LANSING — A road funding plan. A ban on ‘ghost guns.’ Improved financial transparency for charter schools.
Those were among the dozens of measures teed up for possible passage during Michigan’s lame-duck session that did not get passed before lawmakers went home for the year . All House and Senate bills that haven’t passed both chambers in identical form by year’s end are dead, though similar bills can be introduced when the new legislative session begins in January.
Some proposals, like road funding, died because lawmakers from both parties and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer never agreed on a package that could pass both chambers. Many other bills, like the ghost gun ban, died when the House abruptly adjourned on Thursday because it lacked a quorum , leaving a large volume of planned lawmakers’ work unfinished.
Here’s a rundown on some of what didn’t get done:
Sexual assault lawsuit changes
A package of bills, Senate Bills 1187 to 1192, would have extended the statute of limitations for sexual assault survivors to sue, among other changes. The lead bill, SB 1187, passed the Senate with bipartisan support Dec. 13 in a 24-9 vote, but died in the House with the others.