Dear Friend,
It is an honor to serve you in the state Senate.
Each day, I fight for the priorities and needs of Kalamazoo County residents in the state legislature. Since taking office in 2019, I have heard from thousands of constituents about protecting our drinking water from toxic contaminants and PFAS, fixing our crumbling roads and infrastructure, and investing in our schools. I have also heard about the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and our need to work together to build Michigan back better than ever.
Our state government depends upon the input and participation of citizens like you. I want to be your voice in Lansing, and I want to hear from you what priorities are most important to Kalamazoo County residents. This brochure about the State Capitol is designed to help you navigate state government and take an active role in shaping the future of Michigan — so please contact me, track legislation, contact state departments, or even come visit the Capitol yourself.
But, more than anything, I want to hear what matters to you. Your response will help me understand how we can best work together to move Michigan forward.
Sincerely,
Sean McCann
State Senator
District 20
Website: SenSeanMcCann.com
Email: SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov
Toll-free: (855) 347-8020
Tour the Capitol
If you are visiting Lansing, stop into the State Capitol to enjoy a tour, observe the Legislature and
participate in the legislative process, or simply admire the hand-painted decorative artwork and
history throughout the building.
Tours for groups of 10 or more can be booked through the Capitol Tour Service office. If any
members of your group are persons with disabilities, advise the Capitol Tour Service office at the time you book the tour. Please contact the Capitol Tour Service office at (517) 373-2353 to
schedule a tour group.
Virtual tours of the Capitol are also available from the comfort of home. Learn more online at
capitol.michigan.gov/tours. If you are visiting from Kalamazoo County, please contact my office at (517) 373-5100 or sensmccann@senate.michigan.gov to let me know! If my schedule allows, I always enjoy meeting with Kalamazoo County residents and learning about what brings you to Lansing.
Request a Tribute
It is my pleasure to produce official legislative tributes honoring Kalamazoo County residents for
milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and special accomplishments. If you would like
to request a tribute from state officials for an individual or organization deserving of recognition,
please contact me and we would be glad to assist. You can call my office at (517) 373-5100 or email a description of the desired tribute to sensmccann@senate.michigan.gov.
We will need to know:
• Requester’s name and contact information
• Recipient’s name and contact information
• Desired completion date
• If formal presentation is requested, relevant event details
• A detailed description of why this person or organization is deserving of recognition
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
BILL INTRODUCTION
The bill sponsor introduces the bill to the chamber. It is given its first reading, receives a number, and is assigned to a committee.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
In committee, the sponsor requests a public hearing for the bill. The committee discusses the bill and hears comments. Public participation is encouraged!
The committee can:
- Pass the bill and send it to the floor (with or without amendments).
• Pass it and send it to another committee.
• Pass it and place it on the consent calendar (for noncontroversial items).
• Send it to the floor or committee with no recommendation.
• Kill it by voting it down, tabling it, ignoring it, or returning it to its author
When passed out of committee, the bill is given its second reading and scheduled to be discussed and debated by the whole chamber.
FLOOR CONSIDERATION
The bill is placed on the calendar for a floor vote. The bill is read for the third time and is then debated and voted upon by all members.
IF PASSED, the bill is sent to the other chamber. It then goes through the same process of committee and fl oor votes.
IF BILLS DIFFER, one chamber can concur with the other’s amendments or the bills get referred to a conference committee. The conference committee of Senators and Representatives debate until they reach a compromise on
the bill’s language, and then the agreed upon bill is sent to each chamber for approval, where it receives another reading and a final vote.
The new bill is then sent to the Governor.
If bills passed in both chambers are identical, they are sent to the Governor.
THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE WHOLE BILL, signs with line-item vetoes, vetoes the bill or pocket vetoes the bill.
IF VETOED, the bill goes back to the legislature for reconsideration. A two thirds vote of both the Senate and House is required to overturn a veto.
If the Governor signs the bill, or if both chambers override the Governor’s veto…
THE BILL BECOMES LAW!
TRACKING BILLS 101
Before something becomes a law, it must be written down as a bill. Every two years, or one legislative session, there are thousands of bills introduced — hundreds of which will be signed into law by the governor.
Visit the Michigan Legislature website at legislature.mi.gov for all the latest information about the status of bills. A free service of the Legislative Service Bureau in cooperation with the Michigan Legislative Council, the Michigan House of Representatives, the Michigan Senate, and the Library of Michigan, this website features a robust search function for legislation introduced and passed.
Whether it’s by number, sponsor, committee or content, you can find detailed bill information on the MILEG website, along with session calendars, journals, House and Senate audio and video feeds, the most recent bill activity and daily introductions of bills, as well as what bills have been passed and enrolled.
If there’s a certain bill that you’d like to track, you can register on the site for free, create your own “watch” list of legislation and request an email notification be sent to you when a bill status changes.
DID YOU KNOW?
The proceedings of each day’s work are published in the journals of both chambers — the Michigan House
and Senate. In addition, the records of committee action on all bills and resolutions are available for public inspection. This information, and so much more, can be found online at legislature.mi.gov.