Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are staying warm in this winter weather. In this update please find information about upcoming events, legislative updates, and a list of warming centers in Senate District 3.
Working for you,
Stephanie Chang
State Senator
District 3
Feature in This Newsletter
- Upcoming Events
- Legislative Update — Laws Taking Effect in 2024
- Community Resources
Upcoming Events
Coffee & Conversation
WHEN: February 9, 2024 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
WHERE: Nandi’s Knowledge Cafe, 71 Oakman Blvd, Highland Park, MI 48203
Water Affordability Townhall
WHEN: Monday, February 12, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Salvation Army, 24140 Mound Rd, Warren, MI 48091
Join State Representative Donavan McKinney and me for a discussion about water affordability in the state of Michigan. Speakers Include:
- Sylvia Orduño, People’s Water Board Coalition.
- Imam Mustapha Elturk, President of the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA)
- Gary Brown, Director of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)
- Elin Betanzo, Safe Water Engineering
Coffee & Conversation
WHEN: Friday, February 23, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Mia’s Bakery and Coffee Shop, 1413 W 14 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Coffee & Conversation
WHEN: March 8, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
WHERE: Tropical Smoothie, 5353 Twelve Mile Road Warren, MI. 48092
Legislative Update — 2024 Laws Going into Effect
After a historic year, there were major pieces of legislation that passed. These are some of the laws taking effect early in 2024:
Working Families Tax Credit
In December 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that more than 700,000 Michigan households were set to receive Working Families Tax Credit checks ahead of schedule, beginning February 13, 2024. The new checks are part of $1 billion in tax cuts signed into law earlier this year that will put an average of $550 back into Michiganders’ pockets.
Please note the Department of Treasury will automatically process checks for Michiganders who submitted their 2022 tax return and confirmed eligibility for the additional state credit. Checks will be mailed on a rolling basis as soon as they are printed. It is estimated to take between five to six weeks to print and distribute all payments.
Eligible Michiganders do not need to submit any additional paperwork to receive the tax credit. However, if an individual has moved frequently or recently and has concerns about their address accuracy, Michiganders can manually update it here.
Restoring Workers’ Rights
Legislation repealing Michigan’s anti-worker law (House Bills 4004 and 4007and Senate Bill 34) — which allowed union workers to opt out of paying union dues and fees — is set to go into effect.
Gun Safety
This year, gun safety-related legislation (Senate Bills 79, 80, 81,82, 83, 471, 472 and 528 and House Bills 4138 and 4142 will take effect, including the following: expansion of background checks, safe gun storage requirements and laws permitting courts to temporarily remove guns from those a judge deems pose an imminent threat to themselves or others, as well as temporarily prohibiting those with domestic violence convictions from possessing and purchasing firearms and ammunition in Michigan.
Reproductive Health Act
The Reproductive Health Act (Senate Bills 474, 476 and 477 and House Bills 4949, 4951, 4953–4956) will remove restrictive regulations for clinics, repeal a state law requiring the purchase of a special insurance rider for private health plans to cover abortion and remove a law banning higher education institutions’ pregnant and parenting services offices from providing referrals for abortion services.
Community Resources
Tax Filing Season
The Michigan Department of Treasury has announced that Monday, Jan. 29, was the official start date of the 2024 tax season when the agency will begin processing individual income tax returns.
Individuals can file their state income tax return online, with a tax professional or by mailing in paper forms and documentation. All state of Michigan income tax returns and payment of any taxes owed must be received by April 15, 2024.
For the convenience of taxpayers, the state’s individual income tax deadline is the same date set by the Internal Revenue Service. To learn more, click here.
Warming Centers In or Near Our District
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries – Mack Warming Center (For families and single women)
- 11037 Mack Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
- 313-331-8990
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries – Third Street Warming Center (For single men)
- 3535 Third Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
- 313-993-6703
Salvation Army Harbor Light System (For women and children only)
- 3737 Humboldt St, Detroit, MI 48208
- 7 days a week from 5p.m. – 8:30a.m.
- 313-556-5555
Butzel Family Center
- 7737 Kercheval St, Detroit, MI 48214
- Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- 313- 628-2100
Covenant House Michigan (For youth between 18-24)
- 959 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208
- 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
- 313-463-2000
Pope Francis Detroit (For adults)
- 438 Saint Antoine St, Detroit, MI 48226
- Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- 313-964-2823
The Main Library
- 5201 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
- Monday and Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- 313-481-1400
Elmwood Park Branch
- 550 Chene St, Detroit, MI 48207
- Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- 313- 481-1730
Douglass Branch for Specialized Services
- 3666 Grand River/Trumbull Detroit, MI 48208
- Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- 313- 481-1700
Senior Plaza
- 2620 Holbrook Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212
- Monday-Sunday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
- 313-873-7878