Dear Neighbor,
Happy 2023! I hope you and your loved ones had a safe and happy holiday season—I know I enjoyed getting to spend some time with family and winding down from the year before taking on my new role in the Michigan State Senate.
My first month in office has been full of exciting opportunities for our district that are highlighted throughout this newsletter. I am proud to have introduced the very first bill of this legislative term, Senate Bill 1. Last week, it was an honor to pass this bill out of the State Senate. Passing this bill on the same day as the Working Families Tax Credit helps keep a promise I made before I began my first term in public office: I will always work toward policy that makes a difference in people’s lives.
In these newsletters, you can expect to receive information on legislation I’ve introduced, updates from the committees I serve on, and information you may find interesting or helpful about the district and other state programming. These e-newsletters are also the best way to find out where and when my coffee hours for the month will be. I am looking forward to meeting many of you in person through these informal conversations, and I stand ready to help with any issues you may be having with a state department in the meantime. If you ever have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov or via phone at 517-373-7315.
I hope you have a wonderful year, and I look forward to working together for our lakeshore district.
Sincerely,
Kevin
Policy and Priorities
I am proud to have introduced the very first bill of this legislative term, Senate Bill 1. Seniors who worked their entire lives on the promise of a set amount of money for retirement should not be subjected to policies that lower their limited incomes. This legislation, which holds the School Aid Fund harmless, will offer seniors immediate relief and give people the option to use the current deduction if it is more beneficial for them. It is currently estimated that this will save retirees an average of $1,000 per year, and it keeps the promise our state should have kept all along to protect seniors’ incomes.
Not only did we introduce this bill, the governor shared it as a priority during her State of the State Address—and this past Thursday, the bill passed the Senate on a 23-15 vote. It is an honor to be part of a legislature that immediately got to work on addressing real needs in our community.
While this is my first bill introduced and passed, it will certainly not be my only one. I am looking forward to focusing on the following topics with my legislation this year: Health, Environment, Education, Armed Forces and Veterans, Labor, and Seniors—HEEALS, for short.
If you have any ideas for legislation within these topics, or beyond them, please join me for a coffee hour or send us a message at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. I hope to hear from you soon!
Committees
In the 102nd Legislature, I will be serving on the following committees:
-
- Health Policy (Chair) I served on the Health Policy Committee during my first term in the House, and I am excited to return to this committee in the Senate. As Chair of the committee, I look forward to taking up meaningful legislation to improve access to care and increase opportunities for mental health support across the state.
- Veterans and Emergency Services (Vice Chair) Those who put their lives on the line, whether at home or abroad, deserve our support. Being home to Selfridge Air Force Base, it is vital that our home district is represented on this committee.
- Energy and Environment I have long been committed to policy that helps build a greener Michigan. Serving on this committee will give me the opportunity to work on these policies along with my Senate colleagues. We have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure Michigan has a healthy, sustainable future, but I believe we are up to the challenge.
- Regulatory Affairs Regulatory Reform, the name previously used for this committee, was one of my favorite committees to serve on in the House. I look forward to continuing this work in the Senate along with my colleagues.
- Transportation and Infrastructure If you’ve ever spoken with me about policy, you’ve probably heard me get on a soapbox about how our road funding has been broken for years, negatively impacting metro Detroit and other highly populated areas of the state. Serving on Transportation and Infrastructure will allow me to work on legislation to meaningfully change this.
- Appropriations This is the committee that I will have the most to learn on. In the House, you typically serve either on policy or appropriations (sub-)committees, but in the Senate, I’ll have a chance to do both! I am looking forward to working on a budget that will bring meaningful change for families in the state. I am also happy to announce that I will serve on the following Appropriations subcommittees: Military, Veterans, and State Police (Chair), Transportation (Vice Chair), and Pre-K-12 Appropriations.
Capital Updates
This section of my e-news will be dedicated to sharing other interesting or relevant things from Lansing that impact our community.
-
- This month, we passed a budget supplemental allocating $500,000 to the Chesterfield Township Veterans Home. I am excited to see that our state is using our strong fiscal outlook to invest in those who have given so much to our nation.
Coffee Hours
Please join me for coffee and conversation this month.
-
- Friday, February 17, 11am-12pm at our new District Office, 28800 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI 48081