Introduced
by
To expand the items that a “Business Improvement Zone” can spend money on, increase from seven years to 10 years the time one of these zones can operate without reauthorization, revise voting rules in a way that (potentially) reduces the proportion of property owners in the district needed to impose a zone's tax-and-spending powers, increase the proportion of owners needed to dissolve one, reduce notice and public meeting requirements required to establish a zone, allow the "zone" to sell services to particular property owners, increase penalties for not paying the "special assessment" property taxes these entities impose, and make other changes. These zones may be created by owners of a majority of the property in a certain area (not the same as the majority of owners), and have the power to impose property taxes (special assessments) to pay for the debt they incur to pay for projects that are supposed to benefit the property owners. Reportedly the city of Detroit is the main focus of the bill, but the "zones" are not limited to Detroit.
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development
Reported without amendment
With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered
To adopt a version of the bill that also increases the lifespan of these "zones" from seven to 10 years, and which revises other details.
The substitute passed by voice vote
Passed in the Senate 35 to 2 (details)
Referred to the Committee on Commerce
Reported without amendment
With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered
The substitute passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To allow all local governments to create these zones, not just cities and villages.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To only allow a new "zone" to be created in Detroit.
The amendment failed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To require the services a "zone" may sell to a particular firm to be described in a written agreement and made available to all the property owners in the zone.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To allow the governing body of a "zone" to selectively cut any past-due zone assessments on a property that is sold to a new owner, at its discretion.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To reduce the proposed sanctions for a property owner not paying a "zone's" property tax assessments to having a lien placed against the property, rather than also allowing foreclosure against the owner (as happens when regular property taxes go unpaid).
The amendment passed by voice vote
Passed in the House 77 to 31 (details)
To expand the items that a “Business Improvement Zone” can spend money on, increase from seven years to 10 years the time one of these zones can operate without reauthorization, revise voting rules in a way that (potentially) reduces the proportion of property owners in the district needed to impose a zone's tax-and-spending powers, increase the proportion of owners needed to dissolve one, reduce notice and public meeting requirements required to establish a zone, allow the "zone" to sell services to particular property owners, increase penalties for not paying the "special assessments" these entities impose, and make other changes. These zones may be created by owners of a majority of the property in a certain area (not the same as the majority of owners), and have the power to impose property taxes (special assessments) to pay for the debt they incur to pay for projects that are supposed to benefit the property owners. Reportedly the city of Detroit is the main focus of the bill, but the "zones" are not limited to Detroit.
Passed in the Senate 31 to 4 (details)
To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.
