Dear Friend,
The summer season is finally upon us! I hope you and your family have the chance to enjoy the sunshine and take advantage of all the fun summer activities our state has to offer.
Even though summer break is here for our youngest Michiganders, my colleagues and I are still hard at work in the Capitol negotiating a budget that meets your needs. We’ve also been busy advancing bills in our Michigan You Can Afford agenda, as well as legislation to protect voting rights, keep communities safe, and so much more. Read on for more information about what my team is working on and details about exciting events happening in our community starting tomorrow!
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or if you need assistance of any sort, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me by sending an email to SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov or by calling (517) 373-6960.
In service,
Sarah Anthony
State Senator
District 21
- From cracking down on deceptive corporate pricing practices to expanding the supply of affordable housing options for low-income Michiganders, my colleagues and I have made some exciting progress on our A Michigan You Can Afford agenda in recent weeks.
- Whether you’re renting or looking to buy a home, find all kinds of housing resources — and members of Team Anthony! — at the Ingham County Housing Resource Fair next week on Wednesday, June 24, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Lansing. More info below.
Making Progress with Our A Michigan You Can Afford Agenda
From prices at the grocery store and gas station to the rising cost of childcare and doctors’ visits, reckless actions by D.C. Republicans are taking their toll on household budgets across Michigan. That’s why Senate Dems launched A Michigan You Can Afford agenda just a few weeks ago, which aims to do exactly what it says — lower the high costs of living burdening Michiganders around the state. In recent weeks, my colleagues and I have made exciting progress on the following bills outlined in this agenda:
- Ban auto and home insurance companies from exploiting your shopping patterns to determine the highest rates you are willing to pay, a practice also known as “price optimization.” (Passed out of committee)
- Prohibit surveillance pricing for e-commerce and dynamic pricing for retail stores, additional deceptive practices companies utilize to take advantage of consumers to benefit their bottom line. (Introduced)
- Establish a new tax credit to increase the supply of guaranteed affordable housing in our state. (Passed out of the Senate)
- Eliminate out-of-pocket costs for three of the state’s most high-volume, life-saving medical necessities, including Insulin, Epinephrine, and Inhalers. (Introduced)
- Create a state-based health care exchange, which would lower premiums and give Michiganders more options and more control over their health insurance. (Passed out of the Senate)
As we do this work and advance this legislative agenda through the Senate, I want to hear from you. Make your voice heard and help shape this package by sharing your experience in the survey below, so we can work together to deliver a solution that works for you, your family, and our state.
A Snapshot of Capitol Activity
In addition to driving forward legislation to make life more affordable for Michiganders, my colleagues and I have been working to address other critical issues facing residents and communities across the state. This past week, I’m proud to report movement on several of my bills, including the following:
Support Michiganders with Medical Debt: Nearly 700,000 Michiganders are saddled with the burden of medical debt. It’s an issue that can follow them around for the rest of their life, hurting their ability to buy a home, forcing them to choose between putting gas in their tank or food on the table, and keeping them trapped in a cycle of poverty and instability. No one’s life should be put on hold just for seeking the care they need, which is why I’ve long been championing bipartisan bills to tackle this issue head-on. By establishing clear guidelines for hospitals to offer financial assistance programs while also regulating how and when debt can be collected, my legislation would protect those burdened by medical debt while also preventing it from happening in the first place. I’m thrilled to report these bills were passed out of the Senate Committee on Health Policy yesterday and now head to the House floor for consideration.
Keep Communities Safe: To keep communities safe from gun violence, assaults, homicides, and other devastating and life-altering tragedies, I’ve been partnering with my colleague Sen. McMorrow on bills to codify the Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention and an associated grant program within the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). This office would be charged with providing financial resources and support for community-based non-profit organizations working to reduce crime and keep their Michigan neighbors, friends, and loved ones safe. Community violence intervention efforts complement the work of local law enforcement to reduce crime in our neighborhoods, so I was grateful to have the opportunity to testify on the importance of this legislation in the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety today. This legislation, Senate Bills 1015-1016, was passed out of committee today and now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. To watch my testimony today, click here.
Sen. Anthony testifying today, Thursday, June 18, in the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety
Protect Voting Rights: After months of reports detailing the Trump administration’s efforts to nationalize elections and restrict access to mail-in voting — the latest blow to election integrity came earlier this spring as the U.S. Supreme Court eviscerated key protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. To fight back against these attacks, my colleagues and I passed legislation that would establish a state-level Voting Rights Act to ensure every eligible voter has access to the ballot box. Read more here, and to watch my floor speech condemning these federal actions aimed at suppressing our votes and our voices, click here.
Local Juneteenth Celebrations
Happy Juneteenth! Observed on June 19 every year, Juneteenth commemorates the day that the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. learned of their freedom — June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation.
Beyond its historical roots, Juneteenth symbolizes triumph over the injustices of slavery and stands as a testament to the progress made and the work still needed to achieve true freedom and equality for all. As we celebrate this day, please know that I remain committed to fighting for equity and justice so that all people are not only free but can have access to opportunity here in Michigan. Be sure to check out one of the many vibrant local Juneteenth celebrations taking place throughout our community this weekend.
517 Juneteenth Weekend
Click here for more information and to view the full schedule.
Lansing’s 33rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration Line-Up
Click here for more information and to view the full schedule.
Housing Fair Next Week in Lansing — Join Us!
Come say hi to our team at the Ingham County Housing Resource Fair next week! The fair will bring together organizations serving people searching for housing, tenants, homebuyers, homeowners, and local affordable housing developers. You’ll be able to find information and resources on everything from downpayment assistance and guidance for first-time homebuyers to assistance with legal issues and developer related matters. The event will also include a free walk-in Expungement Clinic. Please spread the word, and Team Anthony hopes to see you there!
WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, from 3:00- 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Union Missionary Baptist Church, 500 S. MLK Jr. Blvd., Lansing, MI 48915
Save the Date: Next Community Conversation on 8/13/26
Save the date for my next community conversation happening later this summer on Thursday, August 13 in Lansing. Additional details will be provided soon; stay updated via my newsletters and on my website! As always, this is a great opportunity for us to connect and discuss what’s happening in our community and at the Capitol. I‘ll provide updates from the Michigan Legislature and, most importantly, I want to hear directly from you about the issues that matter most.