Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to April! I hope you are enjoying spring with your family and friends, creating lasting memories and enjoying some warmer weather.
Remember, the deadline to file state and federal taxes is this Monday, April 15. If you have questions about filing your taxes or want to check your refund status, view account information and more, click here. If you are a qualified recipient and believe there was an issue with getting your check, the Michigan Tax Help Center may be able to provide additional help.
As always, I hope this newsletter informs you of all the exciting things happening in the Legislature and District 11.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office at SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7670.
Sincerely,
Veronica Klinefelt
State Senator
District 11
Featured in This Newsletter
- In Recent News
- Legislative Updates
- Upcoming Event
- In the Community
- Resources
In Recent News
April is National County Government Month!
To celebrate the great and important work our county governments do for Michiganders across the state, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Resolution 105 declaring April as National County Government Month. The theme for this year’s celebration of NCGM is “Forward Together.”
Counties shoulder the essential tasks of upkeeping roads and bridges, safeguarding public health, overseeing elections, maintaining public safety, bolstering environmental protection efforts, and undertaking various other vital responsibilities.
AG Nessel Warns Renters, Homebuyers of Fraudulent Real Estate Ads, Zillow Scams in New Alert
Spurred by recent reports, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert, Real Estate Scams – How to Avoid Being Taken in by Fake Listings, to educate renters and homebuyers on how to avoid property scams. Fraudulent real estate listings often advertise properties that don’t exist, are not for sale or rent, or are not what they appear to be.
Nessel’s alert cites Zillow’s advice on the red flags homebuyers should look out for:
- Requests to wire funds;
- Long-distance solicitations;
- Requests for verification codes;
- Requests for personal or financial information; and
- Grammar/spelling errors and sob stories.
The red flags for rental listing scams are similar to those that exist in homebuying fraud schemes. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), using the following strategies can help you avoid being a victim of a rental scam:
- Conduct an online search;
- Examine the price of similar units;
- Look carefully at the property before you sign or pay;
- Never provide personal or financial information; and
- Don’t pay with cash.
If you believe you have been the victim of a rental or real estate scam, report it to:
- Your local law enforcement agency;
- The FTC; and,
- The website where the ad was posted.
You can also file a complaint with the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
Legislative Updates
Senate Passes SBs 706 and 799, Removing Driver Responsibility Fees
I am so glad to see my bills, Senate Bills 706 and 799, pass the Senate with unanimous bipartisan support. These bills, which my office worked closely with the Michigan Department of State on, will ensure that driver responsibility fees are no longer on Michigander’s records. As of 2018, the department no longer collects these fees. Senate Bills 706 and 799 would align statute with current practice, removing barriers to reinstating driver’s licenses. Click here to learn more about the bills.
These bills now move to the House for consideration.
Recapping Senate Democrats’ Work to Safeguard Michiganders’ Wellness During Public Health Week
Over the past year, the legislature has worked to pass comprehensive, evidence-based policies to expand access to healthcare and improve the health of Michigan residents. As we observe Michigan Public Health Week, we recognize the invaluable contributions of those who safeguard the health of our communities and recommit to supporting their efforts as we work collectively to promote the well-being of our state.
During our first year-plus in office, my colleagues and I have wasted no time in enacting meaningful policies and securing investments to achieve a brighter, healthier Michigan for future generations.
Some legislative highlights include:
- Expanding access to care by codifying the Affordable Care Act into state law and passing legislation that would establish Prescription Drug Affordability Board to rein in the skyrocketing cost of medications.
- Combatting our gun violence epidemic by closing dangerous loopholes to strengthen background checks, requiring the secure storage of firearms, disarming individuals convicted of domestic violence, and allowing for the temporary removal of firearms from people who pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
- Protecting Michiganders’ reproductive freedom by repeal our state’s archaic 1931 abortion ban, passing the Reproductive Health Act, to repeal medically unnecessary regulations regarding health clinics that perform abortions, and championing the Family Protection Act to eliminate barriers to parentage in fertility healthcare to allow Michiganders more ways to grow their families.
- Keeping Michigan’s air and water clean by passing the Clean Energy Future package which sets long-awaited clean energy and renewable energy standards and increases energy efficiency targets, in addition to passing Filter First legislation that will require Michigan schools and childcare centers to implement a drinking water management plan and install filtered faucets and bottle-filling stations, ensuring every student and educator can fill their water bottle or go to the water fountain knowing it is safe.
In addition to passing a slate of legislation to safeguard Michigander’s wellbeing, the legislature also made transformational investments in public health in our 2024 state budget. Some highlights include:
- $280 million to address our mental health crisis through funding for community behavioral health clinics to expand access to care.
- $76 million for local health departments to provide economic stability and ensure they have the necessary resources to supply residents with essential health services.
- $63 million increase in funding for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, an initiative providing postpartum Medicaid coverage to mothers in an effort to reduce postpartum deaths.
- $800,000 to create the Office of Community Violence Services and $6 million for the office to provide grants to community-based violence intervention programs that are working to reduce firearm-related injuries and fatalities.
By expanding access to healthcare, investing in public health initiatives, and leading on clean energy, we have laid a foundation for a healthier and more equitable future and will continue working towards further progress. To read more about the work the legislature is doing to promote better health outcomes, click here.
Upcoming Event
As a State Senator, I look forward to opportunities where I get to hear directly from you. Below is the information regarding May’s community conversation, I hope to see you there!
Community Conversation
WHEN: Monday, May 6, 2024, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Fraser VFW (17075 Anita Ave, Fraser, MI 48026)
In The Community
Presenting a Tribute to Johnathon Putrus Jr. in Macomb Township for Winning the Distracted Driving Billboard Campaign
Touring Petitpren Inc. in Clinton Township
Welcoming Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist to Eastpointe
Resources
Get Ready for Fishing Season!
With spring upon us in the Great Lakes State, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding anglers to purchase a new license for the 2024 fishing season.
The new fishing license and regulation season kicked off on Monday, April 1. The new 2024 fishing licenses will be valid through March 31, 2025. Licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, which you can download on your smartphone.
Here’s a rundown of key dates to remember this fishing season:
- Saturday, April 27 – Statewide trout and Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open.
- Monday, May 15 – Upper Peninsula walleye and northern pike seasons open.
- Saturday, May 25 – Season opens for largemouth and smallmouth bass possession, except for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers, which open Saturday, June 15. (Note: Catch-and-immediate-release for bass is open all year on most waters. Check the 2024 Michigan Fishing Regulations for specifics).
- Saturday, June 1 – Season opens for muskellunge possession on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Mary’s River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. (Note: Catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year.)
For additional information about 2024 fishing license, contact DNR eLicense at MDNR-E-License@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
The DNR is also providing helpful tips for Michigan anglers to help combat the spread of invasive species.
- Start with a clean boat and clean gear.
- End by draining live wells and bilges.
- End by cleaning debris and plant material from boats.
- Decontaminate waders and gear with safe chemical disinfectants after each use.
- Dispose of leftover bait in the trash to prevent the spread of fish diseases.
Financial Literacy Month
Talking about all things money related can be nothing short of stressful, but with the right tools in your toolbox, it doesn’t have to be. And with the Senate passing Senate Resolution 102 recognizing April as Financial Literacy Month, there is no better time for us to share some important tips on things you can do to start building a brighter financial future.
One piece of advice emphasized by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is just how important it is for Michiganders to establish a relationship with a financial institution. By having an account with a bank or credit union, you can save money by avoiding fees related to check cashing, money orders and more. Thanks to the Michigan Open Account Coalition formed in 2022, low- or no-cost accounts — with no surprise fees — are available at participating banks and credit unions.
Attorney General Dana Nessel also offers up some additional financial education best practices this month by re-issuing her Overdraft Fee Rules alert. This is a great resource to help consumers become more informed on your bank’s overdraft policy, potentially avoiding the accumulation of large fees in your accounts without understanding how they get there.
New Website Available to Help Track Your Status of Benefits
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched a brand-new website MI Bridges to help Michiganders applying for assistance monitor their benefits status. The tool tracks five benefits programs: health care coverage, the food assistance program, cash assistance, child development and care, and state emergency relief.
Applicants can receive assistance through the MI Bridges virtual assistant chat or by calling the MI Bridges help desk at 844-799-9876. Visit newmibridges.michigan.gov for more information.