Dear Neighbor,
As April showers subside and May flowers bloom, spring is now well underway! I hope you get an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather and brighter blue skies. Michigan has so much to offer in the springtime — from the annual Holland Tulip Time Festival and America’s national pastime at Comerica Park to world-class freshwater coastlines, rivers, and lakes perfect for fishing, boating, or kayaking.
Both in Lansing and throughout District 1, our team has been working with colleagues to craft a balanced state budget, making progress on legislative priorities, and connecting with constituents. I’m energized to continue delivering results for our community and entire state.
As always, if you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or need assistance with state services, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can reach me and my team by emailing SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or calling 517-373-7800.
Sincerely,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
District 1
- Michigan Senate Democrats passed our 2027 budget proposal last week, 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.
- Happy 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.
- On Saturday, May 23, the Detroit Tigers and the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters (NMRCC) are teaming up to host a Carpenters Combine at Comerica Park. Find more details below.
Michigan Senate Passes 2027 Budget
Last week, the Senate voted to advance a future-facing 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 seeks 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.
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, Senate Democrats are stepping up and prioritizing Michigan students and teachers over tax cuts for the wealthy. Last week, the Senate voted to advance a record education proposal that continues building our efforts to ensure all those in the classroom have the support they deserve.
For the fourth consecutive year, Senate Dems’ 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 last week 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 Senate Democrats championed legislation that would implement stronger safety measures to prevent social media companies and AI platforms from targeting and exploiting minors.
Last week, 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 us 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 whether that struggle is temporary or long term. 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 we 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.
- 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.
May Events at the Melvindale Public Library
Join the staff and community members at Melvindale Public Library during the month of May! From book club to family game night, there are events the whole family can enjoy. See the calendar below for additional details.
Carpenters Combine
On Saturday, May 23, the Detroit Tigers and the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters (NMRCC) are teaming up to host a Carpenters Combine at Comerica Park — connecting job seekers with real career opportunities in the skilled trades.
Participants can showcase their abilities on a 10-station skills course while meeting contractors who are actively hiring, including contractors looking to hire on sight for well-paying union construction careers. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public.
See additional details in the graphic below.
Rise N Shine Summer Camp
Join Alternatives for Girls for their Rise N Shine Summer Camp filled with academic enrichment, adventure, creativity, and STEAM exploration. The camp is taking place from June 22 through August 7. See the graphic below for additional details.
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. The package has been sitting in the House for a year. We urge you to contact the House Health Policy Committee to urge a hearing and a vote;
- 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; and
- 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.
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.