Senate Bill 728, Extend Open Meetings requirements to “independent citizens redistricting commission”: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate
To extend an Open Meetings Act requirement that public bodies hold their meetings in public to the “independent citizens redistricting commission” authorized by a 2018 ballot initiative. The bill was introduced after this controversial commission met behind closed doors to discuss secret legal memos related to its potential violations of the federal Voting Rights Act.
Yes: Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton; Sen. Roger Victory, R-Hudsonville
Senate Bill 656, Authorize “robo-bartenders”: Passed 35 to 1 in the Senate
To authorize the use of “robo-bartender” alcoholic dispensing machines that are located at a customer's table or booth in restaurants, and in in certain hotel rooms, if the machine does not dispense more than 96 ounces of beer, wine, or mixed spirit drink in a single order, or does not dispense spirituous liquor “straight,” with the customer still required to order the beer, wine, or mixed drinks from a human staff member, and subject to requirements that a staff member monitors the service.
Yes: Nesbitt; Victory
Senate Bill 633, Permit another government authority to hold virtual meetings indefinitely: Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate
To permit government agencies authorized by a 1978 "energy employment” law created to provide or subsidize municipal power plants and related projects and dubbed “joint agencies,” to hold “virtual” board...
Health care entities may be able to pay less than half the steep fines ordinarily associated with False Claims Act (FCA) violations by voluntarily reporting issues under a new pilot program launche...