Dear Neighbor,
As we begin a new legislative year at the Capitol, it is so important to reflect on progress made and victories won for the people of Michigan in my first year as your State Senator.
Starting strong in our first 100 days, the Senate Majority passed legislation to affirm the rights of all Michigan residents, help lower costs, support working families and seniors and amplify voters’ rights. Then, last summer, our caucus simultaneously crafted and passed a sensible and people-focused budget to serve the interests of all Michiganders.
In this mailer, you’ll learn about all this work and more — as well as some of our ongoing work. Our plan so far has been simple, yet effective: engage the community and continue to bring forth tangible change in the state of Michigan.
It has been an honor serving as your Senator this past year and bringing your voices to the halls of power.
Please know that my office and my team are always here as a resource. If you ever need assistance navigating changes in our state government, or would like to share your feedback and suggestions, contact my office via email or phone.
In Service,
Sarah Anthony
State Senator
District 21
Lowering MI Costs
Last year, the Michigan Senate sent the biggest tax relief package in decades — the Lowering MI Costs plan — to the desk of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who signed the bills into law on March 7, 2023. The Lowering MI Costs plan includes:
- Repealing the so-called “retirement tax” for seniors on a fixed income;
- Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit;
- And the first permanent funding for affordable housing and community revitalization in state history.
The retirement tax will be phased out over four years and will ultimately put an average of $1,000 back in the pockets of 500,000 households statewide. The plan equalizes the exemption on both public and private retirement income. Michigan taxpayers can choose between the current limits on the deductibility of pension or retirement income. Learn more at Michigan.gov/taxes.
By expanding the Working Families Tax Credit to 30% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, 700,000 Michiganders — those who have the hardest time affording the basics — will see an average of $3,150 back in their pockets.
We know that the rising costs of rent and mortgages due to a lack of housing stock are a financial pain for many mid-Michiganders. That’s why we invested $50 million of surplus tax revenue in the state’s Housing and Community Development Fund — which prioritizes projects offering veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and working families safe, affordable places to call home and lowering the price of housing stock.
Last year, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 483-485. These bills establish an independent Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) in Michigan. The PDAB aims to address this issue by implementing measures to regulate prescription drug costs, ensuring that essential medications are accessible and affordable for everyone.
In 2020, while the costs of many goods were rising, the prices of 500 prescription drugs in Michigan increased at a rate twice that of inflation. Michigan Senate Democrats are committed to alleviating the burden of prescription drug costs on Michigan residents and employers — and they are taking meaningful action to combat this persistent problem.
To learn more about this legislation, go to senatedems.com/news.
In addition to being your State Senator, I am honored to share that this has been a historic year for Michigan as I proudly serve as the Senate Appropriations Chair — the first-ever Black female to hold this position. In this capacity, I work collaboratively in the Senate to make crucial decisions on how to invest our state’s tax dollars.
Working with my Senate colleagues, we passed a bipartisan “Budget for the People” which reinvests in communities across our state that have been overlooked for decades.
Additionally, we made historic increases in funding for schools, infrastructure, housing and workforce development all while increasing transparency and remaining fiscally responsible. Budgets are moral documents and what this budget reflects are the values of the state of Michigan.
Some notable highlights from our “Budget for the People” include:
- Providing a 5% increase in per-pupil funding for a total of $9,608 per pupil — the highest level in history — to support our kids as the future of our state.
- Making 5,600 more free Pre-K slots available in the Fall, saving families $10,000 a year and providing more Michigan children the opportunity to develop social and academic skills.
- Investing $416 million to fund the repair of local roads and $80 million to replace or rehabilitate crumbling bridges.
- Supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs and farmers, and encouraging greater diversity and representation in all of our state’s important industries.
- Doubling support to conservation districts to protect and improve our air, land and water.
- Expanding the eligibility age for Michigan Reconnect, making a tuition-free associate degree or skills training available to 350,000 more Michiganders.
- Providing $400 million to provide safety professionals and first responders with the resources they need to keep our families and communities safe.
- Implementing gun violence prevention policies, and funding programs and services to tackle root causes of crime and reduce recidivism.
Reproductive Health Act
I am proud to have sponsored the Reproductive Health Act, which was signed into law last year by Gov. Whitmer. The Reproductive Health Act removes harmful, politically motivated restrictions on the right to reproductive health care in our state. This act affirms the will of the overwhelming majority of Michiganders who voted for Proposal 3 in the November 2022 election to safeguard reproductive care. This act ensures that reproductive care is a conversation between a patient and their healthcare provider — not politicians.
Payday Lending
The payday lending industry preys on low-income Michiganders, trapping them in a cycle of debt, often ending in financial ruin. That’s why I introduced legislation to take on the payday lending industry by capping these payday loans at 36% APR, bringing Michigan in line with 20 states and the District of Columbia. These loans drain millions from Michigan’s economy each year, and putting a firm cap on these loans will help low-income people not fall victim to unfair interest rates.
Income Tax Budget Implementation Bill
We know that many cities lack the means to efficiently process taxes, meaning that more money is spent collecting taxes rather than funding essential services like public safety, health and housing. I sponsored a bill, now law, which allows cities to enter agreements with the Department of Treasury, streamlining the tax collection process and increasing efficiency. This means more money goes towards the services we depend on and means more money in your pocket.
District Events Recap
Budget Town Hall
In September, I held a town hall with House Appropriations Chairwoman Angela Witwer in Charlotte to highlight the great wins we delivered for mid-Michigan in the state budget. We focused on the positive impacts the state budget would have on improving public safety, addressing mental health and combatting the housing crisis in our region.
Coffee Hours
Last year, I had a total of six coffee hours all across our mid-Michigan district. From Holt to Mason to Eaton Rapids to Delta Township, it was so great to hear directly from constituents about how I could better represent their interests in the halls of power. I am community-centered and will continue to put the interest of our mid-Michigan community first as your State Senator.
Budget Tour
After our historic state budget was signed into law, I had the opportunity to visit the impactful organizations and groups that received funding. We traveled across mid-Michigan from Moore’s Park Pool to the Eaton SIREN Homeless and Domestic Violence Shelter and also saw how our investments in nonprofits like the Mikey23 Foundation would improve our Capitol region.