Do Controversial Bills Have A Chance of Passing in An Election Year?

Gun bills, police seizure of civilians’ property, and child protective services interviews could all see movement in 2018.

Michigan State Capitol building on a sunny day

MPRN

It’s an election year, which usually means it’s tougher for controversial bills to make their way through the state Legislature.

But one committee in Lansing has over 100 bills in front of it, and many of those are controversial measures that leaders of the House Judiciary Committee hope to act on quickly.

They include bills that would allow people to carry concealed firearms where they’re currently banned, require Child Protective Services (CPS) to record any interviews with children, and restrict law enforcement’s ability to seize property from civilians.

Is there any chance we’ll see movement on some of the most high-profile bills in the Legislature before every single seat goes up for election in November?

Cheyna Roth, state Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network (MPRN), joins Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to talk about those and other bills pending in the Legislature. She says the 2018 election will play a role in their movement through the Capitol.

“We will probably see some reaction from all the different candidates to a variety of different bills,” says Roth.

Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.