Bloom Sluggett

Governor Whitmer has issued multiple executive orders the past couple of weeks regarding Michigan Stay Home – Stay Safe and MI Safe Start: A Plan to Re-engage Michigan’s Economy. While the general restrictions imposed under previous versions of Stay Home – Stay Safe remain in place until June 12, 2020, in accordance with Executive Order 2020-100, some restrictions, both regional and statewide, have recently been relaxed:   Read More

As everyone knows, during the past year or two, both the Great Lakes and many inland lakes in Michigan have been at historically high lake levels. High water, combined with waves from storms and certain boating activities (particularly, from wake boats), have severely damaged and eroded shorelines throughout Michigan. Such conditions have also flooded front yards, harmed docks and seawalls, and flooded basements. Improper boating practices only exacerbate the problem.  Read More

On May 6, 2020 at 7:25pm, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-75. In general, EO 2020-75 repeals and replaces Executive Order 2020-48 and permits public bodies to continue to meet electronically until June 30, 2020.    Read More

On April 24, 2020 at 11:00 am, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-59 (the “EO”). Unless otherwise specified, the EO is effective immediately and continues until May 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm. Broadly, the EO extends the duration of the stay-at-home order previously issued under Executive Order 2020-42, but with some amendments. Some of those amendments included the following:   Read More

UPDATE: On April 20, 2020 at 10:00am, the Michigan Secretary of State Bureau of Elections issued the following update regarding the April 21, 2020 filing deadline:  A federal court issued an order on April 20, 2020 that changes the April 21 filing deadline and rules for some candidates.  Read More

As of this posting, the statutory requirements regarding nomination petitions under the Michigan Election Law Act, PA 116 of 1954 (MCL 168.1 et seq.) remain in effect. This includes petition signature requirements and the April 21, 2020 filing deadline. The Michigan Secretary of State has acknowledged concerns and inquiries related to the filing deadline due to COVID-19 and the stay at home restrictions mandated by Michigan Executive Order 2020-42. The Secretary has requested a three-week extension of the April 21 filing deadline. However, there has been no extension, and the filing deadline currently remains in place.  Read More

On April 9, 2020 at 2:07 pm, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-42 (the “EO”). The EO was effective April 9, 2020 at 11:59 pm and continues until April 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm. In addition to extending the duration of the Stay – at – Home order previously issued under Executive Order 2020-21, the EO enacts additional travel restrictions (among other things).   Read More

On April 5, 2020 at 8:47 pm, Michigan Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order No. 2020-38 (the “EO”) temporarily extending certain Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) deadlines to facilitate COVID-19 emergency response efforts. The EO is in effect until June 4, 2020 at 11:59 pm.   Read More

On March 27, 2020, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order No. 2020-27 (the “EO”) temporarily suspending the rules and procedures related to the May 5, 2020 election. The goal of the temporary suspension is to (1) allow the election to be conducted by absentee ballot to the greatest extent possible and (2) to better enable jurisdictions to move ballot proposals to the August 4, 2020 election date.   Read More

Municipalities throughout Michigan have conducted municipal public body meetings electronically via teleconference, videoconference, Zoom, etc. This can be done under Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-15 so long as the proper procedures and public postings are utilized. One practical problem, however, is public comment. The best video or teleconferencing platforms allow the municipal clerk or other municipal official to “mute” participating members of the public until the appropriate public comment or public hearing portions of the meeting.   Read More