Dear Neighbor:
It is truly an honor to serve as your state Senator. As 2023 concludes, I want to inform you about the work and progress I’ve been a part of over the past year. It has been a historically productive and impactful time for Michigan citizens.
There are several critical priorities I’ve focused on in my tenure in the Michigan Legislature, including in this past year. These are: fixing Michigan’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure; providing adequate funding for our public schools, community colleges and universities; protecting our drinking water and water resources including our Great Lakes; improving our economy and providing good jobs; strengthening our democracy; and much other important work.
In this newsletter, I hope to highlight these accomplishments and more, and I hope you’ll take a little bit of time to review it. Lastly, I pride myself on providing excellent constituent service — if I can be of any assistance to you, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Sean McCann
State Senator
19th District
September Coffee Hour
Thank you to all who attended my recent coffee hour. We had great attendance and many important conversations. I always value hearing from the residents of District 19. Special thanks to Milestone Senior Services for their exceptional hosting. I will be hosting my next coffee hour at Parchment Community Library on December 19 from 2-3 p.m. You can learn more information here.
Legislative Updates
Infrastructure
Governor Whitmer and the legislature remain intently focused on rebuilding our roads, bridges, water infrastructure and more, and supporting 89,000 good-paying construction jobs along the way. This year alone, Michigan has improved 1,186 lane miles through pavement reconstruction and rehabilitation, improved 913 miles through pavement preventative maintenance, and repaired or replaced 227 bridges statewide. This is thanks to the billions of dollars invested in our critical road and bridge infrastructure.
Historic Education Funding
Increasing Money to Our Schools
On July 20, 2023, Governor Whitmer signed a record-setting state School Aid budget for Fiscal Year 2024 that continues to increase our investments in per-pupil funding, more equitable categorical funding, and early childhood education funding. The new budget includes a 5%, $458 per pupil increase in the state’s foundation allowance, increasing it to $9,608 per pupil and also includes large percentage increases for students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students and English learners.
5% Increase for Community Colleges and Universities
As Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Universities and Community Colleges, I was proud to work with my legislative colleagues and the Governor to provide a 5% ongoing increase in operational funding for our phenomenal public higher education institutions in Michigan. This funding will continue to help these institutions grow and support students as they seek higher education.
Reducing Debt in Higher Education
In order to properly implement the FY24 budget, I introduced and passed Senate Bill 511 which made changes for certain higher education institutions that participate in the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS). The legislation adjusted the MPSERS contribution rate to accurately reflect the $200 million of debt reduction included in the FY24 budget.
Protecting Our Drinking Water and Environment
Letting Michigan Set Our Own Environmental Standards
On July 27, Governor Whitmer signed my legislation that repeals the prohibition on state agencies establishing rules that are stricter than federal regulations. Federal regulations often exclude stronger, well-established data that is unique to a given state. Enacting Senate Bill 14 restored our state’s discretion for the protection of Michigan’s natural resources and environment and will allow Michigan to implement the best science and practices to safeguard Michigan’s water resources.
Modernizing the Bottle Bill
On June 29, 2023, I was proud to introduce legislation along with Representative Christine Morse to modernize and expand Michigan’s current 10-cent deposit on certain soft drinks, beer, and other carbonated beverages to plastic water bottles and all other non-carbonated beverages, except for milk containers.
Filter First
On April 20, 2023, I was proud to vote in favor of Senate Bills 88 and 89 to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare centers. These newly enacted laws require all Michigan childcare centers and schools to implement a Drinking Water Management Plan, install filtered bottle-filling stations or filtered faucets on outlets designated for drinking water, and test the filtered water to ensure that the filters are installed and operating properly. Governor Whitmer signed this into law on October 25, 2023.
Helping Create a Strong Michigan Economy
Expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit
Earlier this year, the legislature and Governor Whitmer enacted the biggest tax relief Michigan has seen in decades. A key component of the law expands the Working Families Tax Credit from 6% to 30% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. 700,000 Michigan citizens — those who have the hardest time affording the basics — will see an average of $3,150 dollars back in their pockets.
Repealing the Retirement Tax, Supporting Seniors and Veterans
Responding to one of the most pressing concerns I have heard from our seniors, the Governor, my legislative colleagues and I have phased out Michigan’s “Retirement Tax” over the next four years. The plan equalizes the exemption on both public and private retirement income and will ultimately put an average of $1,000 back in the pockets of 500,000 households. We also invested $50 million of surplus tax revenue in the state’s Housing and Community Development Fund, which prioritizes projects offering veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and working families safe, affordable places to call home.
Improving Our Democracy
For a very long time, Michigan was one of only two states where lawmakers did not have to file any type of public report about their personal finances. After extensive input from stakeholders and lawmakers, bipartisan financial disclosure bills passed in the Michigan Legislature and are now one step closer to improving government transparency and codifying Proposal 1 of 2022 — which was approved by 2.8 million Michigan voters just last year.
Per Proposal 1 of 2022, the compliance legislation passed will ensure that, starting next year on April 15, each covered officeholder must disclose:
- Every source of income;
- Assets held for investment or production of income;
- Significant liabilities;
- Positions held in organizations;
- Future employment agreements;
- Spouse’s occupation and more.
Other Highlights
Restoring Workers’ Rights
This year, the legislature and Governor enacted laws to uphold and restore workers’ rights and to pay fair wages to benefit workers, their families, our communities and our economy. By passing this legislation, we are helping working families by guaranteeing workers’ rights to negotiate for pay raises, lifting workers’ pay to help deal with rising costs, protecting their right to safety and helping create good-paying jobs that are available to all workers. By repealing anti-worker laws, we’re making Michigan a place where people want to come, work hard and build a life knowing that they will be respected and able to earn a good living.
Firearms Safety
The legislature passed widely embraced commonsense gun safety legislation this year that will help save lives from being lost to mass shootings, homicides, suicides, and accidents. These proposals have been developed with input from state and national experts, public safety officials, parent advocacy groups and responsible gun owners. Together, these bills will help keep our fellow Michigan residents from harming themselves or others, intentionally or accidentally, while also respecting Michigan’s hunting, farming and sporting traditions.
This legislation has been proven effective at saving lives and is supported by Michiganders across the state:
- Universal background checks save lives by ensuring people convicted of violent crimes like domestic violence cannot purchase guns and cause more harm.
- Extreme Risk Protection Order laws, also known as “red flag” laws, will save lives by giving families and law enforcement the tools needed to temporarily remove guns from the hands of people who have threatened to hurt themselves or others.
- Safe storage laws will save lives by ensuring responsible gun owners keep their firearms secure from children and prevent their firearms from falling into the wrong hands and being used to commit a crime.
- Strengthening domestic violence protection laws, by mirroring federal law and by modifying the state’s penal code to temporarily prohibit those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing, using, purchasing or carrying a firearm in Michigan for eight years.
Expanding Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act
Earlier this year, the legislature and Governor enacted Senate Bill 4 to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes from discrimination. This effort has been 50 years in the making and will protect our LGBTQ+ family, friends, coworkers and neighbors against discrimination in employment, public accommodations and public services. It will also provide protection in educational facilities, housing and real estate. I am happy to help make Michigan a more welcoming, inclusive and equitable state, and I will keep working to do so in all areas of public policy.
Protecting Reproductive Freedom in Michigan
The voters of Michigan sent a clear message in the 2022 election when they enshrined reproductive rights and abortion access into our state Constitution: women and families have the right to decide if and when to get pregnant, and deserve access to safe, secure healthcare in all reproductive decisions. As elected officials, it is our duty to uphold the state Constitution and respect the will of the voters. We did just that and finally voted to get the archaic 1931 abortion ban off the books, ensuring our laws align with our Constitution.
Clean Energy Policy
As we continue to see climate change bring an increasing amount of severe weather events and extreme temperatures to Michigan, the Michigan Legislature and Governor took a significant step toward tackling the issue and creating a healthier, more sustainable environment with the passage of the Clean Energy Future plan —Senate Bills 271, 273, 277, 502 and 519. This legislation will set long-awaited clean energy and renewable energy standards, increase energy efficiency targets, create a new Community and Worker Economic Transition Office and expand the role of the Michigan Public Service Commission. These laws will make significant and historic progress toward a sustainable future for Michigan and lay a solid foundation for continued work to improve Michigan’s energy industry and protect our air, land and water.
Successes Achieved for District 19 in 2023
As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard throughout the budget process to bring back investments to our community. I am especially proud to have helped secure more than $23 million towards the completion of the U.S. 131 Business Loop Interchangenorth of Kalamazoo. This project is something I have been passionate about for decades and will be transformational to our community.
Other local investments secured include:
- $2.2 million for Texas Township to address long-term flooding challenges.
- $1.75 million for the City of Portage to build a new farmers market.
- $500,000 for the Community Based Crisis Response Pilot Program in Kalamazoo to train behavioral health specialists working with law enforcement.
- $250,000 toward the development of a multi-venue performing arts center in downtown Kalamazoo.
Furthermore, as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Universities and Community Colleges, I was proud to work hard throughout the budget process to bring back investments to our community. Among the investments in Southwest Michigan included in the budget are:
- $4 million for the Western Michigan University Autism Center of Excellence to expand services for children with severe needs.
- $3 million for the Michigan Geological Survey housed at Western Michigan University.
- $530,000 for Kalamazoo Valley Community College to build a pipeline of careers in renewable energy.
I am excited to prioritize investments in our phenomenal higher educational public institutions in our community — Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The Michigan Geological Survey housed at WMU will continue to conduct important research throughout Michigan. KVCC will remain on the cutting edge of renewable energy careers that will be critical to Michigan’s transition to an electrified future.
I’m proud to highlight all these important achievements and to also note that it was accomplished entirely without raising taxes!
In Closing
It’s hard to believe the year is coming to a close. This year, I have had several bills passed and signed by the Governor. I am thrilled to have passed legislation that is important to the citizens of my district as well as the state of Michigan. I am thankful to my colleagues for their support on my bills and look forward to working with them in the next year.
Opioid Overdose Prevention
A concept brought to me from Kalamazoo’s own WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine, my Overdose Fatality Review Board legislation would allow county medical examiners or health officers to establish an Overdose Fatality Review Team (OFRT) to investigate overdose–related deaths and provide the necessary confidentiality protections. These teams would work to better understand local risk factors and trends and share recommendations with local health departments and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). On November 8, this bill passed in the Michigan Legislature. I am thrilled to have received bipartisan support on this necessary and important legislation.
Reducing Barriers to Teacher and Counselor Licenses from Out of State
PA 111 of 2023 pairs with PA 110 of 2023 (Sen. Geiss) to streamline the process for local school districts in Michigan to accept teacher and school counselor licenses from other states by allowing for three years of experience in lieu of certification examination, removing requirements to obtain an initial teaching certificate, and expanding reciprocity for teaching certificates to Tribes and other countries. I was happy to work with Sen. Geiss on this important legislation. This bill passed with unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers and was signed by Governor Whitmer on July 26, 2023.
College Sports On-Premises Consumption to Reduce Binge Drinking
PA 96 of 2023 amends the Liquor Control Code to allow the Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to grant licenses to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption to the governing board of a public university if certain conditions are met. This legislation was signed by Governor Whitmer on July 20, 2023.
Stay in Touch
Visiting the Michigan Capitol? If you plan to visit Lansing for a conference or to advocate for an issue important to you, please contact my office so we can set up a time to meet you.
Paying tribute? It is my pleasure to produce official legislative tributes honoring Kalamazoo County and Antwerp Township residents for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and special accomplishments. If you would like a tribute from state officials, please let me know and we would be glad to assist.
Helpful Links