HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND TOURISM
REP. STEVE MARINO
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
9:00 a.m.
Room 519, House Office Building
The House Committee on Commerce and Tourism was called to order by the Chair.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Reilly, Schroeder, Wakeman, Wozniak, Cambensy,
Camilleri, Sowerby, Manoogian.
Absent: Rep. Hope.
Excused: Rep. Hope.
Representative Wendzel moved to adopt the meeting minutes from September 2, 2020. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Representative Wozniak moved to adopt the meeting minutes from March 5, 2020 as
amended. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 6141 before the committee:
HB 6141
(Rep. Pohutsky)
A bill to amend 2018 PA 337, entitled "Improved
workforce opportunity wage act," (MCL 408.931
to 408.945) by adding section 4e.
Representative Wozniak moved to refer House Bill No. 6141 to the Committee on Families,
Children, and Seniors. The motion prevailed 7-0-1:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Wakeman, Wozniak, Cambensy, Camilleri, Sowerby.
Nays: None.
Pass: Rep. Reilly.
The Chair laid HR 244 before the committee:
HR 244
(Rep. O'Malley)
A resolution to urge the President and the
Congress of the United States to declare the
waters of the Straits of Mackinac as "designated"
for purposes of Great Lakes commercial ship
pilotage.
Representative Jack O'Malley, the sponsor of HR 244, explained the resolution and
introduced Captain Jon H. Olney, who testified in support of HR 244. A copy of their written
testimonies is attached.
Representative Wakeman moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to HR 244. The motion prevailed
9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Reilly, Wakeman, Wozniak, Cambensy, Camilleri,
Sowerby, Manoogian.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Wendzel moved to report out HR 244 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
1). The motion prevailed 9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Reilly, Wakeman, Wozniak, Cambensy, Camilleri,
Sowerby, Manoogian.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 4897 before the committee:
HB 4897
(Rep. Love)
A bill to amend 1936 (Ex Sess) PA 1, entitled
"Michigan employment security act," by
amending section 15 (MCL 421.15), as amended
by 2017 PA 229.
Representative Leslie Love, the bill sponsor, explained HB 4897. Questions followed.
Stephanie Glidden, Chief of Staff of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency in the
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, submitted a card stating neutral
on HB 4897, but did not wish to speak.
Representative Cambensy moved to adopt substitute (H-2) to HB 4897. The motion prevailed
10-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Reilly, Schroeder, Wakeman, Wozniak, Cambensy,
Camilleri, Sowerby, Manoogian.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Schroeder moved to refer House Bill No. 4897 to the Committee on Ways and
Means, with recommendation as substitute (H-2). The motion prevailed 10-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Reilly, Schroeder, Wakeman, Wozniak, Cambensy,
Camilleri, Sowerby, Manoogian.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Sowerby moved to place HB 4894 properly before the committee.
The motion did not prevail 4-6-0:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Cambensy, Camilleri, Sowerby, Manoogian.
Nays: Reps. Marino, Wendzel, Reilly, Schroeder, Wakeman, Wozniak.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 6185 before the committee:
HB 6185
(Rep. Cambensy)
A bill to amend 1855 PA 105, entitled "An act to
regulate the disposition of the surplus funds in the
state treasury; to provide for the deposit of surplus
funds in certain financial institutions; to lend
surplus funds pursuant to loan agreements secured
by certain commercial, agricultural, or industrial
real and personal property; to authorize the loan of
surplus funds to certain municipalities; to
authorize the participation in certain loan
programs; to authorize an appropriation; and to
prescribe the duties of certain state agencies,"
(MCL 21.141 to 21.147) by adding section 2g.
Representative Sara Cambensy, the bill sponsor, explained HB 6185 and introduced Kent
Wood, representing Borealis Strategic, LLC, who testified in support of HB 6185. Questions
followed.
Marty Fittante, President of InvestUP, testified in support of HB 6185. Questions followed.
Susie Fox, Director of Business Development for the Great Lakes Sports Commission and
member of the Iron Mountain Kiwanis Ski Club, testified in support of HB 6185. Questions
followed.
Billy Demong, Executive Director of USA Nordic, testified in support of HB 6185. Questions
followed.
Mike Guswiler, President of the West Michigan Sports Commission, testified in opposition to
HB 6185. Questions followed.
Paul Connors, Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Treasury, testified in
opposition to HB 6185. Questions followed.
The following individuals submitted a card in support of HB 6185, but did not wish to speak:
Stacie Bytwork, representing the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce;
Kirstie Sieloff, representing the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance;
Kirstie Sieloff, representing the Traverse Connect;
Gabe Schneider, representing the Traverse City Tourism; and
Deanna Hemmila, Executive Director of Government Relations for Northern Michigan
University.
The following individuals submitted a card and written testimony in support of HB 6185, but did
not wish to speak:
Doug Luciani, Vice President of Strategy and Community Impact for Cunningham-LIP
and Chairman of the Great Lakes Sports Commission;
Matt Morrissey, Managing Partner of Morrissey Management Group, representing the
Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and Traverse City Horse Shows; and
Steve Marncci, former resident of Iron Mountain, Michigan.
Matt Sowash, representing the Michigan Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus,
submitted a card in opposition to HB 6185, but did not wish to speak.
Larry Alexander, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Metro Convention and
Visitors Bureau, submitted a card in support of HB 6185 if statewide, but did not wish to speak.
Representative Wakeman moved to excuse Representative Hope from the meeting. There
being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Representative Wenzel moved to
adjourn the Committee. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous
consent. The Chair adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m.
Representative Steve Marino, Chair
Joy Brewer
Committee Clerk
joybrewer@house.mi.gov