Hello Neighbor,
As we enter the month of June and look forward to the summer season, I hope you are able to spend time outside in the sun with family and friends. Whether you enjoy gardening, barbequing, swimming, or taking a stroll around a local park — there are many different ways to enjoy all our state has to offer this time of year.
We’re continuing to work on the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget, and as Chairman of the Senate Pre-K-12 Budget, my top priority right now is delivering another education budget that prioritizes our students, teachers, and schools
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 do not hesitate to contact us or call my office at 517-373-7918 if you are in need of help.
In Solidarity,
Darrin Camilleri
State Senator
District 4
Featured in This Newsletter
- Pride Month & Gun Violence Awareness
- Legislative Updates
Creating a Welcoming, Inclusive State for All During Pride Month
Michigan Senate Democrats are committed to cultivating true inclusion and belonging in Michigan — not only during the month of June, but every day year-round. Since taking office, our Majority for the People has worked to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), reaffirming and expanding legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community. This effort has been 50 years in the making and will protect our LGBTQ+ family, friends, coworkers and neighbors against discrimination in employment, public accommodations and public services. It also will provide protection in educational facilities, housing and real estate.
In addition to passing a resolution recognizing June as Pride Month, the Michigan Senate has passed bills — including Senate Bills 348 and 349— to ban the harmful practice of conversion therapy by mental health professionals seeking to change the gender identity or sexual orientation of minors.
These legislative efforts are a big step forward for Michigan, but certainly not the last. Our caucus remains committed to putting forth legislation that will further advance our shared mission of equity and inclusion.
Building Safe Communities: Senate Democrats Recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Month
To draw attention to the issue of gun violence and advocate for life-saving policies, the Michigan Senate recently passed a resolution recognizing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. Gun violence is a public health crisis that plagues communities across our state, leaving an irrevocable mark on mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends, and neighbors. Since 2012, we’ve seen the rate of gun deaths in Michigan increase by 25%, and firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens. For all these reasons, there has never been a more important time for lawmakers to act on commonsense policies that are proven to make our communities safer.
After assuming the Majority, my colleagues and I delivered a slate of gun violence prevention legislation that Michigan residents have waited years for. This legislation closes dangerous loopholes to strengthen background checks, requires the secure storage of firearms, disarms individuals convicted of domestic violence and allows for the temporary removal of firearms from people who pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
As we work to build safe communities for all Michiganders to enjoy, I remain committed to championing evidence-based solutions to this public health crisis.
Budget Update
This week, my Michigan Senate Colleagues and I voted to send budget bills for the 2025 fiscal year to conference committee to begin working with our colleagues in the State House of Representatives on moving toward a final budget. I remain committed delivering an education budget that benefits all of our students, teachers, and schools. There are still many hours of negotiations ahead of us with both the Governor’s team and the House of Representatives, but I’m confident that we are moving towards an education budget that builds on the historic investments we made last year and puts our students and educators in an even better position to succeed.
In our Senate budget recommendation this year, some highlights include:
- A 3.1% increase in foundation allowance, which would bring funding to a historic $9,910 per student
- More than $122 million in additional funding for our at-risk students, ensuring that the students who need the most help get more support
- Doubling the funding for English Language Learners across our state
- $75 million to continue our revolutionary student loan stipend program for teachers
- Expanding GSRP eligibility so that any family of four making $120,000 per year or less would be able to receive no-cost preschool for 4-year-old students
Working to Deliver Innovative “Building up Michigan” State Budget
Last year marked a significant milestone for Michigan Democrats as we capitalized on their first trifecta in 40 years to spearhead a transformative budget — directing vital resources into historically neglected sectors like infrastructure, education, and local communities. This comprehensive budget, encompassing various offices, departments, initiatives, projects, and programs, follows an annual funding cycle, necessitating the State Legislature to craft a new budget each year.
Crafting this state budget is a collaborative effort involving negotiations between both legislative branches and the governor, resulting in a new state budget being signed into law each year to distribute funding to residents, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and more.
Currently, we’re in an exciting moment with our budget process, continuing the transformative investments of the previous year and taking an innovative approach to addressing the needs of all Michiganders. Highlights of our “Building Up Michigan” budget proposal include record school funding, increased access to community college for students, significant funding for local communities and efforts to lower costs for state residents.
As we work to deliver a final budget by the end of June, I encourage you to learn more about the process and the investments we’re looking to make to support communities across Michigan — read more here.
Governor Signs Bill Providing Special Education Teachers Avenue to Stay in Classroom While Pursuing New Certification, Education
This week, Gov. Whitmer signed my bill, SB 518, which extends the sunset that allows working teachers to teach special education when they are enrolled in a special-education certification program. With our state facing a shortage of special education teachers, this legislation provides an alternative route pathway and provides an economic and expedient option for working teachers and individuals with bachelor’s degrees wishing to enter the teaching profession to earn an additional endorsement and expand their teaching capacity. It keeps special education teachers in the classroom where their students need them most, while also advancing their own careers. I am happy to see this commonsense bill signed into law.