My amendment removes $1 million in taxpayer funding set aside for this Cannabis Social Equity Fund, and think about that for a minute from two perspectives. First of all, $1 million—at our current tax rate of 4.5 percent, forgetting any exemptions, it would take every single dollar a person earning $70,000 a year more than 317 years to pay for this one piece of spending. Every dime of that person’s tax burden for 317 years is gone—for what? And the total is actually worse when you look at exemptions and adjusted gross income and actually calculate income taxes. Is it really fair to use that taxpayer’s money on something like that? But even more, this is a $1 million expenditure to help more people get into the marijuana business? Drive through any small town or big city anywhere in the state and tell me we’re having a problem getting people into the marijuana business.
Thank you, Madam President. I ask my colleagues to support this very reasonable amendment.
Senator Webber’s statement is as follows:
My amendment would help ensure continuing education standards are being met and license renewals have a traceable paper trail. For years, the tracking system used has not been a problem, and it has been an arrangement that works well for both those in the industry and state regulators. Suddenly, that is no longer the case, and funding has been removed from the proposed budget. CPAs have been contributing to this system through a portion of their license renewal fees. Now, the department wants to divert that money elsewhere, without any input from those paying the fees. My amendment would simply restore this funding to ensure consistent and thorough standards for Michigan’s tax specialists.
Madam President, this is something those in the industry have expressly asked for, and I think the benefit to the general public is clear. Thank you, and I ask that my colleagues support my amendment.
Senator Huizenga’s statement is as follows:
My amendment would provide $400,000 to continue the existing system used by Michigan Realtors for tracking continuing education and license renewal. For years, this system has worked well for both industry professionals and state regulators. It provides efficient, streamlined training for the benefit of homeowners and homebuyers in our state. This budget before us today cuts this funding in half. My amendment simply restores it to the level that’s been working, so that real estate professionals can stay ready to serve Michigan’s homebuyers. Thank you, and I ask that my colleagues support my amendment.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 178, entitled
A bill to make appropriations for the department of insurance and financial services for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: