Votes at a glance: Michigan Senate adopts Fred Bear Day resolution; committee items advanced

The Michigan Senate on March 5, 2025, completed action on several calendar items: the chamber concurred with a committee substitute to Senate Bill 23, advanced multiple bills to the order of third reading, and adopted Senate Resolution 14 designating March 5 as Fred Bear Day.

The Committee of the Whole reported and the Senate concurred with the committee substitute (S-2) for Senate Bill 23, which had been amended in committee. The clerk announced that “the substitute is adopted,” and the bill as amended was placed in the order of third reading.

The Committee of the Whole also reported Senate bills 81, 94 and 95 without amendment, recommending that they do pass; those bills were placed in the order of third reading. The transcript identifies the bills as follows: Senate Bill 81 (to amend the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act), Senate Bill 94 (to amend the Public Health Code), and Senate Bill 95 (to prohibit hospitals from attempting to collect debts incurred when not in compliance with price transparency laws). No final passage roll-call tallies for those bills appear in the transcript; the committee reports placed them on the third-reading calendar.

The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 14, recognizing March 5, 2025, as Fred Bear Day. Senator Huitinga described Fred Bear’s career, including his work in archery manufacturing and wildlife conservation, and asked colleagues to “please support my senate resolution 14.” The presiding officer announced the resolution adopted by voice vote.

Separately, the Committee of the Whole reported that Senate Bill 23 had been reported with amendment and recommended the amendment be agreed to; the Senate concurred and placed the bill in the order of third reading. The transcript records these committee reports and procedural actions; recorded roll-call tallies are provided in the session journal where available.