Dear Neighbor,
With spring now well underway, I hope you get an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather and brighter blue skies. Also, May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month — an important time to celebrate the contributions and cultural heritage of AAPIs across our state. Michigan has so much to offer in the springtime, from celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at the DIA, to enjoying a Tigers game at Comerica Park, to world-class freshwater coastlines, rivers, and lakes perfect for fishing, boating, or kayaking.
Both at the Capitol and throughout our communities, our team has stayed busy crafting a balanced state budget, making progress on legislative priorities, and connecting with residents.
As always, if you need assistance of any sort, or have any questions or concerns you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can reach me and my team by emailing SenSChang@senate.michigan.gov or calling 313-922-6949.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Chang
State Senator
District 3
- Michigan Senate Democrats recently passed our 2027 budget proposal, which works to lower costs, protect residents from harmful federal decisions, support our public schools, and grow an economy that works for everyone. Learn more below.
- Join me and Hazel Park City Councilmember Alissa Sullivann for our Women’s Roundtable: Create & Converse event on Sunday, May 17 in Hazel Park. Find more details below.
- Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the loving, caring women who hold our families and communities together! Read on to learn how Senate Democrats are honoring Mother’s Day with action and support.
Michigan Senate Passes 2027 Budget
The Senate recently voted to advance a future-facing, people-focused plan for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. With the costs of gas, groceries, utilities, and other essentials on the rise, Senate Dems’ 2027 state budget proposal works to make life more affordable for Michigan residents by:
- Continuing to invest in programs that work, including the widely popular free school meals program, tax credits for working families, and Rx Kids to support more moms and babies.
- Ensuring transparency and fair pricing for Michigan consumers, taking steps to address the high costs of everyday essentials like car insurance, prescription medications, and the ever-increasing rate of utilities.
- Investing in our workers and local economies by increasing wages for direct care workers, boosting benefits for corrections officers, establishing a new payment fund for child care providers, securing resources for small business development, and strengthening scholarships to help Michiganders get the education they need to land the career they want.
In the face of economic uncertainty, rising costs, and federal funding gaps, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I have put forward high-impact, targeted investments, reflecting our commitment to delivering real solutions for the people of Michigan. I am pleased that the Senate passed budget includes $10 million for water affordability — an issue I have championed for many years and that continues to impact many Michiganders. These proposals now head to the House for further consideration. Read more here.
Michigan Senate Advances Record Education Budget
While Washington Republicans have proposed multi-billion dollar cuts to education for the coming school year, Michigan Senate Democrats are stepping up and prioritizing Michigan students and teachers over tax cuts for the wealthy. The Senate recently voted to advance a record education proposal that continues building on our efforts to ensure all those in the classroom have the support they deserve.
The Senate Democrats’ proposal includes a per-pupil increase for a total of $10,300. This investment is paired with a new weighted funding formula that would provide more predictable school funding for years to come, giving districts the ability to make strategic, long-term plans to support student success. Also included are resources to provide free school breakfast and lunch for all students, bolster school safety and mental health efforts, and ensure every child can become a confident, capable reader.
The education budget passed the full Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Michigan Senate Passes Package to Put Kids Over Clicks
As we rapidly accelerate into the age of digital and AI advancements, our youth are bearing the brunt of the harmful consequences of Big Tech’s exploitive algorithms. That’s why I teamed with Sens. Hertel, Camilleri, and Polehanki to introduce this legislation that would implement stronger safety measures to prevent social media companies and AI platforms from targeting and exploiting minors.
The Senate passed this package in full, sending it to the House for their consideration. While we wait for them to schedule a vote, I encourage you to take our survey and let me know your thoughts on how social media is impacting our youngest generation — your input can help shape what the final package looks like to ensure we meet the needs of Michigan families.
Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with Action
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness, reduce stigma, and promote compassion for those struggling with their mental health. My Senate colleagues and I have worked hard to address the mental health crisis here in Michigan by:
- Expanding access to mental health care coverage – Senate Bill 27, now signed into law, requires insurance companies to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders at the same level as physical health services.
- Preventing suicide through commonsense gun safety legislation – Firearms account for over half of all suicide deaths, and 90% of suicide attempts with firearms are successful. That’s why my colleagues and I passed an 11-bill gun violence prevention package in 2023, including a “red flag” law that helps temporarily remove firearms from the homes of people who pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. In the first year since this law took effect, 30% of the Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) filed mentioned threats of self-harm or suicide.
- Supporting crisis response – A few years ago, I was proud to work across the aisle with Sen. Outman on bipartisan legislation that would create a community crisis response and behavioral health jail diversion grant program to support more local community mental health and law enforcement collaboration. The goal of this grant program is to support more behavioral health professionals responding to behavioral health crises, in place of or in tandem with law enforcement.
- Banning conversion therapy for minors – The practice by mental health professionals attempting to change someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation has long been discredited, as it has been consistently linked with negative mental health outcomes and greater risk of suicide. Michigan became the 22nd state to ban conversion therapy when the legislation to eliminate this harmful practice was signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2023.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline for compassionate care and accessible support, available via call, chat, or text. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the DIA
This May, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) and the Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures (FAAC) are celebrating AAPI Heritage Month! Upcoming programs are the AAPI Celebration Show, AAPI Cultural Display and Demonstrations, and the Indian Cultural Journey, all showcasing cultural heritage, creativity, and connection. I am looking forward to these events and hope to see you there! Read on for more event details.
These events and AAPI displays are free with general admission to the museum. Visiting the DIA is always free to residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties — just be ready to present your ID!
AAPI Celebration Show
Experience a cultural mosaic of performances from China, Vietnam, India, and beyond! Join the DIA and the FAAC in celebrating AAPI Month at their annual Celebration Show. Performances from community groups and professional artists will highlight diverse cultures through traditional and contemporary dance and music.
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit Film Theatre), 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Artist Show – AAPI Cultural Displays and Demonstrations
In conjunction with the Celebration Show, meet local Asian American visual artists, view their work, and explore their creative process. This display highlights the ways cultural heritage and tradition influence visual art across a variety of media. There will also be guest speakers and docent-led tours of the Asian Galleries available.
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Detroit Institute of Arts (Great Hall), 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Indian Cultural Journey
Experience a blend of Indian cultural traditions through music, dance, storytelling, and interactive art. This showcase includes colorful Rangoli displays, intricate henna artistry, and more. Guests are encouraged to wear traditional attire.
WHEN: Saturday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Detroit Institute of Arts (Rivera Court), 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Supporting Michigan Moms on Mother’s Day & Beyond
Happy Mother’s Day to Michigan’s hardworking moms, grandmothers, and all who serve as loving maternal figures across the state. Moms hold our families and entire communities together with patience, resilience, and care — and they deserve to have that same support poured back into them. Senate Democrats are investing in the health, well-being, and economic security of Michigan moms by:
- Expanding Rx Kids to communities all over the state, providing expectant and new moms with no-strings-attached cash assistance to reduce poverty, tackle food insecurity, and improve maternal and infant health. Check if Rx Kids is available in your community here;
- Passing our Momnibus bill package to improve integrity and accountability in Michigan’s maternal health care system. I am proud to be part of this important legislation to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and to protect lactating mothers from discrimination;
- Championing legislation to address the child care crisis from both the supply and demand sides;
- Tackling the gender wage gap by passing legislation to ban employers from requiring applicants to disclose their past pay or credit history, practices that disproportionately harm women and people of color;
- Quintupling the state’s match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to help working moms and families save an average of $890 every year; and
- Introducing legislation to require private insurers to cover fertility treatments like invitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) to support more women in achieving their dreams of starting a family.
Flood Damage Support and Resources
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods are the most common, and most costly, natural disaster. If you or someone you know is facing extensive flood damage following last month’s severe storms, tornado conditions, and record flooding across the state, the Michigan Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) has a slate of resources to assist those navigating filing insurance claims.
Stay Up to Date with Spring Construction
As road work starts to pick back up across the state, the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) encourages drivers to remain vigilant, minimize distractions, slow down, and follow posted signage in work zones. For more information on work zone safety, click here.
To view an online map of ongoing road projects near you that may impact your commute, click here.