GOP reps aim to eliminate concealed pistol permits

Political News & Notes is a weekly look at what is happening in Lansing and around the state.

McDonald Rivet backs Farm Bill, cites Michigan priorities

U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, voted to advance a new federal Farm Bill out of the House Agriculture Committee, saying the legislation offers needed stability for farmers facing rising costs, trade pressures and outdated federal policies.

In a statement following the committee vote, McDonald Rivet said growers are under financial strain from tariffs and what she described as insufficient federal relief. She noted Congress has not updated the Farm Bill since 2018 and argued current rules no longer reflect today's agricultural economy.

McDonald Rivet said the bill strengthens disaster assistance and crop insurance programs while expanding access to farm loans and financing. She highlighted several provisions she supported, including safeguards against large-scale farmland purchases by foreign adversaries, expanded crop insurance access for beginning farmers and updates aimed at specialty crop producers such as those growing potatoes, dry beans, cherries and pickles in Michigan.

The bill also includes language allowing Head Start programs to continue operating in rural areas and provisions intended to support rural infrastructure through loan and grant programs.

However, McDonald Rivet criticized the legislation for failing to reverse recent reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She said she proposed amendments to address those cuts but was unsuccessful in getting them included, calling food security for children a continuing priority.

Michigan Farm Bureau President Ben LaCross said the organization appreciated her backing of the bill and expressed hope Congress would pass a final version to provide certainty for farmers nationwide.

State House fast-tracks $152M for Selfridge runway

The Michigan House approved $152 million in supplemental funding Tuesday to accelerate runway upgrades at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, advancing a key piece of the base's transition to a new fighter jet mission.

According to Michigan Advance, House Bill 4572 passed 65-41, largely along party lines, just hours after House Speaker Matt Hall unveiled the plan.

The funding is intended to help modernize the Macomb County base in preparation for receiving F-15EX Eagle II aircraft, which are slated to replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet.

Hall, R-Richland Township, said the accelerated timeline is critical to ensure the base is fully mission-ready before President Donald Trump leaves office in 2028.

While the federal government is expected to cover billions in broader upgrades, Hall argued that state investment in runway improvements would speed up the process and strengthen Michigan's position in securing the new squadron.

State Rep. Ron Robinson, R-Utica, framed the upgrades as an economic boost for the region and the state.

Democrats, while supportive of the base itself, objected to the process and the bill's narrow focus. House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton Township, questioned why the funding was not handled during the regular budget cycle and voted against the measure. Other Democrats criticized the exclusion of additional supplemental funding for stalled state work projects that were cut during earlier House reviews.

Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, said lawmakers should prioritize pressing needs such as education funding amid projected budget shortfalls. He also objected to the expedited process, noting the bill bypassed committee review before reaching the floor.

House Republicans propose ending concealed pistol permit requirement

A group of Republican lawmakers has introduced legislation to eliminate Michigan's requirement that residents obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun, a move that would shift the state to what advocates call "constitutional carry."

According to The Detroit News, House Bills 5653-5657 were introduced this week in the Republican-controlled House and referred to the Judiciary Committee. The package would repeal Michigan's concealed pistol licensing law, allowing eligible residents to carry concealed firearms without first securing a state-issued permit.

Supporters argue the proposal aligns Michigan with nearly 30 other states that have adopted similar laws.

Rep. Mike Hoadley, R-Au Gres, said the permit system creates unnecessary hurdles for law-abiding gun owners and does little to improve public safety. Rep. Joseph Fox, R-Fremont, described the legislation as a step toward protecting Second Amendment rights from what he called government overreach.

Currently, Michigan requires individuals to complete background checks, fingerprinting and firearms training before obtaining a concealed pistol license (CPL). The permit system also provides official documentation allowing individuals to carry concealed weapons in public, subject to restrictions on certain locations.

Even if the measure advances in the House, it faces significant obstacles in the Democratic-controlled Senate. In recent years, Senate Democrats have pursued policies tightening firearm regulations, including restrictions on where concealed weapons may be carried. The political divide suggests the bills' prospects beyond the House are uncertain.

If enacted, Michigan would join a growing list of states that no longer require concealed carry permits, reflecting an ongoing national debate over gun rights and public safety policy.

State lawsuit argues Kalshi violates gambling laws

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, a prediction-market platform that allows users to trade contracts tied to future events, alleging the company is operating in violation of the state's gambling laws.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the complaint was filed March 3 in Ingham County Circuit Court and argues Kalshi's business model functions similarly to online sports betting.

Nessel's office contends that although Kalshi describes itself as a federally regulated exchange marketplace, its event-based contracts amount to wagering and therefore should fall under Michigan's online gaming regulations.

Michigan legalized online gambling in 2021, requiring sportsbooks and gaming platforms to be licensed through the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The state is seeking a permanent injunction to halt Kalshi's operations within Michigan.

Kalshi has faced similar legal challenges in at least nine other states. Company officials have previously maintained that the platform is not a gambling site but rather a regulated commodity exchange where users trade on the probability of events, including political races, economic outcomes and sports-related questions.

The lawsuit does not directly target other prediction platforms, but related companies quickly entered the legal fray. The parent companies of Polymarket and Robinhood filed separate federal lawsuits against Nessel and the Michigan Gaming Control Board, arguing that the state's action could threaten broader prediction-market activity in Michigan.

Prediction markets have grown rapidly in recent years, with billions of dollars flowing through such platforms. Critics have raised concerns that these markets can create incentives tied to sensitive information, particularly around political or geopolitical developments.

Mother urges action on "Kids Over Clicks" social media reform bills

A Michigan mother whose 12-year-old daughter died by suicide after exposure to harmful online content is urging state lawmakers to adopt legislation aimed at curbing what supporters describe as exploitative social media design practices targeting minors.

According to Michigan Advance, Charay Gadd testified before the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee on Wednesday, describing how her daughter, London, encountered escalating self-harm content through algorithm-driven feeds after creating social media accounts before age 13.

Gadd said engagement-based platform features amplified increasingly harmful material once her daughter began interacting with seemingly benign content.

Gadd spoke in favor of the "Kids Over Clicks" legislative package, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Darrin Camilleri, Kevin Hertel and Dayna Polehanki.

The bills would require online platforms to implement default privacy protections and safety-focused design standards for minors. Proposals include limiting personalized algorithmic feeds without parental consent, restricting notifications during school and overnight hours, mandating annual independent audits of companies' youth-safety practices and prohibiting AI companion chatbots from encouraging self-harm or suicidal behavior.

One bill would authorize the attorney general to pursue civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation if companies' AI systems promote harmful conduct.

Another measure would impose broader data-minimization requirements and treat violations as infractions under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, with potential fines reaching $50,000 per violation beginning in 2027.

Pediatricians and mental health professionals testified that children's developing brains make them particularly vulnerable to addictive platform features. They argued the burden of managing algorithm-driven risks should not fall solely on parents.

Opposition came from industry representatives and free-market advocates who warned the legislation could violate First Amendment protections and invite costly legal challenges. NetChoice general counsel Bartlett Cleland said courts have consistently struck down content-based restrictions on online speech.

DePerno urges House panel to scrutinize spending on his prosecution

Republican attorney and former Michigan attorney general candidate Matt DePerno used an appearance before a state House subcommittee this week to question the cost and handling of the criminal case against him, suggesting lawmakers examine how much taxpayer money is being spent on the prosecution.

According to The Detroit News, DePerno addressed the House Subcommittee on Weaponization of State Government during a 90-minute session Wednesday. He encouraged Republican lawmakers to review spending by Attorney General Dana Nessel's office related to the investigation and prosecution, reminding members that the Legislature controls state funding.

DePerno, who faces four unresolved felony charges tied to an alleged scheme to obtain voting machines after the 2020 election, argued that lawmakers should determine whether the case reflects neutral enforcement of the law. He claimed he was improperly targeted while running against Nessel in the 2022 attorney general race, which he lost by about eight percentage points.

The case was transferred to a special prosecutor due to potential conflicts of interest. In 2023, Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson announced charges following a grand jury investigation.

Prosecutors allege DePerno and others sought unauthorized access to voting machines in several Michigan counties in an effort to bolster claims of election fraud following former President Donald Trump's 2020 loss.

Preliminary examinations in Oakland County began last fall and remain ongoing. Co-defendant Stefanie Lambert is scheduled for trial in April.

Nessel's office defended the process, saying proper procedures were followed in appointing a special prosecutor. A spokesperson said DePerno is attempting to politicize his legal troubles and said the office remains confident in the case.