Dear Neighbor,
I hope this finds you well. It’s been another busy month in Lansing and across the 12th District, and I am excited to share some recent events with you. I want to thank everyone who took the time to attend or participate in my first Senate town hall last month—making your voice heard is a key part of the democratic process.
As we look towards future events in the district, I’d love to know what topics you’re interested in or questions you’d like to see answered. Please feel free to reach out to my office with your thoughts on this or any legislative topic, or with any questions or challenges you may be facing with state departments. We are here to serve you.
Thank you again for taking the time to read this newsletter, and I hope to see you soon,
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
Stae Senator
District 12
Budget Update: Crafting the state budget is a lengthy, multi-step process that includes multiple points of conversation and negotiation. You can see the typical timeline here. As budget season continues, I am grateful for my colleagues across the Senate for proposing budgets for our state departments that are thoughtful, creative, and reflect the needs of our district and our neighbors across the state. Now that they have passed out of our chamber and the House has passed their version of the budget bills, we enter conference committees. This is where differences between the chambers’ budgets are resolved, and final decisions negotiated. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into our state budget process, you can check out resources from the Senate Fiscal Agency as well as the State Budget Office.
Selfridge: One of the major items I will continue to fight for throughout the conference process is the inclusion of over $11 million dollars for Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the base with Governor Whitmer and members of the Macomb legislative delegation for the groundbreaking on the new hangar. This event was critical for impressing again upon my colleagues the importance of funding and sustaining missions at Selfridge, and I was grateful to be with so many federal, state, and local leaders in support of our home base.
My Legislation: This month, I introduced two pieces of legislation around safety and consumer protection.
- Senate Bill 328 would require that smoke detectors sold in the state have permanent, ten-year batteries or another long-term power source. As someone who lost much of his childhood home in a fire, I believe it is important for families to know they will be alerted immediately if the unthinkable happens.
- Senate Bill 343 is part of a five-bill package to clarify terms and provide protections for Michigan residents regarding Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) coverage and other vehicle protection products. These bills will help ensure that no lender is able to require GAP coverage as a term of sale, and they provide for a 30-day free look period at vehicle protection products. I am grateful to be able to work on this bipartisan package to better inform and protect Michigan residents.
Constituent Corner
Over the holiday weekend, my team had a chance to walk in the St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade, and I was honored to join with residents of Harper Woods for their Memorial Day Ceremony. While this holiday gives us an opportunity to reflect on those who lost their lives in service to our country, it is also an important reminder of our responsibility as public servants to assist current servicemembers in their transition to civilian life.
If you or a loved one are a veteran who is experiencing issues with housing, VA benefits, or support resources, the Michigan Veterans Resource Center is dedicated to serving Michigan’s veterans. Their staff can check in on veterans who are having issues receiving the benefits they are due and help guide them through any challenging state processes. The Michigan Veterans Resource Center line is 1-800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838), or you can use the Check on MIVet form. The trained staff of the Michigan Veteran’s Affairs Agency can begin resolving your case as soon as they have the information from your call or form submission. As always, if you are experiencing delays with this or any other state department, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. We are happy to help expedite the process.
Upcoming Events
The District Office Coffee Hour scheduled for June 16 is cancelled.We will resume on the third Friday of July (7/21/23) from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Coffee and Conversation with Senator Hertel
WHEN: Monday, June 12, from 11 am – 12 pm
WHERE: Mt. Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Ave, Mt Clemens, MI 48043
WHEN: Friday, June 23, from 11 am – 12 pm
WHERE: Clinton-Macomb Public Library, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave, Clinton Township, MI 48035
District Office Hours
In-District Staff Walk-In Hours: Thursdays from 9-5 pm and by appointment.
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9-5 pm and by appointment.
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper St, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081