Dear Neighbor,
Happy New Year! While lots of exciting work is already underway for the year, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on some of the important progress made and victories won in 2025 — all while navigating some pretty unprecedented times. Over the last year, I’m proud to share that Senate Democrats made meaningful changes in Michigan by advancing legislation to protect people from harmful products and reduce costs for families. We also secured critical investments in the state budget to fund priorities like:
- Universal free breakfast and lunch for our students
- Mental health and safety grants for schools
- Literacy training and materials focused on early grades
- Permanent Supportive Housing
- Community Violence Intervention
I look forward to continue to build on this progress in 2026. As always, if you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. Thank you for allowing me to represent you and our community in the Senate.
Sincerely,
Jeff Irwin
State Senator, District 15
SenatorIrwin.com
Tackling the Emerging Threats from Microplastics
Senate Bills 503-505
Microplastics are about the size of a grain of rice or smaller. These tiny bits of plastic are found in water, sediment, wildlife, and even the air we breathe. This persistent pollutant has even been found in drinking water drawn from the Great Lakes, where the concentrations of microplastics found in fish are some of the highest in the world.
They also accumulate in the human body, including in the brain and reproductive system. While the health effects of microplastics are still being researched, they have been associated with inflammation, cell death, dementia, and immune dysfunction. My bicameral bill package would prevent microplastics pollution at its source and help our state assess and strategically respond to microplastics by:
- Banning the sale or manufacture of products containing microbeads.
- Establishing a state microplastics drinking water program to test public drinking water supplies for microplastics, make a risk assessment, and recommend actions for future monitoring and mitigation.
- Creating a statewide microplastics research and monitoring plan to assess the scale of microplastics contamination and the risks it poses to human health and the environment, and make recommendations for action and policy changes as part of a comprehensive strategy for addressing microplastics.
Combating Michigan’s Opioid Epidemic
Senate Bill 399
Helps tackle the opioid crisis in our state as part of a broader, bipartisan legislative package that would remove barriers to treatment, increase access to care, and expand tools to prevent overdose. Specifically, my bill would remove the classification of fentanyl testing strips as drug paraphernalia, allowing their usage and helping individuals make safer choices.
Helping Families Save Money During the Back-to-School Season
Senate Bill 498-499
Creates a “Back-to-School” tax holiday, where during an annual two-week period, Michiganians could claim a sales and use tax refund on eligible back-to-school supplies, such as clothing, backpacks, notebooks, and more.
Keeping Homes Warm in the Winter
Senate Bill 562
Ensures that a minimum of 12.5% of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program dollars are directed towards weatherization efforts, helping residents who are eligible for payment assistance permanently reduce their energy bill and make lasting improvements to their homes.
Strengthening the Rights of Vulnerable Michiganians
Senate Bill 585-586
Protects the rights of individuals placed in guardianships by prohibiting a court from granting a guardian the authority to change their residence unless it was deemed in their best interest. This bipartisan legislation would also mandate a professional appraisal be conducted before any real estate of a protected individual is sold.