LANSING – Rep. Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City), chair of the Michigan House Agriculture Committee, said Wednesday that lawmakers in the House and Senate are still working out details of a legislative package aimed at nurturing the state’s alternative fuels industry. But the panel did move forward with reporting two bills that would extend the state alternative fuels commission’s activities and create a fund to collect industry marketing money.
While the Senate had approved a new license plate for alternative fuels, with the proceeds going into this promotional fund, the House is likely to move on an income tax check-off measure instead, Mayes said, as some concerns were raised about creating the license plate.
So the committee took no action on HB 5751 , which is the House’s version of the license plate bill. Instead, the panel unanimously reported out HB 5750 , which creates the depository fund in the Department of Treasury.
The committee also unanimously reported HB 5769 , which is the same as SB 1132. The legislation extends the sunset of the alternative fuels commission in order for the panel to report on where the sources of alternative fuels are located in Michigan and where that fuel goes.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association supports both of the bills. The Michigan Farm Bureau supports HB 5750 and supports HB 5769 in concept.
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