Jim Runestad

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

• ›Jobs & cost of living73 with · 23 against97 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; to provide for…

    Makes supplemental 2025-26 appropriations totaling about $1.0 billion gross across state departments, including $596.7 million for health and human services and two budget stabilization fund appropriations totaling $350 million, with a net $52.6 million general fund reduction.

    Apr 30, 2026 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Make, supplement, adjust, and consolidate appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027; to…

    Appropriates about $63.0 billion in total, including $12.7 billion from the general fund, to state departments, the judicial branch and the legislative branch for fiscal year 2026-27 (Senate version).

    Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to…

    Makes minimum staffing levels a required subject of collective bargaining for police and fire units covered by Public Act 312, but optional if the employer's revenue-sharing sales tax receipts or property tax collections fell from the prior fiscal year.

    Jun 26, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Rights & public safety36 with · 12 against48 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of state police for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $1.02 billion in total funds for the Department of State Police for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Make appropriations for the judiciary for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $395.3 million in total funds for the judiciary for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Revised judicature act of 1961: add section 2950p.

    As introduced, lets people age 60 or older, vulnerable adults and people with developmental disabilities petition a circuit court for a protection order that can bar firearm purchase or possession, stalking conduct, harm to their animals, and control over their money or property.

    Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Health & care37 with · 8 against45 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of health and human services for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $39.3 billion in total funds for the Department of Health and Human Services for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    The code of criminal procedure: amend section 13n of chapter XVII

    Adds the felony penalties created by a companion bill on interfering with access to health facilities to the state sentencing guidelines; it takes effect only with that bill.

    Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Prohibit certain conduct at or near a health facility and prescribe penalties; to provide remedies; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and…

    Bars injuring, intimidating or interfering with, by force, threat of force or physical obstruction, people obtaining or providing reproductive health services, and damaging property of facilities that provide them; sets misdemeanor and felony penalties and allows civil suits.

    Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Education & families29 with · 6 against36 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    The state school aid act of 1979: amend sections 3, 6, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 11x, 11aa, 12d, 12e, 15, 18, 18a, 19, 20, 20d, 21b, 21f, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22k, 22l,

    Sets 2026-27 K-12 school aid, raising the per-pupil foundation allowance 2.5% to $10,300 and merging at-risk and bilingual funding into a new weighted allowance that phases up over 15 years (Senate version).

    Apr 30, 2026 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $756.2 million in total funds for the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of education for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $166.4 million in total funds for the Department of Education for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Climate & energy19 with · 1 against23 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of agriculture and rural development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $159.5 million in total funds for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $1.03 billion in total funds for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Natural resources and environmental protection act: amend sections 301, 3101, 3104, 3110, 3118, 3120, 3122, 3132, 3306, 4104, 4112, 5519, 11108, 11109, 11123, 11153, 11509, 11512, 11525a, 11717b…

    Removes expiration dates on many environmental permit, registration and certification fees under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, and requires annual inflation adjustment of the fees beginning January 1, 2026.

    Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All climate & energy votes
• ›Transportation12 with · 2 against14 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Make appropriations for the state transportation department for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $6.91 billion in total funds for the state transportation department for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    An act to provide for the classification of all public roads, streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that classification and for additions to and deletions from each…

    Requires the Department of Transportation to estimate the cost of local federal bridge load analysis, inspection and other mandates, and lets it pay them from the Movable Bridge Fund when no other funding exists.

    Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Aeronautics code of the state of Michigan: amend section 77

    Makes nonsubstantive wording changes to section 77 of the Aeronautics Code.

    Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 19–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Housing & rent8 with · 2 against10 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    The insurance code of 1956: amend sections 476a and 476b

    Lets out-of-state insurers subtract the new housing opportunity tax credit they claim from the burden counted in Michigan's insurer retaliatory tax calculation, starting in 2027.

    Jul 3, 2026 · Passed 21–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Income tax act of 1967: add sections 281 and 678.

    Allows a qualified taxpayer to claim the nonrefundable Housing Opportunity Tax Credit, as allocated on an eligibility certificate, against individual or corporate income tax starting January 1, 2027, under the MSHDA program created in HB 5805.

    Jul 3, 2026 · Passed 21–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    State housing development authority act of 1966: amend section 22

    Lets the Michigan State Housing Development Authority run a housing opportunity tax credit program for low-income housing projects, capped at $42 million a year from 2027 and adjusted for inflation; each credit is the lesser of the federal credit or one-sixth of the reserved amount.

    Jul 3, 2026 · Passed 22–14 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All housing & rent votes
• ›Foreign affairs & defense3 with · 6 against9 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Make appropriations for the department of military and veterans affairs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

    Appropriates about $291.6 million in total funds for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025-26.

    May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Michigan national guard tuition assistance act: amend sections 3 and 4

    Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 26–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Create the Michigan National Guard member benefit fund; and to provide for the administration of and distributions from the fund.

    Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 30–6 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes
• ›Technology & privacy5 with · 2 against7 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    Identity theft protection act: amend sections 3, 12, and 12b

    Requires businesses and state agencies holding residents' personal information to keep security safeguards, notify affected residents of data breaches, and notify the attorney general of breaches affecting more than 100 residents, with civil fines up to $750,000.

    Aug 26, 2025 · Passed 19–15 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Regulate operators of certain chatbots; to regulate offering certain chatbots to minors; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities; to…

    Enacts the LEAD Act, barring chatbot operators from offering minors chatbots that act as confidants or encourage harm, requiring age verification, and allowing Attorney General fines up to $25,000 per violation and parent lawsuits.

    Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 20–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Michigan consumer protection act: amend section 3

    Makes a violation of the Kids Code Act in Senate Bill 758 an unlawful practice under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.

    Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 20–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All technology & privacy votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 7 of 194 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (6), Jobs & cost of living (1)

• Revised judicature act of 1961: amend sections 151d and 321

  What it does: Transfers $1 million each year from the Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund's unspent balance to the Court Equity Fund for state fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029, and directs certain fees collected for the juror fun…

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 4–13

  Jul 3, 2026Official record ↗

• Revised judicature act of 1961: amend section 6431

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 6–9

  May 20, 2025Official record ↗

• An act to make uniform the liability of municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and the state, its agencies and departments, officers, employees, and volunteers thereof, and members of…

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 6–9

  May 20, 2025Official record ↗

• Revised judicature act of 1961: amend section 6452

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 6–9

  May 20, 2025Official record ↗

• Revised judicature act of 1961: amend section 5805

  Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 6–9

  May 20, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

• No

  Make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; to provide for…

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  The state school aid act of 1979: amend sections 3, 6, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 11x, 11aa, 12d, 12e, 15, 18, 18a, 19, 20, 20d, 21b, 21f, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22k, 22l,

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  Make, supplement, adjust, and consolidate appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027; to…

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  Apr 29, 2026Official record ↗

• No

  An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to…

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  Jun 26, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Regulate pet cemeteries; to regulate the sale of pet cemetery merchandise and services; to provide for the powers and duties of certain local governmental officers and entities; and to prescribe…

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  Jun 10, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Michigan consumer protection act: amend the title and sections 2, 4, 5, 10, and 15

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  Jun 10, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Make appropriations for the department of insurance and financial services for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  May 13, 2025Official record ↗

• No

  Make appropriations for the department of licensing and regulatory affairs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.

  With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18

  May 13, 2025Official record ↗