Kathleen Gray

Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

LANSING — According to current law, it's a misdemeanor for people to offer inducements, or punishments, to get someone to vote a certain way.

That law applies to ministers as well, who can't threaten excommunication, dismissal or expulsion from the church as they expound on election issues to their congregation.

But Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, wants to take ministers out of that law, and introduced a bill last week that would allow them to threaten, cajole and persuade as much as they want.

"Especially if you’re a pastor, you should be able to speak out on issues that are important to you," Colbeck said. "There are a lot of things that people say that I find offensive. But in that case, there's freedom of assembly and you can assemble someplace else, whether it's a part of a congregation or the workplace."

Currently, ministers aren't supposed to express political views from the pulpit. If they do, they risk losing their tax-exempt status.

Other bills introduced last week include creating a child abuse registry, similar to a sex offenders' registry that is a public database of sex offenders, and a package of bills creating a water quality commission as well as protecting people against water shutoffs.

►Related: New bills: Cops would lose immunity for sex with prostitutes

HB 4376: Expand the permissible use of education sinking funds to include school bus purchases. Sponsor: Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis.

HB 4377: Provide for notification and time frame for claiming certified business tax credits. Sponsor: Rep. Robert Kosowski, D-Westland.

HB 4378-4379: Require lead testing in water supplied to nonpublic schools and hospitals. Sponsor: Rep. Robert Kosowski, D-Westland.

HB 4380-4381: Provide for a waiver of state park recreational fees for totally disabled veterans without a special registration plate. Sponsors: Reps. John Bizon, R-Battle Creek, Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell.

HB 4382-4383: Enact penalties for the crime of a driver failing to avoid and injuring a blind person or guide dog in a crosswalk. And increase the penalties for violations of act allowing travel aids by blind person. Sponsors: Reps. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, Lana Theis, R-Brighton.

HB 4384-4386 and SB 261-263: Create a child abuse offenders’ registry. Sponsors: Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township, Vanessa Guerra, D-Bridgeport, Sens. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton.

HB 4387: Allow a postmark date as an indication of a timely submission of a piece of communication. Sponsor: Rep. Holly Hughes, R-White River Township.

HB 4388: Prohibit a utility from requiring the acceptance of an advanced smart meter for the installation of water or sewerage service. Sponsor: Rep. Henry Yanez, D-Sterling Heights.

HB 4389-4390: Decriminalize the violation of tampering with a utility shutoff procedures under certain circumstances. Sponsors: Reps. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, LaTanya Garrett, D-Detroit.

HB 4391-4392: Create the accessible and affordable water act and grant the power to set rates for water and sewer authorities to the Michigan Public Service Commission. Sponsor: Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Deaborn.

HB 4393-4394: Enact the water shutoff protection act and the water rate affordability program fund. Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.

HB 4395: Provide for early voting. Sponsor: Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit.

HB 4396: Increase the income tax deductions for pension income of firefighters and law enforcement who don’t get Social Security benefits. Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe.

HB 4397: Require tribunal determinations in property tax assessment disputes on the valuation of property. Sponsor: Rep. David Maturen, R-Vicksburg.

HB 4398: Revise the college credit requirements for individuals to serve as grades K-8 substitute teachers. Sponsor: Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint.

HB 4399: Require periodic vote to recertify bargaining representatives. Sponsor: Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland.

HB 4400: Increase representation of fire service personnel on construction code commission. Sponsor: Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland.

HB 4401: Lower the hunting license fees for people over age 65. Sponsor: Rep. John Chirkun, D-Roseville.

HB 4402: Exempt the installation of stream gauges in inland lakes from permit requirements. Sponsor: Rep. Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township.

HB 4403: Allow acute treatment and clinical stabilization services as a covered medical expense for opioid addiction. Sponsor: Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing.

HB 4404: Require pain management and treatment facilities to be licensed. Sponsor: Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing.

HB 4405: Exempt pharmacists from civil liability if they refuse to fill an opioid prescription if they have a good faith belief that the prescription is not legitimate. Sponsor: Rep. Kathy Crawford, R-Novi.

HB 4406-4407: Require prescription drug and opioid abuse commission to make recommendations for required curriculum for the instruction of students on opioid drug abuse. Sponsor: Rep. Beth Griffin, R-Mattawan.

HB 4408: Require parental consent when prescribing controlled substance containing an opioid for a person younger than 18. Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe.

HB 4409: Create an income tax credit for payment of student loans. Sponsor: Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing.

HB 4410: Allow a person to exclude an adult child from a will through a written instrument. Sponsor: Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township.

HB 4411: Reduce the population threshold from 9,500 to 4,500 for a local government to be eligible to receive a special event liquor license. Sponsor: Rep. Curtis VanderWall, R-Ludington.

Senate bills

SB 252-253: Create supplemental appropriations bills. Sponsor: Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell.

SB 254: Modify the allowable expenditures from the refined petroleum fund to clean up underground storage tanks. Sponsor: Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville.

SB 255: Provide for the licensure and regulation of home inspection services. Sponsor: Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville.

SB 256: Limit civil liability for dentists and require dental hygienists to maintain liability insurance. Sponsor: Sen. Peter MacGregor, R-Rockford.

SB 257: Create the Athletes with an Intellectual Disability Empowerment Commission. Sponsor: Sen. Ian Conyers, D-Detroit.

SB 258: Revise the limitations on grants to local government under emergency management. Sponsor: Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell.

SB 259: Revise eligibility requirements for higher education grants under part-time, independent student grants. Sponsor: Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell.

SB 260: Extend the expiration date of the higher education distant education reciprocal exchange act. Sponsor: Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell.

SB 264-265: Rewrite the firefighters training council act and change the administration of the Michigan fireworks safety fund to allocate 100% to firefighter training. Sponsor: Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland.

SB 266: Modify the deductions in income taxes on pension income to include spouses of pension recipients. Sponsor: Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth.

SB 267: Repeal the sunset on the student safety act. Sponsor: Sen. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan.

SB 268: Create a fund-raising vehicle registration plate recognizing female veterans. Sponsor: Sen. Vincent Gregory, D-Southfield.

SB 269: Eliminate the misdemeanor offense against a member of a religious society for influencing a voter at an election with excommunication. Sponsor: Rep. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton.

SB 270: Require a bona fide doctor-patient relationship before prescribing schedule 2 to 5 controlled substances. Sponsor: Sen. Steven Bieda, D-Warren.

SB 271:Change the restrictions of the days when school is in session or the school start date, prohibiting public schools from holding school on any Monday or Friday in August. Sponsor: Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy.

SB 272 -274: Require that a doctor who prescribes opioids to provide information about the drug to the patient and the patient who receives a prescription must sign a form that they have received that information. Sponsors: Sens. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy.

For information on bills and legislators, go to www.legislature.mi.gov.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430 or kgray99@freepress.com