Dear Neighbor,
What a truly beautiful season it has been to be out and about. Whether to walk the dog, chef up something on the grill, stay up late to catch a glimpse of the recent Northern Lights show, or watch your kid’s sports game, I hope you have been able to get outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and spend time with those near and dear to you.
Both in Lansing and throughout District 3, our team has been keeping busy advocating for key priorities in a balanced budget and making progress on legislative priorities that gets things done for Michiganders. And — as a favorite part of our work — we have been engaging with residents, hearing first-hand what is important to the folks who call this great state home. With this newsletter, I hope to provide an update on the many things we’ve been up to.
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 feel free to reach out to my office. You can email us at senschang@senate.michigan.gov.
Working for you,
Stephanie Chang
State Senator
District 3
Upcoming Events
Community Baby Shower
Bringing new life into this world is a huge milestone and one that we want to help celebrate — and support! If you are a new or expectant parent, we hope you will join us for our annual Community Baby Shower coming up in June. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and other members of the community, we will be offering up all kinds of items free of charge — from diapers to wipes, bottles, and more — to help recognize this exciting time in your life as you care, or are about to care for, a little one. We also will have informational workshops about breastfeeding, safe sleep, healthy eating and other topics! Please spread the word, especially to pregnant people who may be having a tough time paying for all the baby items!
WHEN: Saturday, June 22, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Ernest T. Ford Rec Center, 10 Pitkin St., Highland Park, MI 48203
RSVP to 313-922-6949
Coffee and Conversation
WHEN: Friday, June 14, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Hamtramck Public Library, 2360 Caniff St., Hamtramck, MI 48212
Playgrounds, Policies, and Progress
With the warmer temperatures and sunshine at our door, we are excited to connect with residents in outdoor spaces! Join us at the park and bring your kids in June for these Playgrounds, Policies, and Progress conversations about policies and progress, especially for our children and families. Childcare will be provided.
WHEN: Saturday, June 22, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Shaw Park, 22001 Warner Ave., Warren, MI 48091
WHEN: Friday, June 28, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Dueweke Park, 4975 Sheridan St., Detroit, MI 48214
In Recent News
EPA Awards Michigan With Historic Investment in Solar Energy for Low-Income Residents
Local and state leaders from the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO), City of Detroit, community organizations and state legislators are celebrating a historic $156 million investment in solar energy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the State of Michigan to accelerate the deployment of community and rooftop solar for thousands of low-income households across the state.
The initiative, known as the Michigan Solar for All (MISFA) program, aims to reduce utility costs for families, foster job creation, and strengthen Michigan’s advanced clean energy sector — all while moving the state toward its MI Healthy Climate Plan goals. The program is expected to make a substantial impact by providing low-income households across Michigan with access to affordable renewable energy and by enabling home repairs, reducing their energy bills by up to 20%.
To stay informed with MISFA updates, please sign up via the MI Solar for All Interest Form.
Legislative Updates
Advancing Protections for Judges
Earlier this month, I introduced Senate Bill 871,which establishes the Judicial Protection Act. This legislation was developed to address the deeply concerning uptick in threats against judges by protecting their personal identifying information from disclosure. The ready availability of judges’ personal information on the internet and the ease with which such information can be shared through social media puts judges at unique risk every time they issue a decision that may be controversial or unpopular.
In July 2020, a disgruntled former litigant searched for and found U.S District Court Judge Esther Salas’ personal information on the internet. He then went to Judge Salas’ home posing as a deliveryman, fatally shot her twenty-year-old son, Daniel, and critically wounded her husband. This shocking attack focused congressional attention on a disturbing trend: the uptick in threats and acts of violence targeting judicial officers across the United States.
Congress then passed, and President Biden signed into law, the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act in December 2022. The bill prohibits federal agencies and private businesses from publicly posting personal information of federal judges and their immediate family members and protects such information from resale by data brokers. Unfortunately, no such protection exists today for state-level judges in Michigan. However, this legislation will change that, if it is passed into law. While state-level data on threats to judicial officers is unavailable, the U.S. Marshals Service reported that serious threats to federal judges have more than doubled over the past three years from 224 in FY 2021 to 457 in FY 2023. Judicial officers and their families should not live in fear of being retaliated against for decisions they make in the courtroom.
Senate Democrats Introduce Bills to Codify Capitol Weapons Ban
Earlier this month, Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor) introduced SB 857 and SB 858, respectively, which would codify a weapons ban enacted by the Michigan State Capitol Commision in 2023 and expand it to include the state Senate and House office buildings. This legislation is vital to protecting all visitors to our State Capitol, especially children and school groups, and making sure people aren’t intimidated out of participating in democracy and attending committee hearings and visiting their lawmakers.
The legislation also would maintain an exemption allowing sitting members of the Legislature to carry concealed firearms. I am proud to be a cosponsor for these bills.
Voting Access and Information
I am proud to sponsor Senate Bill 835, which will ensure that the Department of Corrections provides information about voter registration and the different methods of voting to incarcerated individuals before they are released. Michiganders are eligible to vote after release from prison but some are not aware of this right. My bill will ensure that they receive this critical information.
70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education Decision
May 17 marks the 70th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education milestone Supreme Court decision which ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional. While we honor this important victory in our country’s history and the civil rights progress that has been made thus far, let us also recommit to the necessary work ahead to make our systems and communities more equitable and inclusive for all.
Senate Democrats Fight to Expand Access to Mental Health Care
Throughout our state, communities are grappling with the issue of having too little access to mental health support — a crisis particularly affecting young Michiganders and our veterans. That’s why Senate Democrats took action and made critical investments in the 2024 State Budget to address this gap in coverage and ensure all Michigan residents who need assistance can access it. A few highlights of the investments we have made thus far in mental health care include:
- $280 million for certified community behavioral health clinics to expand access to care.
- $328 million in the education budget to address the mental health and safety concerns of students and teachers.
- $1.2 million for suicide prevention programs to help military veterans and their families.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month and as we continue to craft our budget for 2025, my colleagues and I remain committed to ensuring every person in our state can access essential services and programs to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Together, we can break down barriers to care and create a healthier, more resilient Michigan.
Resources
New Water Hardship Program in Oakland County
There is another water assistance program available for residents in Oakland County called the Hardship Assistance Program, which provides temporary relief and support to those struggling to make ends meet. This new program has annual eligibility, can help cover water bills for up to three months and can help Oakland County residents recover from water debt. I was excited to join Oakland County for the exciting announcement about the Hardship Assistance Program a few weeks ago.
Learn more about this program, as well as the Great Lakes Water Authority’s Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) online.
You can also call 844-211-4994, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and press 3 for water assistance or visit unitedwaysem.org/utility-assistance. The United Way of Southeastern Michigan Care Coordinators will assist you in putting you in the program that is right for you.
Storm Resources from EGLE
With the tragic devastation caused by the tornadoes that recently ripped through southwest Michigan, the realities of storm season are fresh on our minds. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) encourages Michiganders to prepare as much as possible for severe storm events prior to them occurring. Here are some resources they recommend starting with:
- The MIReady Webpage provides ample resources to help residents prepare for emergencies like natural disasters, homeland security threats, and power outages.
- The EGLE Storm Recovery Webpage page provides resources that help local officials, emergency responders, recycling and disposal vendors, and residents respond to storm emergencies. It provides details on managing storm debris, how to stay informed during an emergency, and how to get an emergency disposal permit in the aftermath of a storm.
- Local officials, disposal and recycling vendors, and emergency responders are encouraged to use EGLE’s NEW Storm Debris Planning Tool before a storm occurs, to troubleshoot how to remove excess waste during an emergency, preventing a nuance, public health threat, or environmental threat.