Dear Neighbor,
From tackling the child care crisis facing our parents to protecting Michiganders burdened by the cycle of medical debt, my Senate colleagues and I have been working hard to advance legislation that would deliver real relief for folks around the state. Learn more about these efforts below, including how we’ve been shining a light on ways the Trump administration’s energy policies are costing Michigan families and communities.
And, as the seasons for tax scams and severe weather are both in full swing, read on for helpful information and resources on how you can stay protected in the weeks ahead.
As always, if you need assistance of any sort, or have any questions or concerns you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can reach me and my team by emailing senwbrinks@senate.michigan.gov or calling 517-373-1801.
Sincerely,
Winnie Brinks
Senate Majority Leader
District 29
- From exploring the harmful impacts of Trump’s energy policies to advancing bills to lower the cost of child care and tackle medical debt facing Michiganders, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I have been working hard on your behalf in Lansing. Learn more below.
- We’ve cut some ribbons and broken some ground in Grand Rapids lately! The state budget dollars that we spent over the past couple years have translated into tangible, transformational investments in our city — and that’s something to celebrate.
- Tax filing season is well underway, which unfortunately means, tax scam activity is too. Find more information below on how to stay protected from this deceptive behavior, including examples of different ways that residents are targeted by scammers.
Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle Medical Debt Facing Michiganders
Medical debt is a burden that can follow someone around for the rest of their lives — hurting their ability to buy a home, forcing them to forgo essential expenses like groceries and rent, and oftentimes trapping them in a cycle of poverty that is nearly impossible to get out of. With about 700,000 Michiganders across the state burdened by this reality, my colleagues and I knew we had to take action.
That’s why, last week, the Michigan Senate passed a bipartisan set of bills to tackle this issue head-on. To provide support and safeguards for those struggling with medical expenses, the legislation would establish clear guidelines for hospitals to offer financial assistance programs and regulate how and when debt can be collected, such as by capping interest and late fees at 3% annually after a 90-day grace period. Learn more about this legislation here.
Senate Committee Underscores Need for Bills to Combat Michigan’s Child Care Crisis
Michigan’s child care system demands too much of our families while offering too little to our workers. Combine that with the mountain of red tape facing providers, and the result? A growing care crisis facing families and employers across the state — a reality that many of us know all too well.
To deliver much-needed relief for our families and support for our providers, Senate Dems are taking a comprehensive approach to cut high child care costs and break burdensome barriers in which providers are forced to operate. Discussed last week by employers, parents, and child care providers and advocates in the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee, our legislation would:
- Codify the innovative bipartisan program, Tri-Share, that splits the cost of child care equally among employers, the state, and employees;
- Tie the Child Care Reimbursement Rate to inflation to provide certainty and consistency to providers; and
- Update licensing requirements for child care centers and remove bureaucratic barriers to open and operate them.
Senate Dems Explore Consequences of Trump’s Harmful Energy Policies
Over the last couple of weeks, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment has held hearings to examine the detrimental effects of the Trump administration’s actions to dismantle clean, efficient, and affordable energy plans. From dissolving clean energy projects under the so-called “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” to forcing the inefficient J.H. Campbell coal plant to stay open, the Trump administration is contributing to higher utility costs for ratepayers, environmental threats, and the loss of Michigan jobs and investments.
Senate Democrats will continue raising awareness and working hard to safeguard our state and residents from the harmful decisions coming out of Washington, D.C. Read more about this past week’s hearing here.
Senate Committee Hears Testimony on “Kids Over Clicks” Legislation
The Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee recently held a hearing on Senate Bills 757–760, which would implement commonsense safety standards to better protect Michigan children from the emerging risks associated with social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage. The committee heard from parents, advocates, and legal, health, and technology experts about the need to pass our Kids Over Clicks legislation and better safeguard our youth from rampant digital dangers. (To watch a recording of the hearing, click here!)
To help shape our legislation and share your experience navigating parenthood in the digital age, please take our survey here. To become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of our Kids Over Clicks package, click here.
MLK Park Lodge Grand Opening Celebration
Last month, so many neighbors and leaders gathered at MLK Park in Grand Rapids to celebrate the grand opening of the new MLK Community Center — a collaborative, community-led project that has been years in the making. This project invests in the health and well-being of our neighbors, youth development and neighborhood stability, and most importantly, our kids and our city’s future. I was proud to champion a big state investment of $6 million in this project back in 2023 — so to see it come to fruition was such a joy. This park was long overdue for a lodge that actually met the community’s needs. For generations to come, this new space will be a safe, beautiful, and welcoming location for so many neighbors.
Boston Square Breaks More Ground — This Time for Housing!
We broke ground on the Amplify GR F3 project on a beautiful, sunny March day last week. The F3 project will bring 45 housing units to Boston Square on Grand Rapids’ southeast side — and people of many income levels will be able to afford them. $1.5 million dollars from the 2024 state budget helped make this project possible — a grant I worked hard to champion because investing in housing, especially for those least able to afford the rising costs of homes, should be a priority for all of Michigan’s leaders. Boston Square is already seeing so much vibrancy with the new community HUB 07, Corewell’s medical clinic, a child care center, and so much more planned. I can’t wait for more families to be able to call this corner of our city home.
Watch Out for Tax Scams This Filing Season
With tax filing season well underway, so too is scam activity. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is urging residents to be on the lookout for tax scams, such as someone claiming to be from the IRS who contacts you by phone, email, text, or social media and may demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or ask for personal or banking information. Please note: the IRS does not contact taxpayers this way to demand payment or request sensitive information. If you receive one of these messages, do not respond or share any information.
Another common scam to be on the watch for involves dishonest tax preparers who promise unusually large refunds, charge fees based on the amount of your refund, or ask you to sign a blank or incomplete tax return. For more information on how to identify tax scams, what to do if you’re a victim, and how to report a scam, visit the IRS website.
“I Voted” Sticker Contest Returns!
The Michigan Dept. of State (MDOS) is now accepting entries from Michigan students and residents for the nationally recognized “I Voted” sticker contest for the upcoming 2026 elections. Those interested in entering the contest must select one category and may submit one design. The three categories are elementary/middle school, high school, and general entry for residents of all ages.
Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026. The official entry form and other guidelines can be found here.
Severe Weather Resources & Tips
In response to recent severe weather across the state, our first responders and officials are working hard to ensure there is a swift delivery of resources to the affected areas. We applaud this effort and our dedicated first responders who have been working tirelessly around the clock. To ensure you’re prepared for future severe weather events, please review the following safety tips:
General Storm Safety Tips:
- Prepare a kit of emergency supplies for your family and pets.
- Create a family emergency plan.
- For college students, create a campus emergency plan.
- For guides and checklists, visit Plan Ahead (michigan.gov).
Tornado Safety Tips:
- Sign up for The Emergency Alert System or your community’s warning system.
- Identify a place to take shelter.
- Look for danger signs, such as a dark or greenish sky, large hail, a dark, low-lying cloud, and a loud roar that sounds like a freight train.
- Ensure all doors and windows are shut.
- Be careful when exiting the building after the storm.
- For more information, visit Tornadoes (michigan.gov).
Thunderstorms & Lightning Safety Tips:
- To prepare, cut down or trim trees that may be in danger of falling on your home.
- Consider purchasing surge protectors or a lightning protection system to protect your home, appliances, and electronic devices.
- When thunder roars, go indoors! Move into a building or car with a roof.
- Avoid running water and using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet.
- Do not drive through flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
- For more information, visit Thunderstorms & Lightning (michigan.gov).
To Report Downed Power Lines:
- DTE: outage.dteenergy.com/report-down-line
- Consumers Energy: consumersenergy.com/outages-and-safety/report-an-issue
Visit the Michigan Prepares website to find a variety of resources on this topic, including guidance on How to Create Your Emergency Plan. You can also stay informed when severe weather strikes by signing up for emergency alerts from your county or city.