- Michigan Legislature Allocates $846 Million for Economic Development Projects
Michigan legislators recently approved $846.1 million to support economic developments projects in the state. The funding will be administered through the state’s Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund.
Why it Matters: As the economy slows, these funds will inject a needed boost for business and entrepreneurship in Michigan. In 2021, $1 billion in SOAR funds were distributed to aid corporations planning major projects.
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- Lawsuit Emerges as City of Detroit’s Adult-Use Marijuana Ordinance is Challenged Again
A new lawsuit challenging the City of Detroit’s adult-use marijuana ordinance was filed recently in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleging that the revised ordinance the Detroit City Council passed still has the same issues as the original ordinance that led to multiple lawsuits.
Why it Matters: In August, a judge threw out two lawsuits that claimed the revised ordinance gave an unfair advantage to certain residents and that the new law would signal the end for existing medical marijuana facilities already in the area. Fraser Trebilcock cannabis attorneys will continue to monitor the situation for updates.
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- New Legislation Will Allow Preprocessing of Absentee Ballots
A package of bills recently passed by the Michigan legislature with bipartisan support would allow local clerks two days to preprocess absentee ballots prior to election day. Additionally, enhanced security measures will go into effect, such as routinely removing deceased voters from the Qualified Voter File, and requiring a chain of custody logs for ballots placed in drop boxes. The recent changes are effective now, leading up to the November election.
Why it Matters: The legislation before us would remove the sunset to allow clerks to again use this tool to efficiently and securely process absentee ballots,” said Senate Elections Chair Committee Chair Ruth Johnson.
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- New Scholarship Program Aimed at Helping Michigan’s Middle Class
The new Michigan Achievement Scholarship program will help Michigan families reduce the costs of attending various post-high school education programs. Public university students who are selected will receive up to $5,500 a year for five years, independent university students will be able to get up to $4,000 a year for five years, private trade school students $2,000 a year for two years and community college students $2,750 a year for up to three years.
Why it Matters: The Michigan Achievement Scholarship program is projected to double the number of the recipients who receive financial aid through the state’s various programs. And the new program seeks to reduce or eliminate the need for student loans for families across the state.
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- Importance of Signing an Operating Agreement for Your LLC
It happens more often than individuals think and something small businesses should heed is the need to adopt an operating agreement at the start of your LLC. It may seem like an unnecessary step when you are starting out but waiting until the time is right or until you get big enough can often lead to forgetting about it completely.
Why it Matters: Failure to sign an operating agreement for your LLC may lead to issues for your small business that would otherwise be avoided. Learn more from a Fraser Trebilcock attorney on this topic.
Related Practice Groups and Professionals
Business & Tax | Klint Kesto
Cannabis Law | Sean Gallagher
Election Law | Garett Koger