Victory Introduces Bill to Fix Roads
Sen. Roger Victory has introduced legislation to help fix local roads by partnering with local communities and creating the Road Investment Incentive Program.
“There has been lots of talk about fixing our roads over the last decade, and Lansing has continued to fail to get it done,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “It’s time for us to get serious about investing in our local roads, which impact everyday Michiganders.”
Senate Bill 448 would invest nearly $500 million in state funding to match what local road agencies have invested in their local roads. This legislation would allow communities to double the impact of those local funds with a dollar-for-dollar match from the state. It would also improve the quality of local roads without raising state taxes.
If fully utilized, the program would invest as much as $10 billion over the next decade into local roads, which are consistently rated as the lowest quality in Michigan.
“Many communities in West Michigan have already been investing in their local roads,” Victory said. “I hope this bill will encourage that good behavior while also inviting more communities to step up and participate in improving Michigan’s local roads.”
B 448 has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
“There has been lots of talk about fixing our roads over the last decade, and Lansing has continued to fail to get it done,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “It’s time for us to get serious about investing in our local roads, which impact everyday Michiganders.”
Senate Bill 448 would invest nearly $500 million in state funding to match what local road agencies have invested in their local roads. This legislation would allow communities to double the impact of those local funds with a dollar-for-dollar match from the state. It would also improve the quality of local roads without raising state taxes.
If fully utilized, the program would invest as much as $10 billion over the next decade into local roads, which are consistently rated as the lowest quality in Michigan.
“Many communities in West Michigan have already been investing in their local roads,” Victory said. “I hope this bill will encourage that good behavior while also inviting more communities to step up and participate in improving Michigan’s local roads.”
B 448 has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Pothole Fund Pays Only 6 Percent of
Submitted Claims, Documents Say
By Scott McClallen
Michigan Capitol Confidential
Michigan motorists who drive on state highways run the risk of having their vehicles damaged by potholes. Some seek compensation from the state, but only 6 percent of those who do get anything, according to documents Michigan Capitol Confidential obtained from the state transportation department.
Motorists filed 218 claims in 2024, but only 13 received payouts, for a total of $5,953.
Compensation has been meager this year as well. As of June 12, the state has paid a total of $1,668 for six claims, out of 86 filed.
A person seeking reimbursement for damages must sign a claim form, have it notarized, attach supporting documents, and submit it all to the regional office responsible for the road that caused the damage. Two laws, MCL 691.1402 and MCL 691.1403, give the state widespread immunity from most lawsuits. The pothole must have existed for at least 30 days before the damage happened, the law says.
There is no dedicated funding for these payouts, Michael Frezell, a senior communications manager at the Michigan Department of Transportation, told CapCon in an email.
“If a damage incident is project-related, it would get charged to the project, which is typically covered by the contractor,” Frezell said. “If it is a maintenance issue, then it gets charged to the maintenance appropriation. With chronic lack of investment, road degradation will be a continual problem, causing more potholes and an inconvenience to motorists. Once a long-term investment strategy is implemented, road agencies across the state can make long-term full repairs that ultimately will reduce these damages.”
Highway defect claims (including potholes) should only be submitted to the department if the damage occurred on a state trunkline highway, which are numbered roads that start with the letters M, I or US. The state does not offer compensation for damage incurred on county or local roads.
Upon receipt of a damage claim under $1,000, MDOT will investigate the incident. Investigations typically take at least 90 days.
Michigan bought about $40 million worth of salt to melt snow in 2024 and 2025, according to a document obtained through a records request. The salt eats away at paint and car panels, causing other vehicle damage.
Michigan’s 2025 budget is a record $83 billion, but the roads here, especially county and local roads, are falling apart faster than they are being repaired. In 2018, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer campaigned on fixing the roads. In her proposed 2026 budget, the second-term governor proposed spending $7.8 million to study road funding.
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Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Online Written Driver’s License Tests
Now Available Through Secretary of State
Eligible Michigan adults now have the option to take the written driver’s license knowledge test online at Michigan.gov/SOSOnlineTesting. Passing the knowledge test is the first step in obtaining a Michigan operator’s temporary instruction permit.
“Government should work for the people, meeting Michiganders where they are and providing convenient service that fits into their daily lives,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said.
The online KnowTo Drive driver’s license knowledge test is the same test currently administered on computer kiosks at Michigan Secretary of State branch offices and is available in multiple languages. An audio option is also offered online. ITI Inc. is the company that administers the secure online test and is the same vendor that maintains the department’s self-service stations throughout the state.
Michigan is the latest state to offer an online driver’s license testing option, joining states like Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, and California.
The online exam includes both a multiple-choice test and a road sign test. Eligible Michigan residents aged 18 and over are required to verify proof of identity with a Social Security number or proof of legal presence and must pay a $6.50 convenience fee. Test-takers must use an operating webcam to verify their identity throughout the duration of the online test. Cheating will not be tolerated and those with infractions can be disqualified.
Applicants can take the test up to two times per calendar day, paying the fee each time. If a test-taker passes one section of the test but fails the other, they may visit a branch office to complete the full test at no charge.
Michigan adults who pass the test and pay the online registration fee must visit a branch office to receive their operator’s temporary instruction permit. Secretary of State staff will verify the applicant’s qualifications and issue the permit for a fee of $25.
After obtaining their permit, the driver can practice driving under the supervision of a licensed adult and will be eligible to take the driving skills test after 30 days. Once the driver passes the road skills test, they can print their temporary operator’s license from Michigan Department of State e-Services to use until their license is processed and mailed to their home address.
Michigan temporary instruction permits are valid for six months. Adults who successfully complete the road test before their temporary instruction permit expires will receive their driver’s license free of charge.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/SOSOnlineTesting.
Huizenga Cheers Passage of
One Big Beautiful Bill
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Twp., voted with the Republican majority in the House in approving the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last Thursday.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the hotly-debated bill on a vote of 218-214, just two days after the bill narrowly cleared the Senate on a tiebreaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law last Friday.
In a prepared statement from the congressman’s office, Huizenga said that Congress delivered on promises that President Trump and House Republicans made “to stop the largest tax increase in our nation’s history,” referring to cuts made in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which were to expire at the end of this year.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill will help Americans across all walks of life by making tax cuts permanent and increasing take home pay as much as $7,500 through provisions such as no tax on tips and no tax on overtime,” Huizenga said.
“Additionally, by increasing tax breaks for seniors, strengthening the child tax credit for families, making made-in-America car loan interest tax deductible, and addressing inflation with the largest mandatory spending reduction ever, the Big Beautiful Bill will make everyday life more affordable.”
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill will raise the standard deduction for couples filing as married filing jointly from $30,000 to $31,500. It also provides a $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors 65 and older for individuals making up to $75,000 a year.
In addition, the bill increases the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 maximum. For workers who rely on tips for their income, they can deduct up to $25,000 of their pay this year through 2028.
Democrats were united in their opposition to the bill, and were joined by two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, said she voted against the bill “for our health care, for our children, for our farmers, for our seniors, for our veterans, and for each and every one of you.”
“There is nothing more important to me than ensuring our community is set up for success by the federal government – from access to quality health care, to affordable housing, to a fair tax system,” Scholten said in a press release from her office. “This bill accomplishes none of those things. Today is a disappointing day for our nation, but we will continue to work towards the future that West Michigan deserves.”
Scholten argues that the bill will:
• Cut roughly $1.3 trillion from health care and food assistance for families and gives roughly $1.3 trillion in tax breaks to people making more than $500,000 a year.
• Will cause approximately 425,000 Michiganders to lose their health care.
• Will raise the national debt by $4 trillion, including $700 billion in interest costs.
Huizenga said the One Big Beautiful Bill will eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid programs “by implementing work requirements for able-bodied individuals without dependents. These commonsense reforms will preserve these important safety net programs for those who need it most — namely, low-income mothers, children, the elderly, and disabled Americans.”
Zeeland Record
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Twp., voted with the Republican majority in the House in approving the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last Thursday.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the hotly-debated bill on a vote of 218-214, just two days after the bill narrowly cleared the Senate on a tiebreaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law last Friday.
In a prepared statement from the congressman’s office, Huizenga said that Congress delivered on promises that President Trump and House Republicans made “to stop the largest tax increase in our nation’s history,” referring to cuts made in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which were to expire at the end of this year.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill will help Americans across all walks of life by making tax cuts permanent and increasing take home pay as much as $7,500 through provisions such as no tax on tips and no tax on overtime,” Huizenga said.
“Additionally, by increasing tax breaks for seniors, strengthening the child tax credit for families, making made-in-America car loan interest tax deductible, and addressing inflation with the largest mandatory spending reduction ever, the Big Beautiful Bill will make everyday life more affordable.”
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill will raise the standard deduction for couples filing as married filing jointly from $30,000 to $31,500. It also provides a $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors 65 and older for individuals making up to $75,000 a year.
In addition, the bill increases the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 maximum. For workers who rely on tips for their income, they can deduct up to $25,000 of their pay this year through 2028.
Democrats were united in their opposition to the bill, and were joined by two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, said she voted against the bill “for our health care, for our children, for our farmers, for our seniors, for our veterans, and for each and every one of you.”
“There is nothing more important to me than ensuring our community is set up for success by the federal government – from access to quality health care, to affordable housing, to a fair tax system,” Scholten said in a press release from her office. “This bill accomplishes none of those things. Today is a disappointing day for our nation, but we will continue to work towards the future that West Michigan deserves.”
Scholten argues that the bill will:
• Cut roughly $1.3 trillion from health care and food assistance for families and gives roughly $1.3 trillion in tax breaks to people making more than $500,000 a year.
• Will cause approximately 425,000 Michiganders to lose their health care.
• Will raise the national debt by $4 trillion, including $700 billion in interest costs.
Huizenga said the One Big Beautiful Bill will eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid programs “by implementing work requirements for able-bodied individuals without dependents. These commonsense reforms will preserve these important safety net programs for those who need it most — namely, low-income mothers, children, the elderly, and disabled Americans.”
Survey on Burt Lake to Monitor
Lake Sturgeon Population
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Bay Mills Indian Community and Michigan State University, are conducting a lake sturgeon survey on Burt Lake in Cheboygan County.
The goal of the survey is to determine the lake sturgeon population status and the success of stocking efforts. Lake sturgeon is a culturally and ecologically significant species in Michigan, and tribal governments and the State of Michigan cooperatively manage and assess sturgeon populations.
The survey will take place through July 25, with nets set Monday through Thursday of each week. Survey gill nets will be used to capture lake sturgeon, and staff will check the nets regularly (every one to two hours) during the day. Nets will be set each day and marked with staff buoys, then removed at the end of the day and will not be left in the lake overnight.
Once captured, lake sturgeon will be measured and tagged with a passive integrated transponder, or PIT, tag (if the fish has not already been tagged). The PIT tags allow staff to uniquely identify individual fish when they are recaptured and provide data needed to calculate a population estimate.
Some lake sturgeon smaller than 40 inches will have a small portion of a fin removed for aging. This will allow staff to evaluate growth of both stocked and naturally produced lake sturgeon in Burt Lake. Surveys following the same protocol were recently conducted on Black Lake (2023) and Mullett Lake (2024) to evaluate stocking efforts.
Please be on the lookout for survey buoys and avoid them while boating on Burt Lake this July. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Dylan Jones (djones@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov), Neal Godby (GodbyN@Michigan.gov), Emily Martin (MartinE13@Michigan.gov), or Frank Zomer (fzomer@baymills.org).
For more information about lake sturgeon assessments, visit Michigan.gov/DNR/Managing-Resour ces/Fisheries/Tribal/Inland/Sturgeon. You can also learn more about lake sturgeon at Michigan.gov/ Sturgeon.
The goal of the survey is to determine the lake sturgeon population status and the success of stocking efforts. Lake sturgeon is a culturally and ecologically significant species in Michigan, and tribal governments and the State of Michigan cooperatively manage and assess sturgeon populations.
The survey will take place through July 25, with nets set Monday through Thursday of each week. Survey gill nets will be used to capture lake sturgeon, and staff will check the nets regularly (every one to two hours) during the day. Nets will be set each day and marked with staff buoys, then removed at the end of the day and will not be left in the lake overnight.
Once captured, lake sturgeon will be measured and tagged with a passive integrated transponder, or PIT, tag (if the fish has not already been tagged). The PIT tags allow staff to uniquely identify individual fish when they are recaptured and provide data needed to calculate a population estimate.
Some lake sturgeon smaller than 40 inches will have a small portion of a fin removed for aging. This will allow staff to evaluate growth of both stocked and naturally produced lake sturgeon in Burt Lake. Surveys following the same protocol were recently conducted on Black Lake (2023) and Mullett Lake (2024) to evaluate stocking efforts.
Please be on the lookout for survey buoys and avoid them while boating on Burt Lake this July. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Dylan Jones (djones@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov), Neal Godby (GodbyN@Michigan.gov), Emily Martin (MartinE13@Michigan.gov), or Frank Zomer (fzomer@baymills.org).
For more information about lake sturgeon assessments, visit Michigan.gov/DNR/Managing-Resour ces/Fisheries/Tribal/Inland/Sturgeon. You can also learn more about lake sturgeon at Michigan.gov/ Sturgeon.
