Dear Neighbor,
With August right around the corner, I hope you are continuing to soak in all that summertime in Michigan has to offer — beautiful lakes, scenic parks and trails and abundant, fresh produce for your picnics and cook-outs.
Grab a coffee or cold beverage and read on to learn about the exciting things our team has been working on both in Lansing and District 6.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if I may ever be of assistance to you. You can email us at senmcavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or by calling 517-373-7748.
In service,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6
Featured in This Newsletter
- Upcoming Events
- Important Dates for the August Primary
- Legislative Updates
- District Updates
- Additional Information
Upcoming Events
Coffee and Conversation
WHEN: Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: North Rosedale Park Community House, 18455 Scarsdale St., Detroit, MI 48223
I hope to see you there!
Important Dates for the August Primary
The Michigan State Primary is coming up next week on Tuesday, August 6, where Michiganders will determine which candidates will compete in the general election happening later this year. Voters will lend their support for candidates running for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Michigan House of Representatives, and other local offices. View the full list of candidates here and view your sample ballot here.
Below are important dates to be aware of for the Michigan State primary election.
- AV ballots available for voters June 27
- AV early processing locations
- Early in-person voting period July 27 – Aug. 4
- In-person voter registration required July 23 – Aug. 6
- A primary election will be held on Aug. 6
Find more resources and information about elections and voting in Michigan here.
Legislative Updates
Senate Democrats 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.
Signed into law by Governor Whitmer last week, the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget builds on last year’s transformative budget by continuing to invest in children and families, students and workers, public safety, community development, and more.
Michigan Senate Democrats view 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.
Leading the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on the Departments of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), and Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), I was able to deliver transformational wins to Michigan and Senate District 6, including:
- $2 million for Starfish Family Services in Brightmoor neighborhood
- $1 million for City of Livonia fire equipment
- $1.5 million to Wilson-Clark Detroit Health & Healing Center
- $1.5 million to Zekelman Holocaust Center
- $1 million for Detroit’s Developing KIDS after-school programming
- $3 million for Redford water infrastructure improvements
- $2 million for Detroit Parks infrastructure, accessibility, and programming
- $150,000 to Redford’s Downtown Development Authority
- $200,000 to Farmington Schools tutoring support
- $250,000 to Detroit Police Athletic League
- $2 million for Invest Detroit senior housing
- $2 million for Redford lead service line replacement
- $1 million for Detroit Blight Busters neighborhood block grants
- $100,000 for Kirsten’s Touch foster care transition programming
- $1.5 million to the City of Detroit’s Right to Counsel eviction diversion
- $1.5 million for Detroit Rescue Mission addiction and homelessness prevention
- $5 million for the Wayne Metro Community Action Agency expansion
For more information on the FY 25 state budget, click here.
Back-to-School Budget Signed
Last Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also put her stamp of approval on the K-12 budget for the 2024-25 school year. This budget continues putting Michigan students and educators first and foremost, helping to set our kids up for futures full of success and opportunity.
Last year, our Democratic majority began the popular free breakfast and lunch program for all Michigan public school students — and in this year’s budget, we continued this critical program to ensure that Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students are well-fed and able to focus on learning. More information about the free breakfast and lunch program can be found here.
Our education budget also implements the state’s first-ever “Opportunity Index” equity funding formula that strategically invests more dollars into districts based on their concentration of poverty, prioritizing students and schools with the highest level of need.
We also delivered on the promise of two years of free community college for high school graduates, helping improve access to higher education and better paying jobs. This ensures that every Michigan high school graduate, beginning this year, can obtain an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free, saving over 18,000 students up to $4,820 annually.
Michigan Senate Democrats remain committed to meeting the needs and interests of students, educators, and families in every corner of our state, and we look forward to another school year full of learning, growth, and opportunity for our kids.
Creating an Environment Where Workers and Businesses Can Thrive
Recently, CNBC ranked Michigan as No. 9 on their list of America’s Top States for Business in 2024 list. This marks the third time since the list was launched that Michigan has cracked the top 10. This announcement comes after Michigan’s unemployment rate fell below the national average, remaining at 3.9% for the fourth consecutive month in May. With all this news, the message to workers and businesses is clear: whether you’re looking for a good-paying job or a place to start a successful small business, Michigan is a state where you can thrive.
Since taking office, our Majority for the People has championed legislation to make this reality possible. Here’s just a few of our legislative highlights:
- Expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), benefiting 750,000 Michigan workers and boosting local purchasing power to add an additional $553 million to our economy;
- Rolled back the unfair and unpopular retirement tax, putting an average of $1,000 back in the pockets of 500,000 seniors;
- Expanded the Transformational Brownfield Plan program and made housing development projects eligible to receive tax increment financing (TIF) when transforming obsolete and vacant properties, helping to increase access to affordable housing; and
- Provided additional flexibility to businesses to establish Business Improvement Zones, increasing the tools that business owners have at their disposal to build more vibrant, cohesive community centers.
Additionally, in our 2025 state budget, we secured the resources necessary to build up workers and small businesses throughout our state, including funding to:
- Continue Michigan Reconnect, providing a tuition-free pathway to adult learners 25 and older.
- Expand access to free community college for all students in every part of the state with the Community College Guarantee.
- Support Michigan’s current and future workforce needs and population growth, including specialized economic assistance to businesses locating or expanding in Michigan to meet their talent and workforce needs.
- Uplift Minority-Owned Businesses.
- Establish an Innovation Fund to invest in scalable startups and help launch hundreds of new Michigan-based companies, creating thousands of jobs.
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.
39 Bipartisan Bills Signed into Law
Just last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved 39 bills, delivering on a diverse range of bipartisan priorities. Here are a few notable bills sponsored by members of our Senate Democratic majority that were recently signed into state law:
- Senate Bill 175 (Sen. Sylvia Santana) to improve consumer protections by ensuring fairness and compliance in property tax assessments.
- Senate Bill 328 (Sen. Kevin Hertel) to improve public safety by updating standards for smoke alarms.
- Senate Bill 350 (Sen. Rosemary Bayer) to expand the Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act to provide more financial assistance for student educational needs in underserved communities.
- Senate Bill 398 (Sen. Sean McCann) to equip state agencies with the tools needed to enforce environmental regulations and promptly respond to emergencies.
- Senate Bill 482 (Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet) to reduce waste, save time, and lower costs by modernizing Michigan’s requirements for the disposal of medical sharps containers.
- Senate Bill 571 (Sen. John Cherry) to require prevailing wage on certain renewable energy construction state projects, supporting Michigan workers and bolstering our economy.
- Senate Bill 599 (Sen. Erika Geiss) to allow eligible incarcerated parolees with a terminal illness to be released to an approved placement instead of a medical facility, allowing the Department of Corrections to focus its resources where they are most needed.
District Updates
We participated in numerous community events in July, including the annual Farmington Founders Festival parade, a check presentation to the Livonia Fire Department, and our coffee hour in Livonia. We also provided legislative updates at community clubs and neighborhood organizations, and more!
Enjoying Farmington Founders Festival Parade Festivities
Our team participated in the annual Farmington Founders Festival parade, and it was amazing to see such excitement throughout our community. Farmington, its history, and its residents are worth celebrating!
Celebrating New Funding for the Livonia Fire Department
Last week, I was so proud to present a check for $1 million to the Livonia Fire Department for critical new equipment. Joined by Sen. Dayna Polehanki and Rep. Matt Koleszar, we celebrated this important investment secured in the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget that will bolster some of our bravest community members, help Livonia better respond to emergencies, and save lives.
Connecting with Community in Livonia
We hosted a well-attended Community Coffee and Conversation on Friday, July 19th. I enjoyed updating our community on my legislative goals and what my office is working on in Lansing. Thank you to Anastasia and Katie’s Coffee Shop and Cafe for letting us use your space for this excellent conversation!
Additional Information
Free Summer Meals for Students
It can be a challenge for families to keep food on the table while school is out for the summer. One in six kids in Michigan face food insecurity, and more than 850,000 Michigan children rely on free public school lunches. That’s why organizations and local school districts are working with Meet Up and Eat Up and providing those ages 18 and under with delicious, nutritious meals.
All summer long, children 18 and under can eat healthy, satisfying meals in their own communities at no cost. No application forms required, no registration needed, and no proof of residency asked for — just show up and enjoy a meal! All meals must be eaten at the site. Visit the interactive map for locations near you. You can also text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 to find free meals in your neighborhood.
WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) Program Expands Eligibility Requirements to Serve More Families
Michigan’s WIC program has updated their guidelines to now allow even more families to qualify and receive benefits. Participants can use their WIC EBT card to purchase essential foods like fresh produce, milk, bread, eggs, and infant formula at select stores. Find out if you’re eligible and how to access benefits here.
Find the Help You Need with Michigan 2-1-1
Michigan 2-1-1 is an all-in-one resource for Michiganders. Call 2-1-1 or go to their website to find information and resources pertaining to utility assistance, housing programs, food assistance, HIV/STI services, COVID-19, home visiting, grief and bereavement resources and services and much more. The 2-1-1 line is open 24/7 and offers help in over 180 languages. You can also use this link to find your local number to text.