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January 10, 2014 I Volume 8 I Issue 1 Zoning Bulletin <br />Source: The Star Democrat; www.stardem.com <br />MICHIGAN <br />The state Senate recently approved legislation that would subject prop- <br />erty owners to potential imprisonment for failure to pay blight -related <br />fines. Under the legislation, cities also could decide against issuing zon- <br />ing approvals or building permits to anyone with blight violations. Other <br />pending bills would reportedly aim to "fix weaknesses in the current blight <br />enforcement process" by streamlining the lien process to ensure judg- <br />ments are paid and streamlining procedures to garnish wages from people <br />who do not pay blight fines. <br />Source: Petoskey News -Review; www.petoskeynews.com <br />OHIO <br />A bill, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was recently introduced <br />in the state legislature. According to Representative Tim Derickson, the <br />bill is a "preventative attempt" to block further limits of religious expres- <br />sion, such as displaying portraits of Jesus or Nativity scenes in public <br />schools, as well as zoning limits for churches. According to Representa- <br />tive Bill Patmoni "[a] court being asked to remove Jesus in a manger <br />would have to prove it is in government's interest." Those opposed to the <br />bill say it "creates special exemptions from state laws for those who claim <br />any religious burden," and that the Ohio constitution already protects <br />interference with the rights of conscience. Opponents say the wording of <br />the bill is too broad, allowing anyone to claim a "burden" for any action <br />that is "substantially motivated" by religious beliefs. <br />Source: The Raw Story; www.rawstory.cor <br />WISCONSIN <br />Assembly Bill 476 and Senate Bill 349, which were recently introduced <br />in the state legislature, are reportedly intended to limit the extent to which <br />local governments in Wisconsin may enact or enforce regulations <br />intended to limit the mining of the durable, round -grain quartz sand used <br />in the hydraulic fracture process ("fracking") to extract oil and natural gas <br />from rock formations. The measures also "would limit some kinds of <br />regulations that counties have enforced for years, including those related <br />to non-metallic mining (including sand and gravel pits for purposes other <br />than fracking), air and water regulations and requirements that users of <br />roads pay for road damage." <br />Source: Portage Daily Register; www.wiscnews.com <br />12 © 2014 Thomson Reuters <br />