Dear Neighbor,
It’s been another busy few weeks up in Lansing! In addition to the Senate moving legislation through the committee process, Gov. Whitmer’s pen has been hard at work signing over a dozen bills into law, including my legislation that will help us build a home health care system where caregivers are empowered and have the resources necessary to deliver the highest quality of care to those who need it.
You’ll also notice our newsletter has a slightly new look. As our team works to keep you up to date on the latest news from the Capitol and our lakeshore district, please don’t hesitate to let us know what information you find most valuable.
And as always, please feel free to reach out to my office to share your perspective or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by calling (517) 373-7315 or emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- My legislation to strengthen our home health care system for both workers and care recipients was signed into law by Gov. Whitmer last week! Read more here.
- Join me for my upcoming Coffee and Conversation event tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at our District Office (28800 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores). RSVP here.
- Halloween is just around the corner! Before you head out trick-or-treating, make sure to take the proper safety precautions to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe.
Signed into Law
Strengthening Our Home Care System
In every corner of our state, there are dedicated home care workers who are supporting Michiganders with disabilities and assisting seniors as they age with dignity. Their work is critical in giving families relief and the ability to earn a paycheck, knowing their loved ones are safe and secure. For too long though, home health care — while vital to our economy — has been an invisible sector in our society, leading to caregivers often being overlooked, undervalued, and underpaid. Despite their work revolving around providing care for others, they are not receiving the resources they need to care for themselves and afford basic necessities like food, rent, and medical care.
From automotive factories to the food service industry, we’ve seen that workers hold more power when they’re united together as one. Individual homecare workers deserve nothing less than the ability to collectively bargain just as workers in all other sectors have. That’s why Sen. Sylvia Santana and I introduced Senate Bills 790 and 791 which ensure these essential workers have the tools they need to secure higher wages, better benefits, and pathways for professional development.
They’ve been there for our families when we’ve needed them most — this is our opportunity to be there for them. I’m grateful for my legislative colleagues and Gov. Whitmer for helping to get these bills across the finish line and restoring bargaining rights for 35,000 home care workers here in Michigan.
Combatting Dyslexia and Improving Literacy
Affecting up to one in five children in each classroom, dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that can impact folks’ ability to read, write, spell, and pronounce words. Data suggests that students with dyslexia who receive high-quality, phonics-based instruction early on can go on to become successful readers.
That’s why I co-sponsored legislation to ensure teachers have the tools they need to assist students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Senate Bills 567 and 568, which passed out of the Michigan Senate in September with near unanimous support, will require schools to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia and provide evidence-based interventions to help students achieve literacy. Last week, this bipartisan legislation was officially signed into law by Gov. Whitmer! Learn more about these bills here.
Improving Health Outcomes, Lowering Costs, and More
Governor Whitmer also signed a handful of other bills last week, including legislation to:
- Improve health outcomes in rural communities by ensuring rural hospitals are equipped with the resources necessary to provide quality care services. Read more here.
- Lower costs for Michiganders by extending families’ access to cash assistance from the Family Independence Program (FIP) from 48 months to 60 months, helping put money back into the pockets of hard-working Michiganders so they can care for their children.
- Preserve Michigan’s unmatched natural resources by providing supplemental funding for outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Bolster treatment services for addiction by providing $4 million more per year in funding towards expanding Michigan’s gaming and gambling prevention programming.
- Support breastfeeding moms and their babies by strengthening protections against discrimination for individuals who are currently breastfeeding.
- Expand access to health care by repurposing Medicaid funding to allow low-income Michiganders access to a broader range of care centers.
- Celebrate Michigan’s proud automotive history by providing historical vehicle owners the opportunity to obtain personalized license plates.
Read more about these bills and others that were signed into law here.
Passed by the Senate
Strengthening Protections Against Abuse for Vulnerable Adults
Elder abuse and exploitation is a serious and growing concern for Michigan seniors. According to the Michigan Dept. of Attorney General, more than 73,000 older adults in the state are victims of abuse and exploitation which can lead to serious physical and psychological effects such as depression, increased hospitalization, and premature death.
To ensure Michigan’s growing population of aging adults can enjoy the dignity, safety, and quality of life they deserve, my colleagues and I introduced legislation to help local and state governments better prevent, detect, and prosecute all forms of elder abuse. More specifically, my bill in the package, Senate Bill 924, would extend legal protections beyond a vulnerable adult’s death, ensuring that offenders who continue their schemes posthumously face the same penalties as if the exploitation had occurred while the vulnerable adult was alive.
This four-bill package passed the Senate this week and now heads to the House for their consideration. Read more here.
Moving Through Committee
Protecting Families from Unfair Prices in Times of Crisis
After a devastating 2022 tornado in Gaylord, an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office uncovered a troubling trend of tree service companies spiking their prices and taking advantage of residents who were desperate to restore their homes. As we witness the southern portion of the country reel from a brutal hurricane season, there’s a noticeable difference between our consumer protection laws. While we have our share of extreme weather events here in Michigan, we do not have the same consumer protections for our residents that more than 30 other states do.
That’s why my colleagues and I have been working on legislation to protect Michigan consumers from unfair pricing during emergencies and ensure that the Attorney General has the tools needed to act against violators. Among the ten bills currently moving through the committee process are:
- Senate Bill 954 which ensures fair prices for lodging during declared state of emergencies;
- Senate Bill 955 which keeps essential goods and services affordable when they’re needed most; and
- Senate Bill 956 which protects consumers from excessive pricing on energy products and services during market disruptions.
From cracking down on price gouging to securing your personal data, these bills are part of a larger push to ensure Michigan families are protected and businesses play by the rules. Learn more about our work to protect Michigan consumers here.
Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating
With temperatures continuing to drop and more eerie decorations popping up, we are getting closer and closer to Halloween. While the holiday is a time for spooky thrills and imagination, it can also bring some extra risks for children and teens. Before you head out trick-or-treating, make sure to check out these tips on how to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe:
- Choose your Halloween costume wisely. Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance and dress accordingly. Do not carry toy weapons that could be confused for the real thing.
- Walk, don’t run, and stay on the sidewalks. Cross only at intersections and designated crosswalks.
- Don’t assume cars will stop just because pedestrians have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.
- Be sure to have a charged cell phone while you’re out.
- Plan your route ahead of time and trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods.
- Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses.
- Review with your child how to call 9-1-1 if they ever have an emergency, get lost, or are prone to wander.
Upcoming Trunk-or-Treats
Last Saturday was a beautiful day to pass out candy at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield! It was great to see so many families come out to celebrate the season and make memories together while enjoying a view of Lake St. Clair. Don’t worry if you missed Chesterfield’s Boo Bash though — communities across our district still have trunk-or-treats coming up on the calendar:
- Harrison Township Hallowpalooza: Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Lobbstael Elementary (Register here)
- Mount Clemens Halloween Spooktacular: Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Fountain Stage downtown (Register here)
- St. Clair Shores Halloween Fun Fest: Sunday, Oct. 20 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (Register here)
- New Baltimore Trick or Treat on Washington Street: Friday, Oct. 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Walter and Mary Burke Park (Register here)
- Grosse Pointe Halloween Spooktacular: Sunday, Oct. 27 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the War Memorial (Register here)
I know I’m looking forward to attending some of these events — I hope to see you there!
It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events:
Coffee and Conversation
WHEN: Friday, October 18 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
District Office Hours with Staff
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
You may always feel free to call my office at (517) 373-7315 or email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov.
Keep Up to Date: Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.
For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.