Tuesday, August 19th, 2025:

I voted NO on HB 4047 (Rep. Bierlein) would impose civil liability and criminal penalties for the nonconsensual creation and dissemination of deep fake sexual images. The Senate’s amendment would shield providers or developers of technology from liability so long as the technology is not designed for, marketed for, or deployed for the dissemination of intimate deep fakes, and if the provider or developer has prohibited explicit deep fake content in accordance with the provider’s or developer’s terms of service. EXPLANATION: I offered an amendment that recognizes that consent is a matter to be adjudicated by the courts. The amendment includes that consent is a defense, but does not regulate the means of consent. Unfortunately my amendment was not adopted. State statute should not be overly prescriptive when it comes to a matter that is best determined in criminal and civil court. The bill as passed creates lawfare types of situations where a high school senior could be harshly punished for a stupid mistake that legitimately had the consent of the individual depicted in a deepfake. Actions should have consequences, but those consequences should be determined through the court process when a judge and jury weighs the plaintiff and defendant side of the issue without hamstringing a proper defense. Conceptually, this bill is great, but as happens far too regularly, the content needed adjustment, and the Senate failed to address this critical point.

PASSED: 97-5

I voted YES on HB 4415 (Rep. Kuhn) would amend the Public Highways and Private Roads Act to modify the price and weight thresholds for the board of a county road commission to purchase machines, tools, appliances, and materials. Dollar amounts must be adjusted for inflation. EXPLANATION: Inflation has long surpassed the initial intent of the competitive bidding statute, presenting obstacles for county road commissions in procuring simple equipment. Raising the threshold will allow county road commissions to act with greater efficiency on smaller item purchases.

PASSED: 83-19

I voted NO on HB 4543 (Rep. Schuette) would amend the Income Tax Act of 1967 to replace the average “all urban Detroit” CPI with the average US CPI for calculating annual adjustments to the home heating credit. EXPLANATION: The Michigan Home Heating Credit is a utility tax credit administered by the state and funded with federal dollars. Instead of updating the inflation rate by which the credit is calculated, and therefore expanding this welfare program, the state should allow this program to remain at its current funding level.

PASSED: 88-14

Wednesday, August 20th, 2025:

I voted YES on HB 4707 (Rep. Smit) would prohibit ranked choice voting for local, state, and federal elections. EXPLANATION: Ranked choice voting is the latest in a series of schemes to make Michigan’s elections ripe for fraud. Ranked choice voting brings confusion and dilutes the voices of the people, nullifying the principle of one person, one vote. It is the constitutionally delegated responsibility of the state legislature to ensure that elections are free and fair, and ranked choice voting is the latest challenge to that mission.

PASSED: 57-44

I voted YES on SB 70 (Sen. Bellino) would rename a portion of M-34 in Hillsdale County as the Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr. Memorial Highway. EXPLANATION: Deputy Sheriff William Butler Jr. served our country in Iraq, and later served his community as a law enforcement officer in Hillsdale County. Designating a portion of M-34 in the county he served is a fitting way to commemorate Deputy Butler’s selflessness and legacy of service.

PASSED: 100-0

Thursday, August 21st, 2025:

I voted NO on HB 4303 (Rep. Kuhn) would declare the month of May of each year as “Chaldean American Month” to recognize the contributions of Chaldean, Assyrian, and Syriac Americans to Michigan and the United States. EXPLANATION: No specific group of people needs legislation setting aside a particular month of recognition. It is not proper to categorize and recognize people with “honorary months” based on their heritage. The Chaldean community does not tangibly benefit from this feel-good initiative. Instead, people should treat their Chaldean neighbors with the same respect and honor as with any other group of people all year round.

PASSED: 99-1

I voted YES on House Joint Resolution M (Rep. Thompson) would amend the Michigan Constitution to withhold the salaries of the state legislature and the governor in the event a state budget is not passed before the statutory deadline. EXPLANATION: Passing a state budget is one of the primary responsibilities of the legislature. It is the bare minimum to expect the state government to pass a budget on time. If we can’t do our jobs, then we should not receive taxpayer funded salaries until the job is done.

FAILED: 70-30