102nd Legislature, Weeks 55 and 56: SOAR Reform Testimony and Major Proposed Amendments
The Jason Hargrove Center in Detroit. The SOAR reform package could support future transformational transit capital projects as well as ongoing operational expenses.
This post encompasses two unusually busy and complex weeks of legislative action. It’s presented in reverse chronological order.
Note that TRU has a dedicated tracking page for the SOAR package . As always: While I serve on TRU’s board, this blog is my personal voice.
SOAR Reform Testimony and Major Proposed Amendments
Reps. Dievendorf and Wegela Propose Changes
On Thursday, June 13th, Rep. Dievendorf (D-Lansing) and Rep. Wegela (D-Garden City) proposed a joint amendment to the current SOAR reform package in the House which would move additional funds away from corporate subsidy.
Dylan Wegela (@DylanWegela)
@EmilyDievendorf and I call for amendments to SOAR, “Make it in Michigan” Package. We are ready to negotiate for the best deal possible for the working class. These amendments would move $1.5 Billion from SOAR to Housing and put working-class guardrails on the housing funding.
June 13, 2024 • 5:41 pm
As outlined in Rep. Wegela’s post, the split of funding redirected from SOAR to transit investment would remain unchanged with this amendment.
Two days prior to introducing this amendment, Rep. Wegela testified in opposition to the bill package as currently written in the House. The package was reported favorably from committee on party lines, but the timeline for a floor vote in the House is currently unclear. Bridge Michigan provided additional coverage .
Rep. Morgan responds to a question on whether the $2B in transit funding could be introduced entirely separate from SOAR reform efforts. Attaching this investment to SOAR is considered a necessary compromise to earn enough votes for passage.
Speaking as myself, I support this amendment. In last week’s writeup I outlined that although I am in support of the SOAR reform package overall, others and I are less than thrilled with the extension of corporate handouts which cater to the automotive industry. This directly addresses these concerns. The question which remains is whether the Whitmer administration will support a corporate income tax increase, and whether the amendment will successfully garner the necessary support among the Democratic caucus in the legislature. I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground.
Record-Level Public Involvement in House Committee
On Tuesday, June 4th, the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business heard extensive testimony on the SOAR reform package. Sen. McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) , Rep. Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) , and Rep. McFall (D-Hazel Park) were among those who testified on the legislation.
View the full, unedited committee recording on House TV .
In order of appearance: Rep. Hoskins (Committee Chair), Sen. McMorrow, Rep. Morgan, and Rep. McFall speak on the SOAR reform bills. The presentation Sen. McMorrow referenced is from October 2023 .
More than ninety comment cards in support of the package were submitted including written testimony from the Detroit Greenways Coalition and the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers .
In order of appearance: Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, MTA Flint CEO Ed Benning, The Rapid CEO Deb Prato, MPTA President Heidi Wenzel, TRU Executive Director Megan Owens, SMART VP of External Affairs Bernard Parker, and Jared Fleisher of Rock Companies and Quicken Loans. On June 11th, Steve Vagnozzi from MARP also testified in support. See the full recording for comments from additional speakers.
Vulnerable Roadway Users legislation passes the House
On Tuesday, June 4th, the Vulnerable Roadway Users (VRU) package , which increases penalties for motorists who kill or injure pedestrians, cyclists, and others using a roadway, passed the House. Bridge Michigan provided additional coverage .
The Final Countdown: Budget Conference Committees
The budget conference committee process is initiated by a floor vote to “non-concur” with substitutions made to each departmental placeholder bill in the other chamber. It’s one of the rare times you get to see the entire voting board light up red.
On Wednesday, May 22nd in the House and Tuesday, June 4th in the Senate, the conference committee process was initiated on the state transportation budget bills .
This year, the conferees are Sens. Klinefelt , Anthony, and Bumstead and Reps. Puri , Morgan , and Steele.
Conference committee deliberations are generally not public until a final budget is proposed, but constituent action while these conversations are ongoing is critical. These six legislators will be proposing the final blend of the House and Senate budget proposals at the end of June.
Transit advocates: What’s our next stop?
This SOAR reform package is incredibly complex, and the general consensus I’m hearing from legislators at in-district events and online is that it will take time to address the spectrum of opinions and amendments surrounding it. As exciting as this $2B in transformational transit funding is, don’t forget all the work we’ve done to push for a permanent increase in Local Bus Operations. The final, bicameral state budget will be finalized in just two weeks.
Even if SOAR discussions end up shelved until the fall, a new floor for LBO would be transformative in its own right: Our providers would have the confidence to begin more aggressive service restoration plans and hiring efforts with guaranteed operations funding. The e-bike incentive is also on the table. We have a lot left to fight for – don’t lose sight of the big picture as we enter the last few legislative session days before summer recess!