5:30PM UPDATE: After nearly 30 hours in session, the senate is adjourned.
Blankets, energy drinks and an ode to the comfy chairs.
It's what it takes to get through over a day long lawmaking session in the state capitol.
"I ask if anyone has gotten a bingo off your cards yet," Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt said.
Light-hearted fun as the Senate's Thursday session drifting into Friday.
Passing bill after bill, though limited to what was expected.
"There is a whole list of bills that we sent over to the House," Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said.
The other chamber stood silent Friday -- they adjourned Thursday after days of dysfunction.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said 247 bills were unable to be passed as absences from all GOP and one democratic representative left them unable to take action.
Senate Republicans said that as a result, while though a lot of bills passed Friday, the ones they believe matter most were left behind: the minimum wage and earned sick time modification bills.
"Let's save 50,000 restaurant jobs, let's worry about small businesses that are around the state, entrepreneurs trying to survive, working people around the state and not closing one-out-of-five restaurants, let's try to fix the damn roads without raising taxes," Nesbitt said.
With the senate and house adjourned, expected to end the 2024 session on Tuesday, all other bills not passed this legislative session are dead.
Amidst all of the chaos in the state legislature, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is still thanking the democratic majority legislature for their efforts saying quote "I thank our colleagues in the legislature for their efforts on behalf of their fellow Michiganders and look forward to working alongside the incoming House. I will continue to work with anyone who is serious about getting things done."
ORIGINAL STORY: The Michigan Senate has been in session for more than 24 hours.
This comes after the House adjourned following a tumultuous few days in which GOP representatives and Democratic Rep. Karen Whitsett (D) Detroit refused to attend session, leaving Speaker Joe Tate (D) Detroit without a quorum and unable to conduct business.
According to State Capitol neighborhood reporter Alonna Johnson, 38 pieces of legislation have been passed as of 11:30 a.m. and are now headed to the governor’s desk.
Among those bills are HB 5450& 5451, which would require schools to send home information with students about the new safe firearm storage laws, and HB 6046, which would allow Medicaid funds to be used for community violence intervention services.
The Democrats hold a 20-18 majority in the Senate.
All bills passed today are expected to head to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s desk for her signature.
Meantime, the House has adjourned until New Year’s Eve.
WATCH: Michigan House adjourns due to lack of participation from lawmakers
The new legislature is expected to be sworn in on January 1, 2025.
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