On December 18, 2009, Governor Granholm signed a smoking ban bill into law. This new law, called the Dr. Ron Davis Law, will be put into action on May 1, 2010. The Dr. Ron Davis Law will officially ban smoking throughout the state of Michigan. Smoking will be banned in all public places including workplaces, restaurants, and bars. This law even goes as far as to ban smoking on the patios of restaurants.

Currently, in Michigan, several counties have access to mental health courts. Among them are courts in Wayne, Jackson, Oakland, Livingston, St. Clair, Grand Traverse, Otsego, Genessee, Berrien, Kalamazoo, and Ionia/Montcalm Counties. A majority of these mental health courts receive some sort of funding through the Michigan Mental Health Court Grant Program (MMHCGP).

In 2007, Michigan lawmakers faced at that time, budgetary woes unparalleled to previous years. With a projected budget deficit near 1.8 billion dollars and a looming October 1st deadline, the legislature was pressed to find a way to balance the budget. The solution was to extend the 6% sales tax on consumer goods to include services as well. However, this rushed and exemption-filled tax was later repealed and replaced by a surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax. Two years later, the surcharge is despised by many groups in Lansing, and many are looking to repeal it. Though both Democrats and Republicans are looking to repeal the surcharge, their differences in belief of what role government plays has derailed them from any action thus far.

In early 2006, Wayne County, Washtenaw County, the Wayne County Airport authority, and several Southeast Michigan cities and townships agreed to collectively pursue the development of an airport city-an aerotropolis comprised of 60,000 acres around the Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports. In early November, legislation regarding the Detroit Region Aerotropolis initiative was referred for a second reading as a portion of the Next Michigan Act. Though the legislature adjourns sin die this month, the initiative will likely be an interesting item to follow when the state House of Representatives reconvenes.

The Michigan legislature is looking for revenue to make up for the large deficit we are facing. Recently, reports have suggested that Michigan should question its retiree pension tax exemptions. According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, taxing all retirement income could generate between $600-700 million.