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House Transportation Committee reports HB 4522, advances memorial highway bill unanimously
Summary
The Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a voice and roll-call votes advanced House Bill 4522 with a 14-1 roll call and reported Senate Bill 70 with a unanimous 15-0 recommendation. SB 70 would designate a portion of M‑34 in Hillsdale County as the Deputy Sheriff William Butler Jr. Memorial Highway.
The Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday reported House Bill 4522 with recommendation after a roll‑call vote of 14 yeas and 1 nay, and it also reported Senate Bill 70 with recommendation in a unanimous 15‑0 vote.
House Bill 4522 was moved for reporting by Representative Bruck and carried on the committee roll call. The clerk recorded one no vote (Cara) and 14 affirmative votes; the motion was announced as prevailing.
Senate Bill 70, carried by Representative Wirtz acting for Senator Bueno, would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of state trunkline M‑34 in Hillsdale County between Pioneer Road and South Pittsford Road as the Deputy Sheriff William Butler Jr. Memorial Highway. Representative Wirtz read testimony submitted by Senator Bellino and added remarks in support of the designation. Wirtz said Deputy Butler “was an Iraq war veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom,” served 12 years with the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office and was shot while assisting with a traffic stop on June 27, 2024; Wirtz said Butler later died of his wounds and is survived by his wife, five children and two grandchildren. A supporting testimony card from Matt Saxton of the Michigan Sheriffs Association was noted by the clerk.
Committee members asked whether signage costs would be privately funded; Representative Wilbrock asked whether a private donor or program would pay for signs, and Representative Wirtz said there is a private funding mechanism for the signage. The clerk recorded the committee vote on SB 70 as 15 yeas, 0 nays, 0 passes.
Both bills were reported with recommendation to the full House. The committee also adopted minutes from its July 29 meeting earlier in the session by unanimous consent.
Votes at a glance
- House Bill 4522 — Motion to report with recommendation moved by Rep. Bruck; roll call recorded 14 yeas, 1 nay (Cara); outcome: motion prevails. - Senate Bill 70 — Motion to report with recommendation moved by Rep. Wirtz (testifying on behalf of Senator Bellino); roll call recorded 15 yeas, 0 nays; outcome: motion prevails.
The committee proceeded to presentations on local bridges and MDOT bridge programs after the votes; no additional formal actions were taken during that segment.
