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Gov. Rick Snyder signs bills to eliminate sales tax on certain medications, expand promise zones

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Melissa Anders | manders at mlive.com

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Melissa Anders | manders at mlive.com

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on December 24, 2013 at 9:28 AM, updated December 24, 2013 at 10:04 AM

snyder.jpgGov. Rick SnyderMLive File Photo

 

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday signed bills to provide a tax credit to blind residents, eliminate sales tax on certain medications and expand

the local promise zone program.

 

He also approved bills authorizing a specialty license plate to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and prevention.

 

“An important state government role is to provide service to our residents,” Snyder said in a statement. “These bills, approved with strong bipartisan support,

highlight some of the ways state government is helping Michiganders.”

 

House Bill 5086,

sponsored by Rep. Cindy Denby, R-Fowlerville, extends a tax credit to certain people who are blind. Low-income seniors and people with disabilities can

claim an income tax credit against property taxes on a primary residence.

 

Changes to the homestead property tax credit in 2011 reduced the amount available to taxpayers who were blind and over age of 65, but this bill brings that

back to prior levels, according to a Senate Fiscal Agency

analysis.

 

Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons, R-Alto, introduced

House Bill 4831

to exempt the sales tax for over-the-counter medications that are prescribed by a doctor.

 

Snyder also signed

Senate Bill 312

to amend a 2009 law allowing

local promise zones,

which are designated areas where communities can use tax dollars or other funds to cover college tuition. The bill sponsored by Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart,

allows the funds to pay for vocational education, books and supplies.

 

Email Melissa Anders at

manders at mlive.com.

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@MelissaDAnders.