Dear Neighbor,
After months of fighting for a fiscally responsible state budget, I’m excited to announce that we finally got the job done and successfully passed a budget that invests in our community and communities around Michigan! This agreement centers on people-first investments to lower costs, protect vital services, fix our roads, and expand opportunities for Michigan families. It also delivers on major priorities like free school meals and keeps harmful Medicaid cuts at bay.
Unfortunately, our counterparts in Washington have been unable to get their budget passed, leading to a shutdown of federal departments and agencies. While we continue to navigate this challenging political environment, please know that our office remains available to help you — whether that’s keeping you informed of the latest developments, answering any questions you may have, or providing assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments.
You can reach me and my team by calling (517) 373-2417 or emailing SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
District 13
- The Legislature has finally passed a bipartisan budget agreement that invests in you, your family, and our community. Read on to learn more about the exciting investments we’re making to build up the future of our state.
- Join me for my upcoming community conversation at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex in Plymouth on Monday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 p.m. We hope you can join us!
- With Congress unable to reach a budget agreement, the federal government has entered a partial government shutdown, causing indefinite delays and interruptions to various public services and programs millions of Michiganders and Americans rely on. Find out how you and your loved ones might be affected below.
Bipartisan State Budget Passed Legislature, Sent to Governor
Budget Protects Medicaid, Counters Severe Federal Cuts, Fixes the Roads, and Keeps the State Open
Since day one, I’ve been focused on this end goal: finalizing a state budget that invests in the people who call our state home. While it was a long and sometimes arduous process of getting here, I’m excited to say that the Legislature has finally passed a bipartisan budget agreement that reflects the values I have long been fighting for — strong schools, safe communities, access to health care, and opportunity for all.
Our final budget deal works to fill critical gaps caused by cuts from the Trump administration, ensures stability in the services people rely on to survive, and protects what matters most to Michigan families. More specifically, it includes investments to:
- Support Students and Schools: Secures the highest-ever per-pupil funding, $10,050, and makes investments to address a variety of kids’ needs.
- Lower Costs: Continues the retirement tax repeal to save seniors $1,000 per year, makes child care more affordable through the Tri-Share program, and supports workforce training opportunities.
- Protect Vital Services: Saves Medicaid in Michigan to ensure health care remains accessible and affordable, protects SNAP benefits and the Double Up Food Bucks program, and continues support for police and fire departments.
- Implement a Long-Term Road Solution: Requires that corporations pay their fair share, enabling a sustainable plan to fund road repairs without raiding our schools or other essential programs.
- Fight Federal Cuts: Mitigates the worst impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to prevent a $1 billion budget hit and protect health care access, public safety, schools, and more.
Transformative Education Investments
In addition to historic funding for K-12 schools, other highlights from the school aid budget include:
- The continuation of the widely popular free school meals program, which ensures students can learn on full bellies, while helping parents save an average of $850 per year.
- Increased investment in funding for students and schools that need extra support, such as at-risk students, English-language learners, special education programs, and rural and isolated districts.
- Additional funding for literacy supports, building on Senate Democrats’ legislative efforts to strengthen learning based on the science of reading; and
- Critical investments in school safety and student mental health to modernize security systems and hire more counselors, social workers, and school resource officers.
- Efforts to encourage smaller class sizes and better learning environments for students and teachers.
- Increased funding to all Michigan universities and community colleges.
As Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittees for the Dept. of Education and the Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, I fought hard to support Michiganders, from our youngest learners to adults going back to school or pursuing skills training.
We were able to broaden Caring 4 Students support and staffing to provide nursing and behavioral health services for more students. I was also able to secure $150,000 each for mental health training and foster care oversight to better understand and support students. The final budget continued funding for the Tri-Share child care program, dedicated $1M for the College Success Fund and student wraparound supports, and $240,000 for Community Colleges Work Force Initiative to alleviate the hurdles for students to stay in or return to school
Fighting Federal Cuts and Protecting Health Care
This budget mitigates the worst impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” One billion dollars — that was the hit to Michigan under the Republican’s disastrous spending bill. We reached a bipartisan agreement that mitigates the worst of these effects, and in doing so, protected health care access, public safety, schools, and so much more.
With this budget, we saved Medicaid in Michigan and halted what was sure to be a disastrous domino effect felt by all Michiganders. Every Michigander deserves access to health care and the peace of mind to know that when they need that care, it’s reliable, affordable, and nearby.
In addition, the Dept. of Health and Human Services budget:
- Protects critical funding for local health and human service programs, including food assistance;
- Delivers historic funding to address the opioid crisis;
- Directs $5 million to address water affordability; and
- Provides funding for midwives and freestanding birth centers and other supports for moms and babies.
Support for Workers and Small Businesses
Our budget proposal included funding for the Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity to expand economic opportunity and security and help provide workers with the resources, education, and training they need to succeed. This includes funding for support for students and workers like Helmets to Hardhats, high school equivalency program, at-risk youth grants, and other training and graduation programs. The budget also included support for the Michigan Black Business Alliance, small business and community incubators, continued funding for blight remediation, and housing supports.
How the State Budget Invests in Our Local Community
In addition to big-picture investments to help move our state forward, our final budget agreement included $1 million for priority projects throughout our community.
These projects were identified through countless conversations I had with constituents, local leaders, and community organizations during the months-long budget process. In these discussions, I was focused on finding ways we could target state dollars in a meaningful way to ensure we could have the biggest impact on our local economy and residents’ everyday lives.
We were able to achieve that goal by securing funding for:
- $500,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Oakland County Health Network in Pontiac; and
- $500,000 for Oakland County for temporary housing grants to address homelessness.
To read more about what this budget means for Michigan, visit SenateDems.com/budget.
Community Conversation in Plymouth
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 20, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex, 650 Church St., Plymouth, MI 48170
Budget Briefing in West Bloomfield
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 10, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: West Bloomfield Middle School, 6000 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322
Federal Shutdown: How Will it Impact Me?
With a budget bill not passed by Congress to fund government operations before this new fiscal year, the federal government has entered a partial government shutdown starting just after midnight on Oct. 1, 2025, causing indefinite delays and interruptions to various public services and programs millions of Michiganders and Americans rely on. Find out how you and your loved ones might be affected below.
- Social Security & Supplemental Security Income (SSI): These benefits will continue to be distributed during the shutdown. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will stop benefit verifications and processing of overpayments. Local Social Security offices may be closed to in-person service, so you should check local office closures on the Social Security website before visiting.
- Medicare & Medicaid: These benefits will continue to be distributed during the shutdown. However, you will not be able to get a new or replacement Medicare card, and benefit verifications will stop.
- Food Assistance: Unfortunately, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could quickly run out of funding and soon be unable to help hungry children and parents in need. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could also run out of funding.
- Veterans Benefits: All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain fully operational. The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits.
- Mail Services & Post Offices: The United States Postal Service (U.S.P.S.) will continue to operate as normal.
- Airports & Traveling: The State Dept. will continue to issue passports and visas and assist Americans abroad. However, a reduced workforce could impact operations. If you have flight arrangements, plan for delays and cancellations due to disruptions in staffing of airport employees, air traffic controllers, and TSA agents — all who are deemed essential and expected to work, but without pay.
Please be aware that due to the reductions and disruptions in staffing caused by the shutdown, you may experience delays and other issues associated with these federally provided programs and services. Learn more here.
Stay Safe from COVID-19 & Other Seasonal Respiratory Viruses
The beginning of fall also marks the start of the flu season. Especially before the holidays arrive and family gatherings take place, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from seasonal respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID-19. The best protection? Stay up to date on vaccines.
I understand that the recent actions of the federal government have left many feeling anxious and uncertain about their ability to access the COVID-19 vaccine now or into the future. I want you to know that we are in contact with the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) regarding the evolving state and federal COVID-19 recommendations. We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure you can access this vaccination, which overwhelming evidence has shown is safe, has saved millions of lives, and prevented tens of millions of hospitalizations in the U.S.
We encourage you to follow up with your provider or call your local pharmacy directly to check on the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine and any specific guidelines.
To learn more about seasonal respiratory illnesses — including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) — and how to protect yourself, visit Michigan.gov/covidflursv. Along with getting vaccinated, you can take everyday preventative actions to stop the spread of germs, such as by practicing good hygiene and taking steps for cleaner air. If you may have a respiratory virus, use precautions to prevent spread and seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness.