District 35 News & Updates

Friends and Neighbors, 

Your Senate District 35 team has continued to work hard for you despite several days of Legislative Session cancelled following the Michigan State University shooting and severe winter storms. I appreciate you taking the time to follow our work in Lansing and in our community.  

While you may always contact our office directly, please note and spread the word about the other ways to keep in touch, and the helpful resources we list and link at our newsletter’s end. 

Sincerely,

Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator, District 35
(517) 373-1725
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI. 48909
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov

IN THIS EDITION 

• Legislative Update 
• In The Community  
• Coffee Hour 
• Helpful Resources and Links, Contact Us 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE  

$1 Billion Historic Tax Relief Package Heading to Governor’s Desk   

Working Families Tax Credit Increase, Retirement Tax Reform to Benefit 1.2M Michiganders    

After we passed Michigan’s biggest tax relief initiative in decades, including my expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit, the Michigan Senate voted on a single question February 28: Deliver or delay that relief for our workers and retirees? Put a billion dollars in Michiganders’ pockets now or withhold it from families squeezed the most by inflation until next year. 

Democrats voted to deliver relief now, but Republicans voted to delay it.  Without additional legislative action, families would have to wait until 2024 for this relief.  That’s why this week, I introduced a bill that would allow the recently approved expansion match of 30% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit to apply retroactively to tax year 2022.  Reintroducing this retroactive initiative gives Republicans another opportunity to work with us to deliver this financial relief as soon as possible. I am doing everything I can to get this game-changing money to struggling families this year.     

Beyond tax relief, the legislation we passed last month invests $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. This is significant, sustainable and ongoing dedicated funding to affordable housing. Additionally, this plan provides $50 million for Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grants to turn underutilized office, commercial, or community space into places for people to enjoy, including affordable housing, parks, outdoor dining spaces, community gathering places, and more.  

March 1, 2023   

The Senate passed Senate Bill 4, expanding Michigan’s civil rights law to include protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, and familial status. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation which adds sexual orientation and gender identity to protected statuses.  

Gun Safety Bills Introduced, Get Senate Committee Hearing. 

Last month, Senate Democrats introduced a package of 11 bills in three main categories:  

• Senate Bills 76, 77, 78 which implement Universal Background Checks. 
• Senate Bills 79, 80, 81, 82 which are Safe Storage laws. 
• Senate Bills 83, 84, 85, 86, which are Extreme Risk Protection Orders bills, also known as “red flag laws,” which allow the courts to order the temporary removal of firearms from those posing an imminent threat to themselves or others. 

On March 2, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety held our chamber’s first hearing on these bills, which Michiganders overwhelmingly support. These bills respect responsible gun ownership and will help prevent children, those with malicious intent, and those with extreme mental illness from having dangerously easy access to firearms. In combination with personal responsibility, enforcement, and mental health initiatives, this gun safety package will reduce injuries and save lives. I’m proud to sponsor Senate Bill 80, a bill within the Safe Storage package, and to join all my Democratic colleagues in cosponsoring the others. 

>> Press statement on introduction of gun safety bills  

No one should fear workplace retaliation or face discrimination for wearing their natural hair. The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) would prohibit race-based hair discrimination or the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or styles. If passed, Michigan would be the 21st state to ban hair discrimination.  

The Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment is available online, with paper copies available upon request. It provides an overview of the Saginaw Bay watershed, the process used to solicit restoration ideas from stakeholders, and the subsequent development of a preferred restoration alternative for submitted projects.  

Helping Our Youth Realize Their Potential 

I also had the pleasure of being a panelist for Self Love Beauty’s 2023 Teen Conference, an event offering area girls great lessons in affirmation.

Michigan awarded nearly $55 million for public housing improvements 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated $54.7 million to Michigan for public housing improvements. All 107 public housing authorities in our state will receive grant distributions, including $1.6 million for the Saginaw Housing Commission. A full list of local grants can be seen here. 

According to HUD, the grants will “build, renovate and modernize” the public housing stock to “ensure low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities have safe, decent and secure homes.” Housing authorities can use the funding to make improvements like replacing roofs, making energy-efficient upgrades to heating systems and installing water conservation measures. 

Saginaw Spirit  

Rep. Amos O’Neal and I joined Michigan Economic Development Corporation Chief Executive & Economic Competitive Officer Quentin Messer, Jr. at a recent Saginaw Spirit hockey game. Saginaw Spirit has an opportunity to bid on the 2024 Memorial Cup event with the potential for positive impact in our region.

Community Communications   

Not everyone can make it to in-person events, so when I can speak on issues with our local media, I’ll link those interviews here:  

WNEM – Gun Safety Bill Package. 

www.wnem.com/2023/02/17/lawmakers-introduce-new-gun-legislation/

WSGW The Art Lewis Show – Gun safety bills, tackling root causes; Tax breaks; education; community investments vs incentives to attract better jobs & talent; life after budget surplus; and what’s behind political dysfunction.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EKQidre6A (Interview begins at 9min mark) 

Podcast: A Republic If You Can Keep It – Working Families Tax Credit impact scope; MSU shooting and gun safety bills; intimidation in politics. 

https://a-republic-if-you-can-keep-it.blubrry.net/

Other Community Events 

Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes also attended last month’s Bay Area Chamber Annual State of the Community and the Midland Business Alliance’s Annual Meeting. Sen. McDonald Rivet was also a guest at The Ezekiel Project’s 26th Annual MLK Prayer Breakfast in Saginaw

Free Clinic: Driver License Restoration 
On March 8, The Michigan Department of State will host a Road to Restoration event at the SVRC Marketplace.  

WHEN: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 
WHERE: SVRC Marketplace, 203 S. Washington Ave. Saginaw Michigan, 48607 

You may sign up and learn more here.

COFFEE HOURS  

Coffee and Conversation with Sen. McDonald Rivet  

We had a strong turnout and substantive sharing at our February event. 

We’ll announce future in-district coffee hours as we finalize their logistics. It’s important to me to hear your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you.  

HELPFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS  

Winter Storm Tips 

While our region fared much better than other parts of Michigan during last month’s winter storm, weather-related damage and power outages can be challenging to navigate. Here are helpful resources should you ever need them:   

• DTE Outage Map
• Consumers Energy Outage Map 
• Power Outages | Ready.gov 
• Stay safe during blackouts: Blackouts (michigan.gov) 
• Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services has severe weather preparedness available on theier site: www.Michigan.gov/DIFS under the “Consumer” link. 
• Consumers having issues with their insurer or claims process may file a complaint with DIFS at www.Michigan.gov/DIFScompaints.
• The DIFS Office of Consumer Services, 877-999-6442, can also help answer questions regarding what an insurer must do and help explain policy language.   

Website Contact Form: This is the best and fastest way to reach us. 

Website News Page: This page archives our official press releases and statements.