State Budget Update

Dear neighbor, 

It’s been a busy but exciting few weeks in Lansing, with major progress being made in the state budget process! I wanted to give you an update on everything the Michigan Legislature has been working on! 

So far, all Appropriations subcommittees have finalized and reported out their respective budgets, voted them out of full Appropriations committee, and have sent them to the Senate floor for a vote this week!  

But there’s still a long way to go—once the budget is passed by the Senate, we will work with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to finalize it before sending it to the Governor for her signature.  

As the Chair of the LEO, LARA and DIFS subcommittees, as well as a member of the DHHS, PreK-12 and full Appropriations Committee, I have been deeply involved in crafting each budget and am extremely proud of the work Senate Democrats have done so far.  

We are working hard to fund the priorities across Michigan that bring the greatest benefit to our communities and set our state up for success for years to come.  

Highlights of the budget are below! 

Labor and Economic Development (Chair) 

• Investments in economic development that prioritize our workers, communities, environment, small businesses and more!  
• Increased funding for MI Reconnect, a program that increases access to affordable education. 
• Investment in adult literacy programs that provide learning opportunities, from high school equivalency, digital literacy, and obtaining a driver’s license to financial literacy and ESL supports.  
• Increased investment in the Tri-Share Program, a collaboration that leverages both state and business funds to help make childcare affordable for working families.  
• Creation of the Michigan Partnership Initiative grant program, creating opportunities for transformational investments addressing talent attraction, arts/culture initiatives, infrastructure, housing access, small businesses, and non-profit development. 
• Infrastructure Grants to help fund public infrastructure needs. 
• Grants for small business, startup and microbusiness enterprise resiliency and supports 
• Creation of the New Michigander Fund, providing support programs that assist immigrants, refugees, and migrants with legal services, housing and community outreach initiatives. 
• Funding for our firefighters for health screenings and equipment purchases. 

PreK-12 (member) 

• The highest ever per-pupil foundation allowance at $9700, an increase of 6% with a weighted formula for those schools in greatest needs. 
• Free school breakfast and lunches for public school students. 
• Creation of MI Kids Back on Track, which will provide funding for tutoring and intervention for at-risk students.  
• Healthy school grants to address immediate health and safety infrastructure needs in our schools. 
• Funding for universal Pre-K across the state with expansion of the Great Start Readiness Program to 5-days a week and full day opportunities  
• Investments in school mental health and safety initiatives 
• Funding for MI After School Partnership Program supporting access to before-and-after school programs and summer learning opportunities for students. 
• Retention and retainment programs for our teachers including student loan forgiveness. 
• 100% reimbursement rate for our special needs students  

Department of Health and Human Services (member)

• Wage increases for direct care workers. 
• Expansion of coverage for the Children’s Special Health Care program.  
• Increase in funding for the food banks to provide additional fresh food to low-income residents.  
• Supports for our first responder mental health and safety. 
• Permanent supportive housing program to help currently homeless individuals and those who need additional services.  
• Investments in recovery programs to help those with Substance Use Disorder.  
• Expansion of Medicaid access and equitability. 
• Investments for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program from Medicaid expansion, prenatal supports, strengthens hospital maternal health, and more pregnancy initiatives.  
• Childcare, juvenile, and child welfare investments.  
• Funding for our local health programs, poverty supports, prevention programs, non-profits, and so much more!  

Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (Chair) 

• Increased access to licensed childcare centers. 
• Increased support for court appointed attorneys.  
• Creation of a state-owned cannabis testing facility. 
• Investments for childcare licensing background checks. 

Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6