Dear Neighbor,
As we continue the work of the 103rd legislative session, I am focused on advancing good government policies. While these pieces of legislation don’t always make for splashy headlines, they do a host of good for families here in our community and across the state. I invite you to learn more about these policies and the impact they’ll have.
If you ever have any questions about the work we’re doing, want to share concerns, or need assistance in navigating a state department, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. We’re here to help.
Sincerely,
Veronica Klinefelt
State Senator, District 11
(517) 373-7670
SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov
Tackling the Issues You Care About
Helping First-Time Homebuyers
Affordable housing is in too short supply across Michigan, with high interest rates and home prices creating challenging conditions for both buyers and sellers. Last year, just 1 in 5 homes were sold to first-time homebuyers. And the median age of a first-time homebuyer was 40 years old. That’s an all-time high. That’s why I’m working on legislation to help first-time homebuyers by limiting the amount of property that out of state private equity firms can purchase here in Michigan. This will level the playing field and free up more homes for working families to purchase.
Cracking Down on Blighted Storefronts
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, I’ve introduced legislation to help our local communities put an end to “dark stores.”
Improving Property Records’ Clarity and Consistency
Currently, county registers of deeds receive numerous requests to record documents regarding properties that lie outside the county’s borders. To clarify this, I introduced legislation that would only allow a property to be recorded in the county’s register of deeds office where it is located. This would ensure records are accurate, easy to find, and properly maintained, and it would help give homeowners and businesses greater confidence that property records are reliable and quickly accessible.
State Budget Update
It’s budget season in the Michigan Legislature, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ve been busy meeting with constituents, organizations, and fiscal experts to identify investment opportunities that will have the biggest impact on Michiganders’ everyday lives.
As we sit down to negotiate this year’s budget, my colleagues and I will have to make tough choices on how we balance the many needs of our state, from education and health care to public safety and infrastructure, with fewer funds than we’ve had in previous years. Despite our revenue landscape looking significantly different this year, my goal remains the same as always: delivering a fiscally responsible budget that invests in strong schools, good- paying jobs, safe communities, and roads people can depend on.
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