Gov. Whitmer Signs Bills to Invest in School Safety, Transportation, and Technology Upgrades, Lower Costs for Michigan Businesses

Press Release

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to assist schools with providing funds for school security improvements, acquiring and upgrading technology and vehicles used for transportation and school maintenance, and real estate purchases. Governor Whitmer also signed bills to lower taxes for property that will be used for the production and recycling of materials for construction or maintenance of real estate, and provide greater access to insurance corporation board meetings by allowing them to continue to conduct meetings electronically.

"Today, I signed several bills to make a real difference for students, families, and communities," said Governor Whitmer. "We're helping schools more easily improve campus security, upgrade technology and vehicles, and fund maintenance projects. We are lowering property taxes for land used to produce or recycle construction or property maintenance. And we are boosting transparency by offering people greater access to insurance corporation board meetings. Let's keep working together to lower costs, help schools better serve their students, and ensure Michiganders have greater access to information that impacts their bills."

Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bills 63, 97, 101, and 160 and House Bill 4054.

Senate Bill 63 will keep students safe at school and provide improved learning environments by amending the Revised School Code to allow a sinking fund tax authorized on or after the bill's effective date to be used for the purchase of real estate for school buildings, for school security improvements, for the acquisition or upgrading of technology, for the acquisition of student transportation vehicles, or for the acquisition of vehicles used in the maintenance of school building.

"I would like to thank Governor Whitmer for supporting Senate Bill 63. This legislation gives schools and taxpayers more flexibility to purchase and maintain school buses," said state Senator Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia). "To best serve students, it is important that schools have a safe and reliable bus fleet."

Senate Bill 97 and House Bill 4054 will lower costs for Michiganders by amending the Use Tax Act to exempt from taxation the sale of property, used for production, manufacturing, or recycling of aggregate by the property if the aggregate would be used as an ingredient or component part for construction, maintenance, repair, or reconstruction of real property in Michigan.

"This is about helping reduce taxes on Michigan businesses struggling with ever-increasing costs due to high inflation," said state Senator Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe). "I want to thank the governor for signing this bill to provide this relief by clarifying how state tax exemptions apply to producing aggregates, like crushed stone and gravel and recycled materials that are critical to improving our roads and reducing trash in our landfills."

"This plan will help clear up Michigan's tax code and remove costs and barriers for Michigan businesses," said state Representative Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores). "I'm glad the bill was able to receive clear bipartisan support and moved swiftly to provide relief for these businesses."

Senate Bill 160 is a bill that continues the progress made in public act 21 of 2023, exempting delivery and installation charges from taxable value in certain circumstances.

"After taking office in January, businesses in my district shared with me their concerns about the unfair tax treatment of delivery and installation services by the state," said state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing). "I appreciate Governor Whitmer's support of this bipartisan tax package that clarifies the tax code and brings tax fairness to small businesses across the state."

Senate Bill 101 will amend Chapter 52 of the Insurance Code to eliminate sunsets on provisions that allow stockholders or directors of certain insurance corporations to adopt bylaws permitting meetings through electronic means, improving member and shareholder access.

"Virtual communication is an increasingly important tool in doing business. It's time that our insurance code reflects that," said state Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). "This bill will allow members of Insurance Boards to meet virtually, bringing our code into the 21st century and making firms in a critical sector of our economy more responsive to consumer needs."

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