July Legislative Updates

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you’re enjoying this summer season in Michigan!

I’m pleased to report that the 2025 State Budget has been passed by the House and Senate, and it now awaits the governor’s signature! While compromises must be made in the budget process, I am proud of the work we did to design a budget that builds up our vibrant communities and supports our residents of all backgrounds. You’ll find more information about how this year’s budget impacts our community in this newsletter.

As always, if you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can contact me by sending an email to senwbrinks@senate.michigan.gov or by calling (517) 373-1801.

Sincerely,

Winnie Brinks
Senate Majority Leader
29th District

In Recent News 

Senate Democrats Pass State Budget Dedicated to Building Up Michigan 

Recently, both the Senate and the House worked diligently to negotiate the state’s budget for 2025. The Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget reflects the values that our Democratic majority has focused on: investing in children and families, students and workers, public safety, community development, and improving the lives of the people who need it most.  

This Democratic majority views the state budget as both a values statement and a financial plan. Our cornerstones for the 2025 budget — transformational, innovative, equitable, and intentional — reflect the priorities established last year. Read more here. 

Senate District 29 also saw significant, strategic investments that will be transformational for our community. Here are a few highlights:

Mental Health Resources: Pine Rest will build a Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health to ensure access to much-needed immediate mental health resources for children. The City of Grand Rapids will be able to grow their mental health crisis co-response, which pairs social workers with police officers to help people in distress. Mosaic Counseling will expand in our county to bring affordable and accessible professional counseling services.
Growing our Teacher Workforce: West Michigan Teacher Collaborative will continue their success recruiting more teachers and equipping them to thrive in our local classrooms.
Safety and Nutrition for Seniors: Meals on Wheels Western Michigan will be able to expand their facility to bring healthy and nutritious meals to those who need it most.
More Housing: From AYA Youth Collective’s expanded resources for youth experiencing homelessness, to Well House’s project aimed at those whose income is below 30% of the Area Median Income, to the 45 new mixed-income units being built in Boston Square by Amplify GR — we’re expanding access to housing for West Michigan residents.
Community Recreation Spaces: Roosevelt Park Lodge and Plaza will bring beautiful and safe space for neighbors to share and enjoy in the Roosevelt neighborhood

Michigan Senate Passes Legislative Package to Establish a State-Based Health Insurance Exchange 

The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 633-638 to transition Michigan away from the federally managed health insurance marketplace to a State-Based Exchange (SBE), helping to provide the state with greater flexibility to meet the healthcare needs of Michiganders. 

In the past decade, the Affordable Care Act has grown in popularity across the country and here in Michigan. During the 2024 open enrollment period, for example, 418,000 Michiganders purchased coverage through the federal marketplace, which was a 30% increase from the previous year and the highest enrollment rate in the state’s history. 

This six-bill package amends Michigan’s insurance code to establish an SBE and lays out the parameters and duties of the exchange and governing board. As a result, the state would provide the infrastructure, website and support for individuals and small businesses to purchase plans beginning January 1, 2026. 

This legislation now heads to the Michigan House for their consideration. 

Senate Passes Legislation to Expand Freedom of Information Act to Include Governor, Legislature 

The Senate took a historic vote in support of bipartisan legislation to expand the application of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the Michigan Legislature and the governor’s office, a significant step forward to increase transparency within state government. Senate Bills 669 and 670 each passed with a 36-2 vote.  

Enacted in 1976, Michigan’s FOIA law is one of the few in the nation that exempts state lawmakers and the governor’s office from records requests. This significant gap in the law contributed to Michigan receiving an F in government integrity from the national Center for Public Integrity’s 2015 report, where the state ranked last overall, failing in 10 out of 13 categories, including public access to information, executive accountability, and legislative accountability. 

The bills now move to the House. 

Contact Us

The Office of Senate Majority Leader Brinks values input from all Michiganders but prioritizes District 29 constituent concerns. If you have questions or concerns but are not a resident of District 29, contact your local State Senator. Click here to find who represents you in the Senate.

Comment on Legislation:  You can stay updated on legislative advancements through my biweekly e-newsletters or by clicking here. Given the high volume of messages my office receives daily, please note that it may take time for your inquiry to receive a response.

If You Need Help:  If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.

You may always feel free to call my office at (517) 373-1801 or email me at  SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov.

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