Kicking Off 2024

Jan 19, 2024 | Email

Friends and Neighbors,

Happy 2024! The Michigan Legislature is back in session, and it continues to be my honor to serve you and our Great Lakes Bay Region neighbors.

I’m excited to build on the transformational legislation we passed last year. With the same commitment to listen, learn and lead, I’ll work with anyone to improve Michiganders’ lives in affordable, practical and meaningful ways.

Learn about the new year’s priorities directly from me at our next coffee hour and from Governor Whitmer in her State of the State address, both happening next week. Read on for those details, as well as recaps of local MLK Day events, how to follow legislative action, assistance resources and more. 

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

 

 

In This Edition

 

  • Upcoming Events
  • Celebrating MLK Day 
  • Laws Taking Effect In 2024 
  • How to Follow Legislative Action 
  • Helpful Resources & Links 
  • Connecting With Us

Upcoming Events

 

 

Coffee & Conversation in Midland

WHEN: Monday, January 22 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: United Steelworkers Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Rd., Midland, MI 48642

Our constituent hours are your opportunity to share what’s on your mind and learn about our work directly from me. If you’re unable to join us on the 22nd, we rotate locations by county each month and always post upcoming in-district events here on our website.

Tune In January 24: Michigan State of the State 

Mark your calendars! Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver the 2024 State of the State Address at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24. She will lay out her plans to lower costs for Michiganders, expand access to safe and affordable homes here, continue record investments in education from preschool to college, protect our seniors, further boost our state’s economy and more.

You may watch the 2024 State of the State address on local TV, the Governor’s website, Facebook or YouTube.

Celebrating MLK Day

Monday, January 15 was filled with beautiful gatherings celebrating Dr. King, recognizing local heroes who bring his dream to life and serving our community.

I want to thank everyone who braved the cold to join the 28th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity March and Luncheon Celebration, sponsored by the Saginaw Alphas and Delta College Black Faculty and Staff Association.

I appreciated the chance to talk with Dow Treasure Academy students ahead of their Socks & Soup drive that day. Thanks to them and community partners UAW Local 699, Parishioners on Patrol and Healing Engagement Love Presence (HELP) for organizing this service opportunity.

I wrapped up MLK Day at a forum on the state of Saginaw’s black community. While big changes don’t happen overnight, a thriving community is worth the work. I’m inspired by our shared commitment and will always fight for the fair shots and quality opportunities everyone deserves.

Thanks to Bishop Hurley J. Coleman, Jr. for moderating, Saginaw Community Alliance for the People for hosting and to panelists and community members for this sincere discussion. 

 

Laws Taking Effect in 2024  
As highlighted in our 2023 Year In Review, we passed an incredible amount of legislation last year to improve opportunities and outcomes for Michiganders. While some laws took immediate effect, the impact of others will only begin this year. These are some important measures going into effect February 13, 2024:

Tax Relief for Working Families
In just a few weeks, the expansion of Michigan’s match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit from 6% to 30% takes effect. The tax credit increase I secured will deliver much-needed relief to working families struggling the most to afford the basics.

Because we made the expanded EITC match retroactive to tax year 2022, more than 700,000 lower-wage households who qualified last year will automatically receive checks for this tax credit increase. The State will begin mailing those checks Feb 13, with the amount averaging $550 statewide and $600 in our district.

Eligible families should file as usual to claim the full combined federal and state credit in tax year 2023 (averaging $3,150 per household), and everyone should update new address information here if applicable.

Michigan Department of Treasury’s Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families website has great information on EITC benefits, eligibility and how to claim this tax credit.

Tax Relief for Seniors
The roll back of the unfair retirement tax, which I co-sponsored, is another significant tax relief priority delivered by Democrats. Beginning with tax year 2023, ourte legislation gradually expands tax deductions for retirement income, effectively phasing out the “pension tax” burden over four years. This will put an average of $1,000 back in the pockets of 500,000 Michigan retirees.  

With the expanded Michigan EITC for Working Families and the Retirement Tax Repeal, Democrats are returning a historic $1 billion of tax relief to Michigan residents and local economies. To learn more about how you can take advantage of these new policies when filing your taxes, visit Michigan.gov/taxes.

Restoring Workers’ Rights
Michigan workers are the lifeblood of our state and economy. In previous administrations, Republicans enacted anti-union policies that weakened workers’ rights. I joined my Democratic colleagues in restoring provisions to help workers collectively bargain for fair pay, safe working conditions and better job security. We also reinstated prevailing wages on state construction projects to uplift workers and ensure Michigan has high-quality infrastructure.
Keeping Kids and Communities Safe from Gun Violence
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens. The commonsense gun violence prevention laws we passed last year will begin saving lives when they take effect in Michigan next month: expanded background checks, firearm storage requirements around children, extreme risk protection orders and stronger penalties for convicted domestic abusers’ firearm access.
Protecting Reproductive Rights
Taking effect this February, our repeal of Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban brings state law up to date with the new constitutional amendment guaranteeing residents’ freedom to make this most intimate decision without government interference. Our repeal of most of the remaining arbitrary, burdensome and outdated laws restricting access to pregnancy and abortion care will go into effect at the same time, ensuring Michiganders’ constitutional right can be exercised.
 
Strengthening Our Democracy
Every election is an opportunity to have a say in who represents you and your values at the local, state and federal level. Beginning with this year’s elections, the legislation we passed in 2023 provides Michiganders with what they want: more days of early in-person voting, more drop boxes, one-and-done absentee voter applications and more. Learn more here about how the new laws will improve election efficiency, increase voter registration opportunities, protect election workers and provide equal access to the ballot box.

Investing In Clean Energy for our Economic, Health and Climate Futures
We passed the Clean Energy & Jobs Act last year to move away from the status quo that has hurt our pocketbooks, people and planet for decades. Reversing decades of past harms will take time but, beginning next month, Michigan will have more tools than ever to move toward energy diversification and independence, lower energy costs, create good-paying energy sector jobs, capitalize on billions of federal tax dollars for our clean energy transition and protect our natural resource assets, Michiganders’ property rights and health.

 

How to Follow Legislative Action  

The Michigan Legislature reconvened last week, which means bill introductions, committee hearings, votes and more. To be the most informed and effective voice possible for you and your district neighbors, I need to hear from you!

Here are some basic FAQs and links that will help you keep track of what’s moving through the Legislature. All the ways to follow current legislative work and connect with our office are also listed at the end of each of our enewsletters.

1) When does the Legislature meet? The Senate and the House of Representatives session schedules can be found here, but both bodies typically hold sessions and committee hearings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

2) Can I watch the Michigan Legislature in action? Yes! You may watch remotely through the Michigan Senate TV Livestream and Michigan House TV Livestream (past footage is available through the “All Videos” option on these sites). Sessions are also open for in-person viewing from the gallery; consult the State Capitol website if you want a tour to be part of your visit.

3) Can I watch Committee Hearings? Yes! The Senate TV and House TV links above will include committee hearing videos. Meeting agendas and minutes are also posted to respective websites for all Senate Committees and House Committees.  

 

Helpful Resources & Links 

Michigan 2-1-1
Michigan 2-1-1 is a free service that connects Michiganders with nonprofits to find help with basic needs, from locating warming centers, to assistance with energy bills, food and shelter. Visit mi211.org or call 2-1-1.

Utilities Assistance & Power Outage Resources

College and Career Training Resources and Scholarships

 

Vaccine Recommendations, Testing Information

 

Connecting With Us

If You Need Help
If you have issues dealing with any state government department, including accessing unemployment benefits or tax information, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to connect you with the most appropriate person or organization for help.  

 

Most Current Updates
Social media sites are neither official government websites nor are they well suited for constituent correspondence. However, since we post frequently, our social media accounts can be a very timely way to learn about legislative action, community news and impacts. Visit my Facebook page or my Threads page.

Our newsletters, website, and constituent hours are also great to learn about our work.