HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL FINANCE
REP. JOHN FITZGERALD
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
12:00 PM
Room 519, House Office Building
The House Committee on Local Government and Municipal Finance was called to order by
Chair Fitzgerald.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Fitzgerald, Byrnes, Shannon, Breen, Rogers, Hill, Hoskins, Paiz, Zorn,
Paquette, Bezotte, BeGole, Prestin.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Byrnes moved to adopt the meeting minutes from May 15, 2024. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5188, HB 5189 and HB 5190 before the committee:
HB 5188
(Rep. O'Neal)
A bill to amend 1956 PA 40, entitled "The drain
code of 1956," by amending section 196 (MCL
280.196), as amended by 2020 PA 291.
HB 5189
(Rep. Bezotte)
A bill to amend 1956 PA 40, entitled "The drain
code of 1956," by amending sections 135 and 197
(MCL 280.135 and 280.197), section 135 as
amended by 2020 PA 281 and section 197 as
amended by 2017 PA 62.
HB 5190
(Rep. Hill)
A bill to amend 1956 PA 40, entitled "The drain
code of 1956," by amending sections 72, 384, 441,
464, and 515 (MCL 280.72, 280.384, 280.441,
280.464, and 280.515), section 72 as amended by
2018 PA 646 and section 464 as amended by 2016
PA 521.
Representative O'Neal and Representative Bezotte testified in support of HB 5188, HB 5189
and HB 5190.
Stacy Hissong, representing the Michigan Association of Drain Commissioners, testified in
support of HB 5188, HB 5189 and HB 5190.
Brian Wendling, a Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner, testified in support of HB
5188.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 5188, HB 5189 and HB 5190, but
did not wish to speak:
Elmeka Steele, a Wayne County Drain Commissioner.
The following person submitted a card in opposition to HB 5188, HB 5189 and HB 5190, but
did not wish to speak:
Dawn Crandall, representing the Home Builders Association of Michigan.
Tim Langholz, representing the National Federation of Independent Business.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5188, but did not wish to speak:
Ben Tirrell, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
The Chair laid HB 4921 and HB 5726 before the committee:
HB 4921
(Rep. Fitzgerald)
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled "Michigan
vehicle code," by amending section 907 (MCL
257.907), as amended by 2023 PA 40, and by
adding sections 79g and 627c.
HB 5726
(Rep. McFall)
A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled "Revised
judicature act of 1961," by amending sections
8379 and 8396 (MCL 600.8379 and 600.8396),
section 8379 as amended by 2000 PA 93 and
section 8396 as added by 1994 PA 12.
At 12:28 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 12:28 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Representative Byrnes moved to adopt substitute (H-2) to HB 4921. The motion prevailed
12-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Fitzgerald, Byrnes, Shannon, Rogers, Hill, Hoskins, Paiz, Zorn, Paquette,
Bezotte, BeGole, Prestin.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
At 12:29 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 12:30 PM, Majority Vice Chair Byrnes called the committee back to order.
Representative Fitzgerald explained the changes in substitute H-2 of HB 4921 and testified in
support of HB 5726. Questions and discussion followed.
At 12:42 PM, Majority Vice Chair Byrnes laid the committee at ease.
At 12:42 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
Bruce Timmons, an Okemos resident, testified in opposition to HB 4921 and HB 5726.
Representative Breen moved to report out HB 4921 with recommendation, as substitute (H-
2). The motion prevailed 8-3-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Fitzgerald, Byrnes, Shannon, Breen, Rogers, Hill, Hoskins, Paiz.
Nays: Reps. Paquette, BeGole, Prestin.
Pass: Reps. Zorn, Bezotte.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 4921, but did not wish to speak:
John LaMacchia, representing the Michigan Municipal League.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 4921 and HB 5726, but did not wish
to speak:
Kelly Abercrombie, representing Blue Line Solutions.
Representative Byrnes moved to report out HB 5726 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 8-2-3:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Fitzgerald, Byrnes, Shannon, Breen, Rogers, Hill, Hoskins, Paiz.
Nays: Reps. Paquette, Prestin.
Pass: Reps. Zorn, Bezotte, BeGole.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Fitzgerald adjourned the
meeting at 12:48 PM.
Representative John Fitzgerald, Chair
Molly Wingrove
Committee Clerk
mwingrove@house.mi.gov