session, we passed Senate Bill 844, a $1 billion bipartisan supplemental spending bill that dedicated $850 million of the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund. It provided Thomas Township $27 million for the expansion of sanitary sewer infrastructure capacity for a project at the Hemlock Semiconductor Operation, a polysilicone manufacturer. This money will be a great addition to our expanding community and its future.