Dear Neighbor,
Happy New Year! Please read on for an update from our office and stay tuned for more updates as we begin advancing our legislative priorities for 2026.
I appreciate your feedback, so please feel free to reach out. You can contact me by sending an email to SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov, calling 517-373-7670, or visiting my website here.
Sincerely,
Veronica Klinefelt
State Senator
District 11
Reflecting on 2025 Accomplishments & Looking Ahead to More Progress in the New Year
Last year, my colleagues and I successfully:
✅ Passed another bipartisan state budget that boosts public education, protects access to health care, mitigates the worst effects of federal budget cuts, invests in our aging roads, and lowers costs;
✅ Fought back against federal cuts and chaos;
✅ Improved government transparency and reliability; and
✅ Supported Michigan families, workers, seniors, veterans, first responders, and local communities.
Read more about progress from 2025 here.
Legislation Signed into Law
On Dec. 23, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed 36 bills into state law, including:
- Senate Bill 158 which lowers the cost of online event tickets by prohibiting bot scammers from purchasing tickets in bulk and inflating the price in unfair resale markets;
- Senate Bills 96, 97, and 98, which help keep Michigan students and child care workers safe by allowing these facilities to install automatic door locks;
- Senate Bill 25, which cuts red tape for auto repair businesses;
- Senate Bill 93, which enables honey and maple syrup producers to better grow their businesses and boost our agricultural economy;
- Senate Bill 269, which speeds up funding for improvements at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and helps the airport better access federal funds;
- Senate Bills 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, and 699, which improve Michigan’s farmland preservation program and protect family farms;
- Senate Bill 136, which improves breast cancer detection standards;
- Senate Bills 512 and 513, which ensure more equitable representation for Michigan breweries and taprooms; and
- Senate Bill 349, which allows eleventh-graders to opt out of the work skills standardized test, giving parents and students more flexibility in their educational journey.
We were proud to work across the aisle to get these bills passed and signed into law in 2025, and we’ll continue fighting to craft and advance more meaningful legislation in 2026.
Community Conversation
WHEN: Monday, Jan. 26, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: VFW Post 6691, 17075 Anita Ave., Fraser, MI 48026
Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Ends Soon
The Michigan Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is encouraging residents to take advantage of all the benefits and savings you may qualify for before the 2026 open enrollment period on the Health Insurance Marketplace closes on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
Marketplace consumers who missed the Dec. 18 deadline for coverage to begin on Jan. 1 may qualify for a special enrollment period if they have experienced a qualifying life event, such as birth, job loss, or divorce.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact DIFS by calling (877) 999-6442 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For a list of other state and federal agencies that may be able to help with your health coverage questions, click here.
Michigan Arts & Culture Council (MACC) Grant Applications Are Now Open
Michigan arts and culture nonprofits, municipalities, tribal entities, PreK-12 schools, colleges, universities, and others are encouraged to begin preparing to apply for a 2026 MACC grant. These grant programs help fund professional development, equipment and facility upgrades, arts education, and more.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Learn more and start your application here.