Dear Neighbor,
In the past two weeks, I have testified in four Senate committees on bills I introduced to protect voting rights, the wrongfully incarcerated, cancer patients, and youth in the justice system.
Read on to learn all about this work, and ongoing efforts to make life more affordable for Michiganders. From combatting rising utility bills and helping families put food on the table to cracking down on scams and protecting the services you need, we’re focused on giving you the real, immediate relief you deserve.
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
- In the past two weeks, I have had the opportunity to testify in four Senate committees on bills I introduced that protect voting rights, the wrongfully incarcerated, cancer patients, and youth in the justice system.
- Join me for my upcoming coffee and conversation event on Monday, June 8 at 2:30 p.m. in Detroit. Find more details below.
- As we recognize Memorial Day, I remain committed to delivering support for our service members, including resources to bolster mental health access, address veteran homelessness, and more. Read more about this work below.
Advocating for the Wrongfully Incarcerated
This week, I testified in the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety about Senate Bill 909, my bill to make needed updates to the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act (WICA). Michigan has the fifth most exonerations in the country, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. Exonerees must rebuild their lives — and it is challenging to find housing, a job, and resources with the trauma from not just incarceration, but from being wrongfully convicted. But as people have applied for and been granted relief under WICA, some gaps in the original law have occurred. The Michigan Supreme Court has twice noted that compensation was denied to exonerees whose new evidence was presented but was not the reason the court used to vacate the conviction.
My bill would allow for evidentiary standards to match those in most other states, allow for an exoneree’s representative in a trust or conservator to proceed should the exoneree be unable, and add those who complete the strenuous gubernatorial pardon process to apply. This legislation would also make changes to the way the award is structured and allows for attorneys for exonerees to be paid from the WICA fund and not diminish the exonerees award.
Fighting for Those Receiving Prescription Co-Pay Assistance
I am proud to sponsor Senate Bill 914, which would help more Michiganders who need costly medications be able to afford them by “making all copays count.” Many Michiganders, including cancer patients, receive prescription drug assistance from pharmaceutical companies. This prescription assistance often comes in the form of a “copay card” that the patient can use to pay the patient portion of the drug’s total cost. These patients are our friends, neighbors, and co-workers battling cancer, arthritis, blood disorders, multiple sclerosis, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases or chronic illnesses. Families struggle to pay for necessary drugs and rely on copay assistance programs to afford the prescription drugs that insurance companies approve of before patients gain access to copay assistance.
These “copay cards,” or coupons, reduce out-of-pocket costs and provide sizeable cost savings to patients on critical, lifesaving, and very expensive medications. Traditionally, when you use a copay card, the manufacturer’s payments/assistance are counted toward your individual deductible. These cards can help you reach your deductible quickly, saving you real money both in the short term and in the long term.
However, since 2016, an insurance trend known as “accumulator adjustment,” or “copay maximizer program,” has been impacting copay assistance programs. If your insurance plan has a copay accumulator, the manufacturer’s assistance is no longer applied toward your deductible or out of pocket maximums. So, when the value of the card runs out, you become fully responsible for the cost and your deductible. In other words, rather than the discount for the drug that the manufacturer intended, the copay assistance simply becomes a delay on a full payment, which is not the help that cancer patients and others need in the long run. Unfortunately, many individuals are not aware of this until they go to re-fill their medication and realize they owe the full cost since the copay assistance did not count towards their deductible, resulting in patients sometimes abandoning or delaying their treatment. In 27 states and territories, this practice is not allowed — and I will continue to push to make Michigan the next state to change this.
Bipartisan Mobile Home Bill Package Passes Senate
Last week, the Senate passed the most comprehensive update to the state’s mobile home laws in nearly four decades, helping preserve affordable housing options for working families, seniors, and retirees.
Senate Bills 934–939 would strengthen enforcement against bad actors, level the playing field for responsible park operators, expand protections for residents, and create new pathways for residents to purchase and preserve the communities they call home.
Michigan is home to roughly 1,100 licensed manufactured housing communities and nearly 250,000 manufactured homes, a significant number which are under the control of private equity firms and hedge funds. The legal framework regulating these communities has not been meaningly updated since 1987, resulting in a growing pattern of unlicensed operations, deteriorating infrastructure, sudden park closures, and water service shutoffs that have left Michigan families with little recourse — while putting responsible park owners at a competitive disadvantage against operators who simply ignore the law.
This bill package would secure much-needed protections and support for tenants, including a modernized eviction process, the right of first negotiation, and financing and tax credit tools that make resident ownership achievable. Learn more about this legislation here.
Making Life More Affordable for Michiganders
From the gas pump and grocery store to your ever-increasing utility bills — it feels harder and harder to catch a break these days. The affordability crisis facing our state isn’t just top of mind for my Senate Democratic colleagues and me — it’s at the top of our priority list.
Unveiled in recent weeks, our A Michigan You Can Afford agenda aims to deliver the financial relief Michiganders like you need and deserve by working to lower household costs, tackle auto insurance rates, combat rising energy bills, and take on the high costs of healthcare. This comprehensive approach, fully outlined here, includes:
- Cutting auto insurance rates by 10%.
- Putting a stop to constant and excessive utility rate increases.
- Ensuring that every household gets a water bill they can afford.
- Making free breakfast and lunch permanent for every school kid.
- Banning private equity firms from buying up housing, ensuring Michigan homes go to Michigan families.
- Capping interest and late fees on medical debt and banning it from appearing on credit reports.
- Giving families a tax break on back-to-school supplies.
Alongside our 2027 state budget proposal we recently passed, Senate Dems are working around the clock to lower costs for you and your loved ones, helping you to breathe a little easier and have more peace of mind. Read more here.
Michigan Senate Acts Unanimously to Strengthen Communities Statewide
Clean drinking water. Safe roads. Responsive police and fire crews. Reliable trash service. While often overlooked, these are the essential services provided by cities, counties, and other local units of government that you count on for your day-to-day needs. But as the state revenue that flows into these communities fluctuates from year to year, so too does the quality and consistency of these services.
That’s why, just last month, every single Michigan Senator voted to address this issue, passing long-awaited legislation to establish a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund. This new fund would be a gamechanger for Michigan cities, villages, townships, and counties, ensuring a sustainable source of revenue for local governments to better plan and provide quality resources and services for their residents. I was proud to vote “yes” on this bill and deliver the solutions that communities statewide have been asking for. Learn more here.
Community Conversation
WHEN: Monday, June 8, from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: East Village new development Model House, 1482 Fischer St., Detroit, 48214
Community Conversation with State Rep. Mike McFall
WHEN: Monday, June 22, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Corktown Health, 24310 John R. Rd., Hazel Park, MI 48030
Community Baby Shower
WHEN: Saturday, June 27, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Lasky Recreation Center, 13200 Fenelon St., Detroit, MI 48212
2026 Southeast Michigan Job Fair
WHEN: Thursday, August 13, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Oakland Center, 312 Meadow Brook Rd., Rochester, MI 48309
This regional job fair is designed to connect residents across Southeast Michigan with strong employment opportunities and valuable workforce resources.
United Way Summer Discovery Program for Youth
The United Way for Southeast Michigan is now enrolling students for their program, Summer Discovery. This program is designed for students to explore their interests, engage in their communities, and discover their potential through robust enrichment and academic programming. This summer learning program is free for families and provides fun learning experiences to support the whole child in their educational journey and life beyond the classroom.
For more information and to reserve a spot for a student in your life, visit the United Way website here.
The United Way for Southeast Michigan provides many services and assistance to residence of all ages and needs. Visit their website for more information.
Honoring Memorial Day with Support for Michigan Veterans & Their Families
Last Thursday, the Senate hosted our annual Memorial Day ceremony to recognize the brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom and democracy. Thank you to my special guest, Duane Daniels, who joined me on the Senate floor for this ceremony.
While we only host this special service once a year, I’m focused every day on delivering results for Michigan’s active servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Through targeted legislation and budget investments, we’ve made it a top priority to build up support by:
- Lowering costs for families of disabled veterans by cutting red tape and ensuring spouses can maintain property tax exemptions;
- Protecting the homes of active-duty military members by reducing the likelihood of their properties going unclaimed and reverting to state ownership while they are serving our country;
- Expanding tuition assistance eligibility for spouses and dependents of National Guard members, helping more military families access higher education;
- Creating a special registration plate for women veterans, raising recognition of their contributions to our nation; and
- Investing in veteran mental health services, Michigan’s three veteran homes, grants for nonprofits who provide housing for homeless veterans and their families, and suicide prevention programs for those who have served.
The Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus is changing — in a good way! Earlier this month, the state’s 35th Senate District — which includes the Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland communities — held a special election to fill the vacant seat formerly held by now U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald-Rivet. The voters’ choice? The newly sworn in Sen. Chedrick Greene, a Saginaw native, U.S. Marine veteran, and now-retired fire captain.
Sen. Greene’s record speaks for itself. A proud champion for working families, a heart for service, and a public safety mindset — all things that help Senate Dems continue advancing meaningful legislation and a people-centered budget across the finish line. I couldn’t be more thrilled with this choice, which not only strengthens our Senate Democratic majority, but will also bring valuable perspective to the chamber as we work on delivering solutions for the people of Michigan. Congrats, Sen. Greene, and welcome to the Michigan Legislature!