Capitol Connection: March 26, 2024
In This Issue
- Rebuild Lansing
- Parental Leave Survey
- Cap on Payday Lending Loans Passes State Senate
- Keeping Groceries Affordable
- Don’t Make a Bigger Mess of Michigan’s Contaminated Sites
- Bad Faith Legislation Will Raise Insurance Premiums
- First Friday Public Affairs Call Update
Local Updates
Rebuild Lansing
This past month the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) has advocated for several big-ticket projects that would literally rebuild Lansing, specifically, downtown Lansing.
Below, is a brief overview of the outcomes:
The OVATION Performing Arts Center: The additional brownfield plan for the Ovation Performing Arts Center, including a rooftop bar, was reconsidered, and approved by City Council 5-3. This was originally rejected at the 3-11-2024 Council meeting.
- Yes Votes: Garza, Hussain, Jackson, Pehlivanoglu, Spadafore
- No Votes: Brown, Carter, Kost
City Hall Campus: While the Lansing City Council accepted the state’s $40 million allocation for a new City Hall, they rejected the plan to purchase and move the City Hall to the Masonic Temple building at the 3-11-2024 Council meeting.
- Accept City Hall State Allocation (APPROVED)
- Yes Votes: Brown, Carter, Garza, Hussain, Jackson, Pehlivanoglu, Spadafore
- No Votes: Kost
- Approve Purchase Agreement to move City Hall to the Masonic Temple (FAILED)
- Yes Votes: Garza, Hussain, Jackson, Spadafore
- No Votes: Brown, Carter, Kost, Pehlivanoglu
Please Note: At the 3-18-2024 meeting, Council did send back a revised purchase agreement for the Masonic Temple to the Committee of the Whole. This item will be taken up at a future Council meeting.
Rebuild Lansing Agenda Competed Items (completed 3-11-2024)
Transformational Downtown Housing Developments: The Lansing City Council accepted the state’s $40 million allocation and approved the transformational housing project proposal. This represents a significant step forward in revitalizing our downtown area and providing much-needed housing options for residents.
- Yes Votes: Brown, Carter, Garza, Hussain, Jackson, Pehlivanoglu, Spadafore
- No Votes: Kost
It’s important to note that some council members expressed the need for additional time to review the plans for the new City Hall. As noted, the Council has sent a revised purchase agreement for the Masonic Temple building to the Committee of the Whole and will be taken up at a future Council meeting.
The LRCC, through Advance Greater Lansing, mobilized more than 150 businesses, labor partners, regional organizations, and Lansing residents to contact City Council members throughout this process. The LRCC launched the Rebuild Lansing website and was extremely active on all digital media channels. The LRCC wants to thank each and every one of its members who have signed onto this effort. Your voices were heard, and your support continues to make a difference in advancing these critical initiatives for our city.
Parental Leave Survey
This survey was created by the Ingham County Health Department in association with Michigan’s Region 7 Perinatal Quality Collaborative to assess the types of parental leave policies across Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties.
State Updates
Cap on Payday Lending Loans Passes State Senate
Senate Bill (SB) 632 sponsored by Senator Sarah Anthony which would cap the fees allowed on payday loans to a maximum APR of 36% passed the State Senate 24-13. The bills now head to the State House for consideration. Currently, average fees on these loans equate to an average APR of 370%. This would only affect entities and products licensed under the Deferred Presentment Service Transaction Act. This legislation would cap payday lending interest rates at 36%. The LRCC has historically been supportive of this legislation to cap the fees for payday lenders. This aligns with the Chamber’s policy priority taxation and regulations.
Keeping Groceries Affordable
Lawmakers are being asked to consider expensive new legislation that would smack families with costly new grocery fees. House Bill 4904 and Senate Bill 453 would expand the state’s bottle deposit law, raising prices for water, juice, and many other groceries. The LRCC has joined a coalition of business and labor groups opposing the legislation. New fees on bottled water, juices, cooking ingredients and more couldn’t come at a worse time for Michiganders – forcing parents to make impossible choices and stretching limited dollars needed to feed a family. This aligns with the LRCC’s policy priority focused on taxation and regulations.
Federal Updates
Don’t Make a Bigger Mess of Michigan’s Contaminated Sites
The Retain Brownfield & Urban Investment Laws for Development (#RebuildMI) coalition opposes SB 605-611 and HB 5241-5247, which threaten Michigan’s brownfield redevelopment laws, deterring clean-up and redevelopment efforts. These proposals, dubbed “Polluter Pay,” would hinder the revitalization of historic districts and former industrial sites, undermining Michigan’s future. Instead, Rebuild MI advocates for policies to encourage private investment in housing, office, manufacturing, and retail space development.
Led by pro-growth business organizations, the Great Lakes Growth Coalition (GLG) supports issue-based coalitions, including contamination site management, independent contractors, benefit mandates, and local economic regulations, aiming to foster Michigan’s economic growth.
GLG’s founding members include the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Detroit Regional Chamber, Grand Rapids Chamber, Michigan Bankers Association, West Michigan Policy Forum and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Bad Faith Legislation Will Raise Insurance Premiums
A new study from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) warns that proposed insurance reforms in House Bill 4681 and Senate Bill 329 could escalate consumer costs by 11-21%, amounting to $2.4 billion to $4.7 billion across all policy types. Specifically, the reforms introduce 35 new legal avenues against insurance companies, with auto insurance premiums projected to surge nearly 40%, affecting Michigan’s 7.2 million drivers significantly. APCIA, alongside the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and other entities, forms a coalition opposing the bills, denouncing them as “bad faith” legislation. For further details, visit the Don’t Touch MI Rates Coalition.
Be in the Room Where It Happens
First Friday Public Affairs Call Update
Join us for our upcoming First Friday Public Affairs Call Update on Friday, April 5 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Brought to you by ITC Holdings, from national down to regional updates, these monthly calls are designed to keep our members informed and engaged. Registration is available below.
