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State lawmakers to consider energy, driverless car bills

Posted at 3:54 PM, Nov 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-10 15:54:19-05

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Legislature’s “lame-duck” session is kicking into gear.

Lawmakers are taking up long-debated energy legislation Thursday and also bills governing driverless cars.

Two days after the election, the Republican-led Senate is expected to vote on an update to 2008 energy laws. The business community is at odds over provisions related to a law that lets some companies and schools buy power from competitors to utilities DTE and Consumers Energy.

The House plans to pass bills no longer requiring that someone be inside a self-driving car while testing it on public roads. Backers say the measures would keep the U.S. auto industry’s home state ahead of the curve on rapidly advancing technology.

Rep. Tom Leonard has been elected by Republicans to be the next speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.