News

Michigan retailers report strong sales in January

LANSING, Mich. – Retailers in Michigan reported a steep increase in sales this past month compared to numbers reported in January 2019, according to the Michigan Retail Index.

The January Retail Index survey came in at 72.5,

Pure Michigan funding debate, tobacco law updates introduced

In this issue:

  • Senate subcommittee pushes Pure Michigan funding
  • Bipartisan package to update tobacco/vaping laws introduced
  • Legislators mulling bank and grocery store-based Secretary of State locations
  • FDA begins enforcement on certain flavored vaping products
  • State scraps switching pharmacy Medicaid reimbursement to fee-for-service plan
  • Regulatory round-up
  • 2019-2020 bill tracker

Senate subcommittee pushes Pure Michigan funding

Following an overview of the proposed Labor and Economic Opportunity budget,

In their own words: Hastings Ace Hardware’s Jerry and Lyndy Bolthouse

When you think of a family- and community-focused business, Hastings Ace Hardware would vie for top honors. Parents of current owner, Jerry Bolthouse, can prove it. Gerald and Anna Bolthouse had 13 children,

Michigan Retailers announces 2019 Legislators of the Year

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) has honored two freshman lawmakers as 2019 Legislators of the Year for helping to shepherd through its top priority legislation: requiring marketplace facilitators to collect sales tax on third party sales hosted on online marketplace platforms.

Governor focuses on working alone in second State of the State address

In this issue:

  • Governor focuses on working alone in second State of the State address
  • Commission approves liquor packaging changes
  • Changes to bottle deposit escheats introduced
  • Pharmacy members please note: Michigan close to decision on carving out of the Medicaid pharmacy benefit from managed care
  • Regulatory round-up

Governor focuses on working alone in second State of the State address

In the shortest State of the State speech in memory,

Michigan retailers are optimistic for a strong winter

Retailers in Michigan reported higher sales in December and predict stronger winter sales than a year ago, according to the Michigan Retail Index.

The December Retail Index survey came in at 60.0,

Road funding questions and guidance from the FDA

In this issue:

  • What could a road funding plan look like?
  • UIA obligation assessment phased out early
  • FDA bans fruit and mint flavored cartridge-based e-cigs effective Feb.

From CEO Bill Hallan: Disaster hit, but we recovered

MRA President and CEO William J.Hallan

By BILL HALLAN

Of course it happened on a day when I was out of the office. I was in Detroit for a meeting alongside Meegan Holland, our vice president of communications and marketing,

Year end legislative wrap up, bill signing, notices

In this issue:

  • Legislature on break until Jan. 8
  • Whitmer signs marketplace facilitator bills
  • Treasury opines that kombucha subject to deposit law as of May 1
  • Michigan Supreme Court declines to issue an advisory opinion on min.