Dear Neighbor:
March is Reading Month!
Whether it be a hardback, paperback, e-book or audiobook, this month is the perfect time to get started on your TBR (to be read) list 📚
With the legislative year underway, the Senate is busy with legislation and the budget for 2024-25. I hope this newsletter informs you of all the exciting things happening in the Legislature and throughout District 19, including my next in-person coffee hour.
As always, if you or someone you know would like to provide feedback about what’s happening in Lansing or needs assistance, feel free to contact my office. You can email us at sensmccann@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-5100.
Sincerely,
Sean McCann
State Senator
19th District
Earned Income Tax Credit Checks Sent
On Tuesday, Feb. 12, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that eligible Michigan families will begin receiving Working Families Tax Credit supplemental. The new checks are part of a $1 billion tax relief package signed into law last year that will help put an average of $550 back into the pockets of working families.
Please note the Department of Treasury will automatically process checks for Michigan residents who submitted their 2022 tax return and confirmed eligibility for the additional state credit. Checks will be mailed on a rolling basis as soon as they are printed. It is estimated to take between five to six weeks to print and distribute all payments.
Eligible Michigan residents do not need to submit any additional paperwork to receive the tax credit. However, if an individual has moved frequently or recently and has concerns about their address accuracy, Michigan residents can manually update it here.
Michigan’s Individual Income Tax Filing Season Officially Began on January 29
The Michigan Department of Treasury announced that Monday, Jan. 29, was the official start date of the 2024 tax season when the agency will begin processing individual income tax returns.
Individuals can file their state income tax return online, with a tax professional or by mailing in paper forms and documentation. All state of Michigan income tax returns and payment of any taxes owed must be received by April 15, 2024. For the convenience of taxpayers, the state’s individual income tax deadline is the same date set by the Internal Revenue Service. To learn more, click here.
Here are a few quick tips to help you maximize your state and federal tax return this year:
- Avoid scams: For federal returns, the IRS will only initiate contact with you through regular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Make sure you do not share your personal tax information via phone, email or social media.
- Utilize free resources: Michigan Free Tax Help connects Michigan residents with free, high-quality income tax preparation assistance. Visit MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org to find local help.
- Take advantage of available deductions: You can deduct charitable contributions, property taxes, medical expenses and more from your federal 2023 taxes. Visit IRS.gov/credits-deductions for a full list.
The Michigan Department of Treasury’s website has a vast amount of information to help navigate filing taxes and checking returns. Treasury’s Individual Income Tax (IIT) eService is a web platform used by the taxpayer to check refund status, view tax account information, ask questions, and more! Need help? Visit the Help Center here: www.michigan.gov/iit/refund
Furthermore, The Individual Income Tax Automated Call System (IIT IVR) can be used to answer direct calls to ensure taxpayers receive accurate, timely information from Treasury representatives. You can utilize their customer contact center here: 517-636-4486 (M-F 8-4:30)
To ensure that the eService site or contact phone line can assist you, please ensure you have the five “Shared Secrets” on hand:
- Social Security Number
- Last Name
- Tax Year of Return in Question
- Adjusted Gross Income or Total Household Resources
- Filing Status
New Legislation Taking Effect
As of February 13, many new important laws took effect following their passing in the Michigan Legislature last year.
Legislation Ensuring Michigan’s Clean Energy Future
In 2023, my colleagues and I passed the Clean Energy Future plan in response to the escalating impact of climate change, and the rising frequency of severe weather events and extreme temperatures in Michigan. The Clean Energy Future plan took effect this past week — establishing clean energy and renewable energy standards, elevates energy efficiency targets, establishes a new Community and Worker Economic Transition Office and broadens the responsibilities of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
These laws mark 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. Read more here.
Legislation Ensuring Access to Reproductive Healthcare
Nearly 2.5 million Michigan voters showed overwhelming support for Proposal 3 in November 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. On November 22, 2023, Michigan took another bold step forward to ensure Michigan laws reflect Michigan values when Gov. Whitmer signed the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law. Now, Michigan is taking another step forward this week as the RHA goes into full effect.
This legislation was crafted with constituents and advocates in mind — taking into account their diverse lived experiences and perspectives.
New Gun Safety Laws to Protect Families
To help protect Michigan families — particularly children — from the tragedies of gun violence and unintentional firearms injuries, a law requiring secure storage of firearms goes went effect starting Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Under Public Act 17 of 2023, firearms must be locked and unloaded when unattended, particularly if minors are likely to be present. Failure to comply, as outlined in Public Act 16 of 2023, results in penalties, including misdemeanors and felonies, if minors gain access to improperly stored firearms.
These measures aim to address alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, revealing that many unintentional firearm injuries among minors occur due to unlocked and loaded firearms, often stored in accessible areas like nightstands. Additionally, firearms are involved in over half of Michigan’s suicide deaths.
To ensure federally licensed firearms dealers communicate the new requirements to their customers, the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is working with the state Attorney General’s Office to provide dealers with safety information on the use and storage of firearms, requirements and penalties of the new laws and lethal means counseling literature.
To help defray the cost of purchasing firearm safety devices, additional legislation made these devices exempt from sales and use taxes through Dec. 24, 2024. Free gun safety kits can also be obtained through Project ChildSafe law enforcement partners across the state. MDHHS is also working with the Michigan State Police to make gun locks available; additional details of this partnership will be announced soon.
Find more information on the new gun safety laws here.
Dangerous Dogs Testimony
On February 20, I provided testimony in support of my legislation to address dangerous dog owners and protect individuals who encounter dangerous dogs. I have worked on this issue since 2014 when I was a State Representative and believe it’s far past time to get these protections in statute.
Senate Bills 683 and 684 target dog behaviors, rather than specific breeds, and provide a framework for determining which dogs are dangerous. The bills specify the required steps for owners to take to protect people and other animals if their dog is determined to be potentially dangerous or dangerous by a district court magistrate, district court or municipal court.
As an animal lover and former dog owner, I believe these bills are crucial to help implement protective guidelines to keep our community members and other domestic animals safe while making owners of dangerous dogs accountable. We have unfortunately seen far too many instances of loss of life and severe injuries to people. Dogs that have a violent history also present an increased risk of future attacks. These bills will attempt to prevent attacks from happening in the first place.
Michigan Association of State Universities’ (MASU) Cybersecurity Legislation
On February 29, I introduced legislation that would provide much needed cybersecurity threat detection, prevention, and response capabilities for higher education providers by creating 24/7 Security Operations Centers (SOCs). You can learn more about Senate Bill 737 here.
Far too few higher education institutions in the State of Michigan have adequate individual resources to assemble a fully featured SOC at scale. After the creation, the SOC operational costs are expected to be funded with dues from participating members.
MDOT Urges Drivers to Utilize Zipper Merging to Reduce Construction Delays
Every Michigan resident’s favorite season — construction season — is almost upon us, which means it’s time to gear up for the usual lane closures, traffic shuffles and detours ahead. Amidst these changes, it’s important to stay focused on the road and stay tuned in to updates, changes, or any potential delays.
To help ease the flow of traffic and minimize headaches, MDOT is urging Michigan drivers to embrace the “zipper merge” technique when navigating through construction zones. Like the zipper on your coat, this method encourages utilizing both lanes until the merger point, allowing vehicles to take turns merging politely and orderly. MDOT says that by employing this approach, we can cut down on delays from 2 miles to just 1 mile, making the journey smoother for everyone. See how the zipper merge works here.
Coffee Hour at Advia Credit Union on March 18
I’m inviting you to meet me at Advia Credit Union in Oshtemo for an in-person coffee hour on March 18th. Come learn about what is going on in Lansing and share your thoughts and opinions with me.
WHAT: Meet with McCann Coffee Hour
WHEN: March 18, Noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Advia Credit Union, 6400 West Main St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009
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.
Publications
A resource my office has to offer, but many may not know about, are constituent publications! The Michigan Legislature produces several publications full of useful information for constituents to use, and my office can provide them.
Some of our most popular publications are our Constituent’s Guide, the US and Michigan Constitutions, Services for Seniors, and Veterans Benefits. Many of these publications include how-to guides for forms and services that can be very helpful.
Please reach out to my office if you are interested in learning more or would like us to send you any copies.
HELPFUL LINKS