Dear Neighbor,
February is Black History Month — a time to honor and celebrate the contributions, cultures, and achievements of African Americans to the history of the United States. While it ended yesterday, there are countless ways to recognize and celebrate Black History Month in Michigan — from visiting the Charles H. Wright Museum or the Motown Museum to many others that you can learn about here.
The legislative year is well underway and Senate activity is ramping up. Read on to get your latest legislative updates as well as to learn how you can maximize your tax return ahead of the national filing deadline on April 15, 2025.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistancewith any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7800.
Sincerely,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
District 1
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the 2025 State of the State Address on Wednesday evening, Feb. 26.
- Those impacted by the water main break in Detroit are encouraged to fill out a Notice of Claim as soon as possible at detroitmi.gov/waterdamageclaims.
- With the tax season underway, learn a few quick tips and find resources to help you maximize your return this year. And don’t forget: the filing deadline is Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the 2025 State of the State Address on Wednesdayevening, Feb. 26. In the speech, the governor addressed members of the Legislature, as well as Michiganders across the state, laying out plans for the year ahead to create good-paying jobs, lower costs, invest in our students, and more.
You can watch the address on YouTube here.
Working to Keep More Money in Your Pockets this Tax Season
With rising costs making it harder for families to put food on the table and fill up their gas tank, my colleagues and I have been focused on cutting taxes and lowering costs for everyday Michiganders. Last session, we passed the Lowering MI Costs Plan — the biggest tax relief initiative Michigan has seen in decades. This plan overhauled the unfair retirement tax to help seniors save an average of $1,000 annually and provided the largest tax break for working families in the state’s history, helping them save an average of $3,150.
This tax season marks the second year Michiganders can take advantage of these policies. To learn more about how you can maximize your tax return, click here.
I remain committed to expanding on these efforts to ensure that folks who work hard can make it here in Michigan. This includes ensuring young people have affordable paths to higher education, parents can access child care and PreK, families have the resources they need to put a down payment on a new home, and people who need medication or medical care can access it without breaking the bank.
Detroit Water Main Break
On February 17th there was a major water main break in Southwest Detroit that resulted in major flooding. Important updates to note:
- Notice of Claim: If you were impacted by the water main break and have experienced any real or personal damages you can file a Notice of Claim atdetroitmi.gov/waterdamageclaims. Residents can call 313-774-5261 for assistance with the form.
- Transportation: Impacted residents can call 313-876-0000 to schedule a ride. The scheduling line is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. See the graphic below for additional information.
- Patton Recreation Center: Hours for the recreation center have been updated, and donations are accepted. See the graphic below for details.
Road Closures in Taylor
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is progressing to the next phase of the US-24/I-75 connector bridge project in Taylor. Starting Monday, March 3, 2025, the northbound I-75 connector ramp to northbound US-24 (Telegraph Road) will reopen, while the southbound I-75 connector ramp to southbound US-24 will close for bridge and road repairs.
This phase is expected to continue through late fall. Motorists are advised to followposted detours, anticipate potential delays, and when possible, plan alternate routes. For more information and updates, click here: US-24/I-75 connector and bridge project update: Northbound ramp, lanes reopening; southbound side closing.
Stay Protected and Slam the Scam
With National Slam the Scam Day around the corner (March 6), the Social Security Administration wants to spread awareness about Social Security-related scams and tips on how to stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information. Help protect yourself and your loved ones by:
- Learning about the most recent scams. Signs of a scam include:
- An unexpected problem or offer of a prize or benefit increase,
- Pressure to act immediately, and
- A request for an unusual payment like cryptocurrency, gift cards, gold bars, and wire transfers, potentially along with the promise of keeping your money “safe.”
- Reporting scams as soon as possible. Everyone is vulnerable — victims shouldn’t be embarrassed.
- Sharing their Scam Alert fact sheet and helping inform others on how to protect themselves.
Report Social Security-related scams to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
Tax Tips: Keep More of Your Tax Return
Tax season is here! If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get out your tax documents and file with the state and federal government before Tuesday, April 15, 2025. In addition to saving with the retirement tax repeal and the expanded tax credit for working families, here are a few other quick tips to help you maximize your return this year:
- Avoid scams: For federal returns, the IRS will only initiate contact with you through regular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Make sure you do not share your personal tax information via phone, email, or social media. Learn more here.
- Utilize free resources: Michigan Free Tax Help connects Michiganders with free, high-quality income tax preparation assistance. Visit MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org to find local help.
- Take advantage of available deductions: You can deduct charitable contributions, property taxes, medical expenses and more from your federal 2024 taxes. Visit IRS.gov/credits-deductions for a full list.
Retro License Plates Are Back!
Thanks to outpouring advocacy from Michigan drivers and corresponding legislative efforts by Senate Democrats, additional specialty plates are now available through the Secretary of State to help add a bit of nostalgia to your vehicles.
Under legislation championed by my colleagues and I last session, the blue license plates Michigan used from 1983 until 2007, as well as the black plates issued between 1979 and 1983, are once again available to all Michigan car enthusiasts! They can be purchased for an additional fee, either when buying a vehicle through a dealership or through the Secretary of State online or at an office near you. Learn more here.
And as a bonus, the revenue generated from the retro plates will go to the state’s transportation fund to help repair our roads. This provides drivers with a great opportunity to celebrate our unparalleled car culture while helping fix a few more potholes.
LEO Webinar on Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act & Minimum Wage Law
On Thursday, February 27, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) hosted a webinar to help everyone understand recent changes to Michigan’s wage and earned sick time laws. If you missed the webinar, you can still learn what these updates mean for you by watching the webinar here.