The City Council is eagerly watching several bills passed by the state Legislature that haven’t yet been signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
This includes legislation creating a museum authority that could ask voters to approve a property tax to fund Detroit’s cultural institutions.
Representatives of the Charles H. Wright Museum and Detroit Historical Society have advocated for the bill, introduced by Detroit Rep. Tyrone Carter, to secure critical funding for building repairs.
Museum leaders have said they would ask voters in Wayne and Oakland counties to pass a 0.2-mill tax for 10 years. Detroit City Council Member Scott Benson said there is a minor error in the bill that needs to be addressed before it’s signed.
“We’re really excited that this is going to happen,” Benson said. “It will allow us to have a dedicated revenue stream.”
The council’s Legislative Policy Division summarized all the actions state lawmakers took – and didn’t take – in the final month of 2024.
The report highlighted bills that passed and those that died due to a lack of attendance in the Democratic majority House of Representatives last December. Republicans now control the House after gaining seats in 2024 elections.
State Rep. Stephanie Young, D-Detroit, was appointed to chair the Detroit caucus this year. She held an online call with constituents on Monday to discuss bills that weren’t sent to the governor.
Young said there are nine bills “held hostage” by new House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township. The bills were passed in the last days of Democratic control but haven’t yet been presented to Whitmer for her signature.
“We are encouraging Speaker Matt Hall to ‘release the Kraken,’ let the bills go,” Young said. “I actually have confidence all the bills will be sent. This is just some type of slow roll.” Other leaders of the Detroit caucus include state Rep. Helena Scott as vice chair, Rep. Regina Weiss as secretary and first-term Rep. Tonya Meyers Phillips as treasurer.
Carter and state Rep. Karen Whitsett were selected by Hall to join a special select committee focused on tipped-wage and earned sick time legislation.
Whitsett’s decision to abstain of voting played a major role in sinking the lame duck agenda for Democrats. She blamed poor leadership from former House Speaker Joe Tate, who she claimed was not negotiating bills in good faith.
“Not every Democrat is created equal,” Young said. “I’ll let you all be the judge of that moving forward.”