Dear Neighbor,
With the official start of autumn right around the corner, we are not only quickly approaching a season full of fall foliage and cider mills, but we are also unfortunately speeding towards a potential government shutdown. Come Oct. 1, if the Legislature is unable to send a full budget to the governor for her signature, many of the programs and services Michiganders rely on — and pay for with their hard-earned tax dollars — will come to a halt. Schools have already been forced to begin a new academic year without knowing what their budgets will look like, and soon, our local cities, our police and fire departments, and more will be faced with the same fate.
At the Capitol, my Senate colleagues and I have been working to negotiate a responsible state budget, as we have been ever since we passed our budget proposal back in May. With only days before the start of the new fiscal year, the contrast between our proposal and the House’s could not be more stark. Senate Democrats are committed to delivering a balanced budget that uplifts Michiganders and delivers on your priorities. Meanwhile, House Speaker Matt Hall remains steadfast on intentionally sowing dysfunction, threatening to upend vital services, and destabilize the state — all in the name of scoring political points.
Read more about the status of negotiations below, as well as hear more about the legislative work my colleagues and I are continuing to do on behalf of you, our community, and our state.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can contact us by calling (517) 373-2417 or emailing SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov. We are here to assist you!
Sincerely,
Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
District 13
- As we inch alarmingly closer to the start of a new fiscal year and potential GOP-initiated government shutdown, Senate Democrats are continuing to fight for a fiscally responsible state budget that invests in Michiganders.
- Join me for my next community conversation at the Sylvan Lake Community Center on Monday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 15 is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich culture and histories of Latino Americans across the United States and here in Michigan. Read more below.
The Clock is Ticking: Senate Democrats Continue Fight for a Responsible State Budget
As the clock ticks and the start of the new fiscal year looms, the Senate is still missing a serious partner in the Michigan House to negotiate a state budget with. Since the start of this legislative term, Speaker Matt Hall has failed to step up, instead choosing to manufacture a crisis in attempts to push through an extreme agenda and score political points.
Months after the statutorily required July 1 deadline, House Republicans finally introduced a full 800-page proposal recently…and then passed it in less than half an hour later with no hearings or public input. The House Republicans’ proposal is a far cry from a fiscally responsible budget. Instead of investing in education, public safety, and economic development, it would:
- Exacerbate the dangerous federal cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
- Undermine the health and safety of Michiganders’ food by slashing millions for food and milk safety programs.
- Make our communities less safe by defunding 400 Michigan State Police positions and making drastic cuts to the Attorney General’s office, including slashing funding for the state’s sexual assault kit program, nearly dismantling the victim services unit, and diminishing funding for vital prosecution support.
- Threaten the futures of Michigan students by ripping resources away from schools.
- Harm Michigan workers and stall economic growth by slashing resources for job creation services.
- Roll back environmental protections by gutting funding for air and water quality programs and cutting key regulatory oversight programs.
- Force communities to slash vital, everyday services such as public safety, local road maintenance, and trash collection. More details about this can be found in the graphic below.
Our state budget should reflect our values — not betray them. As the deadline to secure a deal inches alarmingly closer, Senate Democrats will continue returning to the table, ready to negotiate a budget that truly puts people first. Learn more about the differences in our budget proposals here.
A Snapshot of Capitol Activity: Strengthening Michigan’s People & Places
In addition to our work to move budget negotiations forward ahead of the Oct. 1 fiscal year deadline, my Senate colleagues and I have continued to deliver solutions for Michiganders across the state, recently advancing legislation to:
- Address the state’s housing crisis by breaking barriers faced by renters. This legislative package, which I’m proud to have championed, would help to lower costs and advance protections for Michigan renters. Recently passed out of committee, Senate Bills 372–375 would add a cap on renter application fees, boost transparency in fees, provide one fee-free option for paying rent, and allow for the sealing of eviction records under certain circumstances. Learn more by watching my recent committee testimony below.
- Strengthen safeguards for Michigan consumers. Passed in bipartisan fashion just last month, Senate Bills 360–364 — another bill package I’m proud to have spearheaded — would bring Michigan up to speed with 37 other states by empowering the Attorney General’s office to investigate security breaches and hold violators accountable.
- Ensure our state’s elections are as effective, transparent, and reliable as possible by tackling election disinformation and improving integrity in the petition circulation process. These commonsense reforms were voted out of the Senate this week and now head to the House for their consideration. \
- Safeguard public health and the environment from the impact of microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles found just about everywhere, from drinking water and foods to cosmetics and cleaning supplies. Heard in committee earlier this month, this legislation would create a statewide strategy to help assess and address the impact of microplastics on public health and the environment — including the Great Lakes, where they are more prevalent than in other large bodies of water throughout the world.
9 Bills 9 Months Later — Update on the “Hall Holdup” Lawsuit
For nine months, the Republican House of Representatives has continued to deliberately and illegally block nine bills passed by both legislative chambers last year from being sent to the governor. This is despite us taking them to court earlier this year, where the judge ruled in our favor, making it abundantly clear that the Michigan Constitution says every bill passed by the legislature is required to be presented to the governor — and no one, especially an elected public servant in legislative leadership, is above the law. Still, Speaker Matt Hall has done what he does best: drag his feet and play games with people’s livelihoods.
Because of him, legislation passed by both chambers back in Dec. 2024 to lower health care costs for teachers and first responders and improve retirement benefits for corrections officers is just sitting on his desk, collecting dust.
Senate Democrats will continue to do everything we can to force his hand to comply with the Michigan Constitution and the rule of law. As of last week, our case was brought before the Court of Appeals. As we await a decision, my colleagues and I remain committed to delivering solutions for you.
Connecting with Students & Staff Over Breakfast in West Bloomfield Twp.
I had a wonderful time with West Bloomfield Twp. Treasurer Teri Weingarten and Clerk Debbie Binder during out visit to Gretchko Elementary School last week, where we helped serve a healthy breakfast to students. After discussions with Principal Jen Teal, West Bloomfield Superintendent Dr. Dania Bazzi, and school leaders in the District, the message is clear — maintaining free breakfast and lunch programs in Michigan is critical to keep kids fed and focused in the classroom.
As deliberations on the state budget continue, it is essential to reaffirm that food, health, and safety are foundational priorities to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and achieve their full potential.
Great Lakes Legislative Conference
I recently spent some time at the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus’ Annual Conference in South Bend, Indiana! It was interesting to learn about smart sewers and very large retention basins, which are used to manage stormwater and sewage overflow (smelly, yes — but better than storing it in basements!). I enjoyed the parks and frontage on the beautiful St. Joseph River, in addition to many sessions on ways to protect our water — from the big lakes, to groundwater, to rivers and streams. It was fun to have a delegation from Michigan, including Senator Shink, Representative Paiz, and Representative Foreman, as well as Dave Maturen, President of the MI Lakes and Streams Association, and Jess Leinhart, Executive Director of the GLLC!
Community Conversation in Sylvan Lake
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Sylvan Lake Community Center, 2456 Pontiac Dr., Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
Honoring September as Suicide Prevention Month
The devastation of suicide is far-reaching, impacting families and communities across our state and beyond. But suicide is preventable — and September, National Suicide Prevention Month, serves as a great opportunity to spread awareness and resources to connect residents with the help they may need. That’s why, like I’ve done many times in my term, I’ve presented a resolution on the Senate floor to boost recognition of this important month within the Michigan Legislature and our responsibility to address suicide prevention in a comprehensive manner — including by continuing to advance commonsense gun safety measures. Watch my floor speech at the link below.
If you or someone you know needs help:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The Lifeline provides 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
- The Veterans Crisis Line provides free 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255.
- Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down this page and finding a listing in your county.
- Get help for yourself or a loved one, learn the facts and warning signs, locate advocacy resources, and much more through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich culture and histories of Latino Americans across the United States and here in Michigan. The month-long observance, from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, commemorates the independence days of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
In Michigan’s history, only 14 Hispanic individuals have been elected to serve in the state legislature, including my colleagues, Sens. Mary Cavanagh, Erika Geiss, and Darrin Camilleri. Their backgrounds and lived experiences make our caucus and our state stronger. Learn more about them and Hispanic Heritage Month here.
Reminders for Michigan Motorists with School Buses Back on the Roads
Recently released data from the Michigan State Police shows that overall traffic crashes and fatalities on state roadways rose slightly in 2024 — distressing statistics that underscore how important it is to remain alert and vigilant on the roads. Especially now, with the new school season underway and school buses back on the roads, Michigan motorists must exercise caution and follow the rules below to ensure everyone is safe as they’re out and about.
When you see a school bus stopping for students to board, remember: yellow lights on school buses activate when the bus is preparing to stop. Red lights and the long stop arm are activated when the bus is completely stopped and accepting or discharging passengers.
Here’s a reminder on what to do when a school bus stops on different road types:
- Two-lane roadway
- When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
- Multi-lane roadway with a center turning lane
- When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
- Four-lane roadway without a median separation
- When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
- Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation
- When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.