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2018 Michigan legislative session
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2018 legislative sessions coverage |
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Michigan State Legislature | |
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General information | |
Type: | State legislature |
Term limits: | 2 terms (8 years) in Senate, 3 terms (6 years) in House |
Session start: | January 10, 2018 |
Session end: | December 31, 2018 |
Website: | Official Legislature Page |
Leadership | |
Senate President: | Brian Calley (R) |
House Speaker: | Tom Leonard (R) |
Majority Leader: | Senate: Arlan Meekhof (R) House: Dan Lauwers (R) |
Minority Leader: | Senate: Jim Ananich (D) House: Sam Singh (D) |
Structure | |
Members: | 38 (Senate), 110 (House) |
Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
Authority: | Art IV, Michigan Constitution |
Salary: | $71,685/year + expenses |
Elections | |
Redistricting: | Michigan Legislature has control |
This page provides an overview of the 2018 Michigan State Legislature and its general and special sessions. The timelines below contain noteworthy events from the sessions Ballotpedia curated throughout the year.
If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Overview
In 2018, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 10, 2018, through December 31, 2018. Michigan has full-time legislators who may meet throughout the year after adjourning their regularly scheduled sessions.
Partisan control
Michigan was one of 26 Republican state government trifectas in 2018. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.
The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Michigan State Legislature in the 2018 legislative session.
Senate
Party | As of December 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 11 | |
Republican Party | 27 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 38 |
House
Party | As of December 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 46 | |
Republican Party | 63 | |
Vacancies | 1 | |
Total | 110 |
Leadership in 2018
Senate
- Senate president: Brian Calley (R)
- President Pro Tem: Tonya Schuitmaker (R)
- Majority leader: Arlan Meekhof (R)
- Minority leader: Jim Ananich (D)
- Assistant President Pro Tempore: Margaret O'Brien (R)
- Associate President Pro Tempore: Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Goeff Hansen (R)
- Majority Floor Leader: Mike Kowall (R)
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Jim Stamas (R)
- Majority Caucus Chair: David Robertson (R)
- Assistant Majority Caucus Chair: Rick Jones (R)
- Majority Whip: Jack Brandenburg (R)
- Assistant Majority Whip: Darwin Booher (R)
- Assistant Minority Leader: Steven Bieda (D)
- Minority Floor Leader: Morris Hood (D)
- Assistant Minority Floor Leader: Coleman Young II (D)
- Minority Caucus Chair: David Knezek (D)
- Assistant Minority Caucus Chair: Vincent Gregory (D)
- Minority Whip: Curtis Hertel (D)
House
- House speaker: Tom Leonard (R)
- Speaker Pro Tempore: Lee Chatfield (R)
- Majority leader: Dan Lauwers (R)
- Minority leader: Sam Singh (D)
- Majority Floor Leader: Dan Lauwers (D)
- Minority Floor Leader: Christine Greig (D)
Regular session
Status of legislation
Status of legislation | |||
---|---|---|---|
Legislation | Subject area | Actions during the regular session | Status |
SB 574 | Allow charter schools to receive certain funds | Passed Senate (2017) Passed House Senate concurred in amendments |
Governor signed |
HB 4321 | $175 million in road and transportation funding | Passed House Passed Senate |
Governor signed |
SB 748 | Align state and federal tax codes | Passed legislature | Governor signed |
SB 871 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate Passed House |
Governor signed |
SB 872 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate Passed House |
Governor signed |
SB 873 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate |
Died in the House |
SB 874 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate Passed House |
Died in the Senate |
SB 875 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate |
Died in the House |
SB 876 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate |
Died in the House |
SB 877 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate |
Died in the House |
SB 878 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate |
Died in the House |
SB 879 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate |
Died in the House |
SB 880 | Sexual assault legislation | Passed Senate Passed House |
Died in the Senate |
SB 897 | Work and job training requirements for Medicaid recipients | Passed Senate Passed House |
Governor signed |
Paid sick leave initiative | Paid sick leave initiative | Passed legislature | Amended by legislature |
Minimum wage increase initiative | Raise minimum wage | Passed legislature | Amended by legislature |
HB 5549 | Authorize online voter registration | Passed House | Died in the Senate |
SB 1171 | Amend minimum wage laws | Passed Senate Passed House |
Governor signed |
SB 1175 | Amend paid sick leave laws | Passed Senate Passed House |
Governor signed |
SB 1198 | Remove expiration date on abortion medication law | Passed Senate Passed House with amendments |
Governor vetoed |
SB 848/HB 5579 | Budget | Passed legislature | Governor signed |
January 18, 2018
Michigan House of Representatives approves money for charter schools
The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill by a 55-52 vote that would allow charter schools to receive funds from regional enhancement education millages. As of January 2018, these dollars were only available to public schools. The state Senate passed an earlier version of the bill in October, but the state House made changes to ensure that the law would only apply to new or future millages and would not impact current millage policies. The bill now returns to the state Senate for consideration.[1][2]
- Update: The Senate approved House changes on January 23, 2018, and Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed it on February 12, 2018.
February 21, 2018
Michigan House approves funding for roads and transportation
The Michigan House of Representatives unanimously passed a mid-year spending bill providing $175 million for roads and transportation. Cities and villages would receive 21.8 percent ($38.2 million) of the funds. County road commissions and the state would receive 39.1 percent ($68.4 million) each. The $175 million comes from a surplus in the state's general fund.[3]
- Update: The state Senate approved the legislation on March 1, 2018, and Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed the legislation on March 20, 2018.
February 28, 2018
Gov. Snyder signs tax bill into law
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed a $176.3 million personal exemption expansion into law. The legislation restored the personal exemption, which would have been eliminated due to the Michigan Income Tax Act's relation to the federal tax plan, and increased the exemption amount for 2018 through 2021. Snyder projected the expansion would save a family of four more than $100 a year once fully implemented in 2021. The legislation received bipartisan support in the state Legislature.[4]
March 1, 2018
$175 million in road funding passes state Legislature
The Michigan State Senate unanimously passed a bill that would allocate $175 million for roads and transportation, a 7 percent increase over existing spending. The Michigan House of Representatives approved the legislation earlier in February. Funding would be distributed among cities, counties, and the state. Gov. Rick Snyder (R) was expected to sign the bill.[5]
- Update: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed it on March 20, 2018.
March 14, 2018
Michigan Senate approves sexual assault legislation
The Michigan State Senate passed a package of bills (SB 871-878) that would increase the amount of time sexual abuse victims have to file a lawsuit. The current statute of limitations is three years. The bills would give victims 30 years after their 18th birthday to file lawsuits if they were minors when the incident occurred. Victims who were not minors would have 10 years after the incident to file a lawsuit. Victims who were minors would also be allowed to file a civil lawsuit retroactively back to 1997. The bills would also make it more difficult for educational institutions to use governmental immunity in case of legal actions related to sexual misconduct, expand the number of people mandated to report sexual abuse allegations, and increase penalties on those who fail to report cases. The package of bills was sent to the Michigan House of Representatives.
The bills were a response to the trial of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in January 2018, on sexual abuse charges.[6] Find out more about state responses to sexual misconduct.
- Update: The House approved SB 871 and SB 872 on May 24, 2018, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed them on June 12, 2018. SB 874 and 880 passed the state House. SB 873, 875, 876, 877, 878, and 879 were sent to the state House, where they are pending further action.
April 19, 2018
State Senate approves legislation related to Medicaid work requirements
The Republican-led Michigan State Senate passed a bill that would require Medicaid enrollees to complete 29 hours of work, job training, or education per week to continue receiving Medicaid coverage. Exceptions would be made for individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, caregivers for children under the age of six, and caretakers for someone with a disability.[7]
The bill passed 26 to 11 with all but one Republican voting in favor.[8]
Gov. Rick Snyder (R) expressed opposition to the bill, which was sent to the Michigan House of Representatives for consideration.[7]
The Detroit News reported at the time of the bill's passage that Medicaid insurance covered more than 2 million Michigan residents. Bill sponsor Sen. Mike Shirkey estimated that 300,000 recipients would be impacted if the bill became law.[8]
- Update: The bill passed the legislature on June 7, 2018, and Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed it on June 22, 2018.
May 24, 2018
State House passes sexual assault-related bills
The Michigan House of Representatives passed several bills that address sexual assault. The bills' provisions include extending the statute of limitations for criminal and civil lawsuits regarding childhood sexual abuse, making it illegal for doctors to sexual assault patients under the pretext of medical care, and narrowing documentation requirements for medical record-keeping. The bills were passed following the trial of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in January 2018, on sexual abuse charges.[9]
- Update: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed the bills on June 12, 2018.
June 7, 2018
Michigan Legislature sends Medicaid work requirement plan to governor
The Michigan State Legislature sent Senate Bill 897 to Gov. Rick Snyder (R). SB 897 would mandate the state to seek authorization from the federal government to require Medicaid recipients between the ages of 18 and 62 to show the state government that they participated in work, school, job training, or substance abuse treatment, for an average of 80 hours per month. Recipients who fail to reach the 80-hour per month average for three months in a 12-month period would lose coverage for at least one month and would not be allowed to reenroll until becoming compliant. Pregnant women, individuals with disabilities or medical conditions, caretakers, and unemployment recipients would be exempt from the requirements. If signed, the law would go into effect on January 1, 2020.
A fiscal analysis from the House Fiscal Agency estimated that of the 670,000 Medicaid recipients at the time of the bill's passage, 130,000 (20 percent) would be exempt, leaving 540,000 recipients who would need to comply with the work requirements. The agency estimated that of the 540,000 non-exempt recipients, between 5 and 10 percent (27,000 to 54,000) would lose coverage.
Bill sponsor Sen. Mike Shirkey (R) said the goal of the bill was "not to reduce costs. It was to find more workers. Our employers across the state don't have enough workers." Rep. Yousef Rabhi (D) had a different view: "Medicaid is not a jobs program. It is not a work program. It is a health care program. It is cruel and unusual in my opinion for an institution like this to be stripping health care from an estimated thousands of Michigan residents."
According to ABC News, the Trump administration had approved similar measures in Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, and New Hampshire, and was considering applications from seven other states, at the time of SB 897's passage.[10][11] Read more here.
- Update: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed the legislation on June 22, 2018.
September 5, 2018
Legislature approves two indirect initiatives
The Michigan State Legislature approved two indirect initiated state statutes: a paid sick leave initiative and a minimum wage increase initiative. If the legislature failed to act on the indirect initiatives, the measures would have appeared on the ballot on November 6, 2018.
- The Michigan Paid Sick Leave Initiative required employers to provide employees with paid sick time. Employees of small businesses, defined as employers with fewer than 10 employees, were allowed to accrue and use 40 hours of paid sick time per year. Employees of businesses with 10 or more employees were allowed to accrue and use 72 hours of paid sick time per year.[12] Click here for more information.
- The Michigan Minimum Wage Increase Initiative increased the state minimum wage from $9.25 in 2018 to $10.00 in 2019; $10.65 in 2020; $11.25 in 2021; and $12.00 in 2022. Starting in 2023, the minimum wage was adjusted for increases in the consumer price index each year unless the unemployment rate was 8.5 percent or higher for the previous year. It also included provisions on raising minimum wage for tipped employees, requiring overtime pay, and establishing a minimum wage for workers under the age of 18.[12] Click here for more information.
Both chambers of the state legislature passed the initiatives on September 5. In Michigan, the governor's signature is not required to adopt a citizen-initiated measure.[13] If the initiatives went to the ballot and voters approved them, a three-fourths vote of the legislature would have been required to amend them. As they were passed in the legislature, however, a simple majority vote is needed to amend the initiatives at a future date.
September 26, 2018
State House passes online voter registration bill
The state House unanimously approved HB 5549, which would allow eligible voters to register online.[14] As of July 31, 2018, 37 states (and Washington, D.C.) had implemented online voter registration. Another state, Oklahoma, had passed legislation or enacted regulations authorizing online voter registration.[15]
- See also:
November 28, 2018
Senate passes bills amending minimum wage, paid sick leave laws
The state Senate approved SB 1171 and SB 1175 along party lines. The two bills proposed amending measures that became law in September 2018. At that time, the Senate adopted two measures that would have otherwise appeared on the November 2018 ballot.
SB 1171 proposed raising the minimum wage to $12 by 2030, instead of by 2022. It also proposed raising the tipped minimum wage to $4 instead of $12. The law as originally passed directed the state to raise the minimum wage from $9.25 in 2018 to $10 in 2019, $10.65 in 2020, $11.25 in 2021, and $12 in 2022. The original law also directed the state to match the minimum wage for tipped employees to the minimum wage by 2024.[16]
SB 1175 proposed allowing workers to have one hour of paid sick leave per 40 hours of work, up from 30 hours of work in the law as originally passed.[16] SB 1175 would change the law to apply to businesses with 50 or more employees.[17]
House Speaker Tom Leonard (R) said the changes would protect businesses. Sen. Mike Shirkey (R), who sponsored SB 1175, said the changes would avoid incentivizing businesses to hire fewer employees. Sen. Curtis Hertel (D) disagreed. Hertel characterized the bills as political maneuvering.[18] Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D) said Republicans "had these bills in the works all summer long, and they didn’t have the courage to show the voters what they were planning on doing. There’s no need to rush unless you have a plan in place that is not necessarily in the best interest of the citizens of Michigan."[17]
- Update: The House approved SB 1171 and SB 1175 on December 4. Gov. Snyder signed the bills December 13.
- See also:
November 29, 2018
Senate approves bill removing expiration date for abortion medication law
The state Senate approved SB 1198 by a vote of 25-12.
A 2012 state law prohibited medical providers from diagnosing or prescribing abortion medication via telecommunication. The law included an expiration date of December 31, 2018. SB 1198 proposed removing the expiration date, making the law permanent.[19]
Planned Parenthood President and CEO Lori Carpentier opposed the legislation, saying it would restrict women's access to safe, legal abortions. Genevieve Marnon, legislative director of Right to Life of Michigan, supported the bill. Maron disagreed with Carpentier, saying it the bill was not about access, but was about safety.[19]
- Update: The governor vetoed the bill on December 28, 2018.
December 4, 2018
Legislature approves bills amending minimum wage, paid sick leave laws
The Michigan House passed SB 1171 and SB 1175 with amendments. The Senate also agreed to the amendments. The bills originally passed the state Senate November 28.
SB 1171 proposed raising the minimum wage to $12.05 per hour and $4.58 per hour for tipped workers by 2030. SB 1175 proposed workers would receive one hour of paid sick leae for every 36 hours worked. Businesses with 50 employees or fewer would be exempt.[20]
- Update: Gov. Snyder signed the bills December 13.
- See also:
December 13, 2018
Governor signs bills amending minimum wage, paid sick leave laws
Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed SB 1171 and SB 1175.
Snyder said, "The two bills I signed today strike a good balance between the initial proposals and the original legislation as drafted. They address a number of difficulties for job providers while still ensuring paid medical leave benefits and increased minimum-wage incomes for many Michiganders."[21]
Rep. Laura Cox (R-19), who voted to pass SB 1171, said small businesses "will be forced out of business under the [indirect initiative] as written. That means people will land in the unemployment line."[22] Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-80), who voted to pass SB 1175, said, "The original proposal threatens people’s livelihoods and undermines the positive strides that we have made to improve Michigan’s economy. We must fix it now, before Michigan families and job providers begin to experience its negative effects."[23]
House Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D) said Republicans "had these bills in the works all summer long, and they didn’t have the courage to show the voters what they were planning on doing. There’s no need to rush unless you have a plan in place that is not necessarily in the best interest of the citizens of Michigan."[17]
Budget
2018
Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed SB 848 on June 21, 2018, and HB 5779 on June 28, 2018. The two bills made up a $57 billion budget that the Republican-led Michigan State Legislature approved along party lines on June 12, 2018.
Among its provisions, the budget:
- increased base K-12 per-student funding by between $120 and $240.
- raised transportation funding by more than $300 million.
- closed one of the state's 30 prisons due to declining inmate population. The closure was projected to save the state $19 million.
- appropriated $100 million for a plan from the governor to emphasize competency-based learning and training programs for high-demand fields.
- spent $58 million on school safety, including $25 million to upgrade security features like door locks and $30 million for mental health services.
- imposed a fee schedule to reduce reimbursements to autism providers serving Medicaid recipients by $34 million.
- allocated $12 million for police training and hiring of 155 troopers.
- took away funding for the next three fiscal years from universities that raise tuition by more than 3.8 percent or $490, whichever is greater.
- used $84 million in new funds to improve public defender services.
Supporters of the budget, such as Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Hildenbrand (R), said the budget was a responsible investment and reduction in costs over the previous year.[24] The Detroit Free Press criticized the budget for lack of transparency regarding earmarked funds for lawmakers' projects: "The process lacks transparency, even with the help of legislative fiscal agency analyses that help identify the specific purpose of the expenditures, chosen or OK'd by legislative leadership." House Speaker Tom Leonard (R) said earmarks were "part of the budget process."[25]
HB 5779 passed the state House 71-36 on April 24, 2018, and the state Senate 26-10 on May 22, 2018. Differences in the House and Senate versions were concurred by a 63-46 vote in the House and a 25-11 vote in the Senate on June 12, 2018.
SB 848 passed the state Senate 25-10 on May 10, 2018, and the state House 105-3 on May 15, 2018. Differences in the House and Senate versions were concurred by a 66-43 vote in the House and a 33-2 vote in the Senate on June 12, 2018. Read more here.
Process
- See also: Michigan state budget and finances
Michigan on ![]() |
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[26]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
- State agencies submit their requests to the governor in October.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February. Newly elected governors are allowed an additional 30 to 60 days after the legislature convenes.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. The fiscal year begins October 1.
Michigan is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[26][27]
The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the state legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[26]
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods by which the Michigan Constitution can be amended:
The Michigan Constitution can be amended in three different ways—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Michigan, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Legislature
A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session for the Michigan State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 74 votes in the Michigan House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Michigan State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Section 3 of Article XII of the Michigan Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 16 years starting in 1978. Michigan is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:
State | Interval | Last question on the ballot | Next question on the ballot |
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Michigan | 16 years | 2010 | 2026 |
See also
Elections | Michigan State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Michigan Radio, "Millage money for charter schools legislation passes in state House," January 18, 2018
- ↑ The Detroit News, "House OKs charter school millage split," January 18, 2018
- ↑ Michigan Public Radio, "State House OKs $175 million for roads," February 22, 2018
- ↑ Office of Governor Rick Snyder, "Gov. Rick Snyder signs bills reducing taxes for all Michiganders," February 28, 2018
- ↑ The Morning Sun, "Michigan Senate OKs $175M infusion into roads, bridges," March 1, 2018
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Michigan Senate passes scaled-back sex assault prevention bills," March 14, 2018
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 WMUK, "State Lawmakers Push Medicaid Work Requirements Through State Senate," April 20, 2018
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Detroit News, "Michigan Senate OKs Medicaid work requirement," April 19, 2018
- ↑ MLive.com, "Michigan House passes bills for sexual assault victims amid Nassar scandal," May 24, 2018
- ↑ ABC News, "Revised Medicaid work requirement bill moves in Michigan," June 6, 2018
- ↑ Michigan Legislature, "Legislative Analysis: Healthy Michigan Plan work requirements and premium payment requirements," June 7, 2018
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "MI Time to Care Initiative," accessed June 26, 2017 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "text" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Michigan State Legislature, "Initiatives," accessed September 7, 2018
- ↑ WEMU, "Online Voter Registration Passes In Michigan State House," September 27, 2018
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Online Voter Registration," accessed July 31, 2018
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Michigan Daily, "Michigan state Senate scales back minimum wage and paid sick leave laws," December 2, 2018
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 The State News, "Senate passes amendments to minimum wage, paid sick time initiatives," November 29, 2018
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Michigan Senate guts minimum wage hike, paid sick leave," November 28, 2018
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Michigan Radio, "State Senate lifts expiration date on abortion medication law," November 29, 2018
- ↑ Eater Detroit, "Lawmakers Approve Major Changes to Michigan’s New Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave Laws," December 4, 2018
- ↑ Bridge MI, "Snyder signs bills that weaken Michigan minimum wage, sick leave laws," December 14, 2018
- ↑ Bridge MI, "Michigan minimum wage, sick leave bills dismantled. Will Gov. Snyder sign?" December 4, 2018
- ↑ Associated Press, "Michigan Legislature OKs gutting wage, paid sick time laws," December 5, 2018
- ↑ News Advocate, "State Legislature OKs $56.8B budget with more for schools, roads," June 12, 2018
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Tricky language hides millions in pork in new Michigan budget," June 13, 2018
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024