Dear neighbor,
June was another incredibly busy month in Lansing and in Senate District 6! We have passed the FY 24 State Budget which funds critical programs for schools, infrastructure, environmental protections, arts & culture, public safety, and more. I am proud of the work we are doing in Lansing to better the lives of residents, and I will never stop fighting for you.
Budget Update
This week, the first state budget crafted by Democratic leadership in 40 years passed the Michigan Legislature with bipartisan support. Historic leadership creates historic change, and I am immensely proud of the equitable approach our caucus took to investing in communities across Michigan that, under prior leadership, were previously left out of the state budget process, leading to long-term disinvestment. We are reinvesting in the communities and Michigan residents that have never received support at this level and who need it most.
As the advocate in Lansing for my community of Senate District 6, I could not be more excited by the level of much needed investment our district will be receiving through this budget, including:
- $4.5 million for the Livonia Senior Center;
- $1 million for Northwest Detroit’s Orchard Village affordable housing;
- $500,000 for Farmington CARES;
- $2 million for Chaldean affordable housing;
- $500,000 for SER Metro;
- $2 million for the Redford Wellness Center;
- $1 million for the North Rosedale Community House;
- $1 million for a Grandmont Rosedale development, including senior housing;
- $3 million to build Farmington Hills’ Emergency Operations Center;
- $240,000 to green space and flood response development in Grandmont-Rosedale;
- $750,000 for Redford Township park improvements;
- $1 million for Farmington’s historic Warner Mansion;
- $750,000 to replace Farmington’s fire truck;
- $2.5 million for the Holocaust Center;
In addition to statewide investments for education, roads, clean water and energy, environmental protections, public safety, and more.
As Chair of the LEO/MEDC Appropriations Subcommittee, I am especially proud of the wide ranging and historic investments we were able to make for Michigan in the LEO budget. From workforce and talent development, expanding Michigan Reconnect, and transformational infrastructure to public safety grants, immigrant supports, and investments in art, culture, and recreation, the budget reflects the level of investment in our communities that our residents deserve from their state government.
With LEO being a point of pride, the entire budget is a testament to what diverse, equitable, lasting, and impactful investment looks like in the state of Michigan. It was an honor to be part of the process of investing where communities need it most. There is no greater honor than serving my district and the people of Michigan in the Legislature, especially at this historic moment for our state. I am looking forward to the continued work my colleagues and I will do in our Majority for the People.
Legislative Updates
Reconnect Expansion
My colleague Sen. Sarah Anthony and I have introduced Senate Bills 406 and 407, which would temporarily expand eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect Program from age 25 to 21. Michigan Reconnect pays tuition costs for eligible students that enroll in an associate’s program or a skilled trade certificate program at their local community college.
More than 70 private training schools with 120 certificate programs that offer certificates in high-demand professions in sectors like manufacturing, construction, information technology, healthcare, or business management are part of the program.
Learn more at Michigan.gov/reconnect.
Bankruptcy Exemptions
I have introduced Senate Bill 409 to help families’ keep their housing, transportation, and other basic needs when they are struggling to pay their debts. This bill increases the value of exemptions to ensure that Michiganders can settle their debts while protecting essential assets.
Bankruptcy exemption limits provide a floor preventing creditors from taking everything, because it is not in the public interest to leave people destitute. Someone who files for bankruptcy can protect the equity in their property up to the limit in various categories; the rest goes to pay their bills.
Language Access
Senator Stephane Chang and I have introduced Senate Bills 382 and 383. These bills ensure that state departments and agencies will take reasonable steps to provide equal language access, which could include a variety of actions such as oral language services and translating vital documents into languages spoken by LEP populations that constitute at least 3 percent of the population in that geographic area or 500 or more people served by that local office.
Crown Act
I was thrilled to support Sen. Anthony’s bill to ban discrimination based on race-based hairstyles. This bill extends civil rights protections to Michiganders based on their hair texture and protective styles such as braids, twists, locks, and knots in school and the workplace.
Governor Whitmer signed the Crown Act into law earlier this month, making Michigan became the 21st state to ensure this protection.
Conversion Therapy
The Senate and House have passed legislation to ban conversion therapy in Michigan. House Bills 4616 and 4617 ban licensed mental health professionals in Michigan from practicing conversion therapy on LGBTQ minors.
These bills are on their way to the Governor for her signature! Once signed, Michigan will be the 22nd state to ban this practice.
Detroit Teacher Collective Bargaining
Senate Bill 359 eliminates the requirement that teachers and school administrators hired after September 1, 2019 have their compensation and additional compensation primarily determined by their job performance. The bill also eliminates the current prohibition on the use of length of service or achievement of an advanced degree as a consideration in determining compensation or additional compensation.
This bill has passed both the House and Senate and will now head to the Governor!
Lead Testing for Children
Senate Bill 31 requires all children to be tested for lead poisoning. Children must be tested at one and two years old, again at four years old if they live in an area with a high lead poisoning risk, and at least once between two and six years old if the child has never been tested.
This bill has passed the Senate and is currently in the House Health Policy Committee awaiting a hearing.
For additional information on lead testing:
Affordable Care Act
Eight bills have been introduced to place the Affordable Care Act into Michigan law. These bills prohibit discrimination based on gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation and prohibit charging a different rate based on race, color, creed, marital status, sex, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, resident, location of risk, disability, or lawful occupation of risk, prohibit the denial of coverage based on a preexisting condition, and many other important pieces of the ACA.
Proposal Two Implementation
Several bills passed the Senate recently which will implement Proposal 2 from 2022, which was overwhelmingly passed by voters.
These bills set up a minimum of nine days of early voting, a one time filing for absentee ballots, prepaid postage for absentee voter applications and ballots, and having at least one absentee ballot drop box for every 15,000 registered voters.
Air Quality Enforcement and Mitigation Fund
Senate Bill 26 creates a new Air Quality Enforcement and Mitigation Fund which collects fines from air pollution and directs 70% of the fine to communities that are disproportionately affected by air pollution.
District Updates
June has been an exciting month in Senate District 6.
We stopped at The Detroit Achievement Academy, Rosedale Park’s June Day, South Redford School Board meeting, Livonia’s First Annual Pride Celebration, the 5th Annual Farmington Juneteenth Event, and the Detroit NAACP MLK Freedom Walk.
WHERE: CARES Food Pantry, 27835 Shiawassee St, Farmington Hills, MI 48336.
Other Important Updates
Historic Commission Project Application Form
New Hotline can direct Detroiters to housing help
If you live in Detroit and have questions about property taxes, home repairs, or evictions, a new hotline has been set up to provide answers!
MI Fire Equipment Grant Application Deadline Approaching
Local units of government are able to apply for a grant to purchase fire equipment for part-time, on-call or volunteer firefighters through the MI Fire Equipment Grant Program. Applications are being accepted through July 10, 2023.
Grant awards may be requested by qualified local governments to reimburse for eligible fire equipment expenses incurred on or after August 1, 2022.
Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted through the State of Michigan’s eSignature Solution by July 10, 2023.
Grant Program Resources:
Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
Take action to avoid a gap in coverage
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), allowing Medicaid members to keep their health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, eligibility renewals will start again in June. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail beginning in May.
- Make sure your contact information is up to date.
- Check mail or text messages for a letter.
- Complete your renewal form (if you get one).
Applications Now Being Accepted for the Fostering Futures Scholarship
Young adults who have experienced foster care on or after their 13th birthday are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
The priority deadline for the Fostering Futures Scholarship application for academic year 2023-24 is August 1, 2023. Eligible students enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university may now apply to receive scholarship funds for tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies.