Dear Neighbor:
I hope you are staying safe and warm this winter. Be sure to take extra care when going outside or traveling in these conditions. Bundle up and stay warm, watch out for ice and pay attention to changing weather conditions.
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
State of the State 2024
On January 24, Governor Whitmer delivered her State of the State address. I’m proud to be a part of the significant progress Michigan has made under Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s leadership. For 2024, I’m excited about the top priorities reflected in her #MISOTS24 address. Expanding access to preschool, higher education, and housing are just a few of the great initiatives that will make Michigan an even better place to call home.
You can watch the State of the State 2024 stream here.
Reintroduction of Legislation to Protect People from Dangerous Dogs
On January 11, I was proud to reintroduce 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.
You can learn more information here: https://senatedems.com/mccann/2024/01/11/dangerous-dogs-mccann/
Repealing the Retirement Tax
Ending the tax on retirees has been a top priority for Democrats for more than a decade. This was accomplished this past year in the Michigan Legislature.
Public Act 4 of 2023 phases out the unfair and unpopular retirement tax over four years and will put an average of $1,000 back in the pockets of 500,000 households. This legislation provides targeted and equitable relief for retirees, restoring the broken promise of a safe, secure and happy retirement.
Public police officers and firefighters, county correction officers, state troopers and sergeants will receive the full exemption beginning on February 13, 2024. Michigan residents from other professions will have the option to choose the best taxing situation for their retirement benefits, by opting into either the tier structure subtraction or phase-in subtraction until the full repeal takes effect in 2026. You may wish to consult with a qualified tax preparer to ensure you are able to deduct the maximum amount of retirement benefits.
Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit
To help alleviate financial hardship for families, I was proud to work with my colleagues to create the Working Families Tax Credit this past year — quintupling Michigan’s match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 6% to 30%. Public Act 4 of 2023 will help 700,000 Michigan citizens who have the hardest time affording the basics save an average of $3,150 per year. The expansion takes effect on February 13, 2024. To qualify for the Michigan EITC, you must already qualify for the federal credit.
In addition to claiming it this tax season, the expanded Michigan EITC is also retroactive to the 2022 tax year (last tax season). Federally eligible individuals who claimed the Michigan EITC on their 2022 taxes received the original 6% credit. After the expansion takes effect, the Michigan Department of Treasury will begin to issue supplemental check payments over a period of 5-6 weeks, to provide eligible taxpayers with the remaining 24% portion of the credit. The Michigan Department of Treasury encourages residents to stay up to date and verify their eligibility at Michigan.gov/taxes.
Michigan School Meals
Michigan’s 1.4 million public school children will be receiving nutritious free meals at school this year as a result of a $160 million appropriation in the state’s School Aid budget adopted by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in August of 2023.
Through the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Michigan School Meals assures all breakfasts and lunches served to public-school students, grades Pre-K to 12, are free to all children. Hungry students lose focus and concentration in class. This new state investment allows all students to eat one breakfast and one lunch for free each day of the entire school year if they choose.
The Michigan School Meals program is an investment that gives our children the opportunity to focus on learning and a healthier future rather than worrying about their next meal.
You can learn more information regarding the state funded program here: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/food/michigan-school-meals
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship provides last dollar scholarship awards to Michigan undergraduate students at public and private 2-year and 4-year institutions.
Students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or certificate of completion or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after may be eligible for more financial aid from the State of Michigan:
- Up to $2,000 if they attend a career training program in Michigan, per year, up to two years
- Up to $2,750 if they attend a Michigan community college, per year, up to three years
- Up to $4,000 if they attend a Michigan private college or university, per year, up to five years
- Up to $5,500 if they attend a Michigan public university or are enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a Michigan community college, per year, up to five years
For more information, click here.
Take Care of Yourself, Combat Winter Blues
The winter season can bring joy and happiness but can also have an adverse impact on mental health. It is important to consistently check in with your mental health and ensure you are getting the support you need. If you find yourself emotionally struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, please be sure to utilize the following resources:
- Call or text 988/988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (or 988 Lifeline). It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant). To learn more, click here.
- If you need mental health care, go to the MDHHS website for more information.
2024 Laws Going into Effect
After a historic year with the Democrats in the majority, there were major pieces of legislation that passed. These are some of the laws taking effect on February 13, 2024:
Restoring Workers’ Rights. Legislation repealing Michigan’s anti-worker law (House Bills 4004, 4007 and Senate Bill 34) — which allowed union workers to opt out of paying union dues and fees — is set to go into effect.
Gun Safety. This year, gun safety-related legislation (Senate Bills 79, 80, 81 , 82 plus House Bills 4138 and 4142) will take effect , including the following: expansion of background checks, safe gun storage requirements and laws permitting courts to temporarily remove guns from those a judge deems pose an imminent threat to themselves or others, as well as temporarily banning those with domestic violence convictions from possessing and purchasing firearms and ammunition in Michigan.
Please remember: Starting February 13, if you are a gun owner who has young children, make sure to safely secure your firearms — unloaded, locked, and if possible, separate from ammunition when not in use. For more information on secure storage, please visit BeSMARTforKids.org.
Reproductive Health Act. The Reproductive Health Act (Senate Bills 474, 476 and 477 plus House Bills 4949, 4951, 4953–4956) will remove restrictive regulations for clinics, repeal a state law requiring the purchase of a special insurance rider for private health plans to cover abortion and remove a law banning higher education institutions’ pregnant and parenting services offices from providing referrals for abortion services.
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