Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Procedures Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee adopts rules and schedule, reports two highway‑naming bills to the House
Summary
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted its proposed committee rule and set its regular meeting time and location; it also reported House Bill 4046 (Trooper James E. Bowen Memorial Highway) and House Bill 4003 (Muskegon River bridge naming) with recommendation, each by recorded roll call.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted a proposed committee rule and chose a regular meeting day, time and location before hearing two naming bills. Both measures were reported to the full House with recommendation by roll call.
Committee housekeeping: the committee voted to adopt the proposed committee rule and then voted to set Tuesdays at 12 noon in Room 519 of the House Office Building as the committee’s normal meeting day, time and place. The clerk recorded the roll calls; the committee announced the motions carried with 17 yes, 0 no.
Highway and bridge naming bills:
- House Bill 4046 – Representative Roth testified in support of naming a portion of US‑31 in East Bay Township, Grand Traverse County, the "Trooper James E. Bowen Memorial Highway." Roth recounted the November 1987 death of Trooper Bowen while directing traffic at a local event and asked the committee to approve the naming. The committee reported the bill with recommendation by recorded vote (17–0).
- House Bill 4003 – Representative Koontz presented testimony supporting naming the Muskegon River bridge on US‑131 for Matthew Weber, an Iraq war veteran who was fatally injured after an IED attack. Koontz said the family and community sought the honor and that fundraising had been used to cover signage costs; the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs submitted a supportive card and MDOT's position was recorded as neutral. The committee reported the bill with recommendation by recorded vote (17–0).
On HB 4003, Koontz said his office helped organize fundraising for the sign and that the family’s effort raised funds in a short period; the testimony said the signage cost was covered but did not produce a single consistent numeric total in the transcript record. MDOT and other agencies were recorded on the committee card as neutral or supportive as noted in the hearing.
Ending: The committee clerk recorded the roll calls for the housekeeping motions and the two bill recommendations, and Chair Altman adjourned the meeting after the recorded actions.
