Dear Neighbor,
I hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! In between the barbecues, lake days, and fireworks, the Fourth of July is a great time to be thankful for the freedoms and opportunities we hold as Americans, while also reflecting on the work that still lies ahead in building a more perfect union.
While it may feel as if our country is deeply divided in this moment in time, I hope we can use the celebration of 250 years of this great American experiment to find faith, hope, and a common purpose in our future — for I would like to believe there is far more that unites us than divides us. At the end of the day, we all want our families to be able to secure their version of the American Dream. Helping make that dream more attainable for every Michigander is what motivates me every day I go to the Capitol for votes, and it’s a responsibility I never take for granted.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts 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 emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov, calling our Lansing office at (517) 373-7315, or calling our district office at (586) 252-2157.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- My colleagues and I have been busy at the Capitol, passing legislation to make healthcare more affordable, crack down on greedy price gouging practices, and hold data centers accountable. Learn more below.
- The August Primary Election is almost here! Make sure you have a plan to vote on or before August 4th.
- We’re bringing our office to you! Every week, a member of our team goes out into the community to host office hours where folks can stop by to ask questions, share their opinion on legislation, or seek assistance on a state issue. Sign up for a time slot here.
Making Progress on Our Healthcare You Can Afford Agenda
Status: Several bills have been passed by the Senate and sent to the House
As Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee, I’ve been laser focused on finding ways we can lower healthcare costs here in Michigan as more and more families are naming healthcare as one of the top burdens on their budget. These state-level solutions are more important than ever as our federal representatives in Washington have been hellbent on increasing insurance costs and stripping away folks’ coverage.
A key part of this agenda is the creation of a state-based health insurance exchange, which would transition Michigan away from the federally managed health insurance marketplace and give us the enhanced flexibility to be more creative, more inclusive, and ultimately more cost-effective in the types of insurance products available to Michiganders. Currently, 20 other states currently operate their own exchanges and are seeing great success. In Colorado, for example, they were able to decrease premium prices by a whole 23% with their state exchange.
Another component of this agenda would allow for the creation of association health plans for small businesses. For four decades, the cost of health insurance has remained the number one concern for small businesses — and in a recent survey conducted by the Small Business Association of Michigan, nearly 42% of respondents said they’re less than three years away from not being able to offer health insurance at all if increases continue.
Unlike larger corporations, small businesses often lack the leverage needed to negotiate lower insurance costs and frequently face higher administrative expenses. However, under my Senate Bill 1011, these businesses would have the ability to band together, pool resources, and put together insurance options that reduce costs for themselves and their staff.
Both of these packages have passed the Senate — with my association health plan bill getting unanimous support — and have been sent to the House for their consideration.
Eliminating Out-of-Pocket Costs for Top Lifesaving Medications
Status: Introduced and referred to committee
In tandem with my Healthcare You Can Afford agenda, my colleagues, Sen. Chedrick Greene and Sen. Darrin Camilleri introduced legislation to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for three of the state’s most high-volume, life-saving medical necessities, including Insulin, Epinephrine, and Inhalers.
While federal initiatives and other states have historically relied on price caps, this landmark legislation establishes an aggressive, first-of-its-kind true zero-dollar cost-sharing ($0 out-of-pocket) framework across private health insurance plans. By eliminating all deductibles and copayments, these bills ensure that families will no longer face financial barriers at the pharmacy counter for the medicines they need to survive.
These bills have been referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee, and I look forward to holding a hearing on these soon. In the meantime, you can learn more about this legislation here.
Holding Large-Scale Data Centers Accountable
Status: Introduced and referred to committee
As we see more and more tech companies trying to build data centers here in Michigan, I’m fielding lots of questions from folks in our community. From worries about the negative impact these projects will have on our environment to how they’ll impact families’ utility bills, these concerns are not misplaced as we see communities across the country facing the very real consequences of the data center boom. The lesson is clear: technological advancement may be inevitable, but whether communities benefit from that progress — or bear its costs — is a choice. And here in Michigan, we’re taking the hard lessons learned from other states and charting a different path.
Recently, my colleagues and I introduced bills to hold these data centers accountable and create the strongest regulation in the country for these projects. This package would:
- Protect the Great Lakes and Michigan’s water resources from overuse.
- Ensure data centers don’t drive up electricity costs or reduce service reliability for Michigan residents.
- Strengthen labor protections for data center development to make sure workers benefit from the project.
- Prohibit elected officials and public employees from signing non-disclosure agreements about data center projects.
- Require tech companies to enter into community benefit agreements that invest directly in the communities where they build.
These bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment for consideration. Learn more here.
Cracking Down on Greedy Price Gouging Practices
Status: Passed by the Senate
Whether it’s a severe storm that floods streets and basements across our lakeshore community or a once-in-a-generation blizzard in the Upper Peninsula, no family facing a disaster should also have to worry about being price-gouged when buying the essentials they need to get by.
To protect consumers against predatory business tactics we’ve seen all too often, the Senate recently passed legislation that would keep housing, essential goods, and energy affordable during an issued state of emergency.
More specifically, this legislation would:
- Ensure residents cannot be charged excessive prices for hotels and other lodging during emergencies;
- Protect the price of essential goods and services, keeping emergency supplies and medical supplies accessible and affordable amid a crisis; and
- Combat excessive pricing on energy products and services, preventing utility overcharges.
This package has been sent to the Michigan House for their consideration. Learn more here.
Other Legislative Updates
- Michiganders deserve the opportunity to retire with dignity and financial security, but right now, more than 1.5 million private-sector workers have a lack of retirement savings options. To help ensure all hardworking folks in our state can save for their golden years, we recently passed legislation to establish the MI Secure Retirement Savings Program which would automatically enroll individuals who are not offered a savings plan through their current employer in a state-run Roth IRA. Read more here.
- After months of reports detailing the Trump administration’s efforts to nationalize elections and restrict access to mail-in voting — the latest blow to election integrity came earlier this spring as the U.S. Supreme Court eviscerated key protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. To fight back against these attacks, my colleagues and I passed legislation that would establish a state-level Voting Rights Act to ensure every eligible voter has access to the ballot box. Read more here.
- Blighted storefronts create safety hazards, decrease property values, and hinder economic growth here in our community and across Michigan. Yet right now, big box retailers are exploiting loopholes in our state’s tax code, using these vacant properties to artificially lower their tax bills instead of reinvesting in the communities they’ve left behind. To address this issue, Senate Dems introduced legislation to help our local communities put an end to “dark stores.” This bill is currently moving through the committee process.
Find a Cooling Center Near You
This week, temperatures are expected to hit record highs with heat index values forecasted to reach triple digits. When it’s very hot and humid, there’s an increased risk of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can worsen and cause heat stroke or even death.
During this heatwave, please make sure to stay cool. If you, a loved one, or a neighbor need a place to escape the heat, find a list of cooling center locations in and around our community that are open to the public here.
Make a Plan to Vote in the August Primary Election
Voting is one of our most fundamental rights in a functioning democracy. From local school board and city council races to state and federal races, your voice and your vote matter.
That’s why my colleagues and I have been working to champion legislation to protect your right to vote. New changes that have been implemented in recent elections ultimately allow eligible voters to enjoy expanded access to the ballot box, so they can safely, securely, and conveniently cast their vote without facing unnecessary barriers. To learn more about how you can register to vote online, obtain an absentee ballot, or vote early in-person, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center.
And as we quickly approach this year’s Primary Election in August, keep the following dates in mind:
- Last day to register to vote by mail or online* – Monday, July 20
- Primary election early voting begins – Saturday, July 25
- Optional early voting period up to – Sunday, August 2
- Primary Election Day – Tuesday, August 4
* You can still register to vote in person up to and including on Election Day with your local clerk.
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:
Community Office Hours with Team Hertel
Weekly Office Hours in St. Clair Shores
WHEN: Every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment.
WHERE: District Office, 22424 Greater Mack Ave., Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080
Mount Clemens Office Hours
WHEN: Tuesday, July 7, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Ave., Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Harper Woods Office Hours
WHEN: Tuesday, July 14, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Harper Woods Public Library, 19601 Harper Ave., Harper Woods, MI 48225
New Baltimore Office Hours
WHEN: Tuesday, July 21, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: MacDonald Public Library, 36480 Main St., New Baltimore, MI 48047
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 email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. You can also call our Lansing Office at (517) 373-7315 or our District Office at (586) 252-2157.
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, Instagram, and BlueSky.