Friends and Neighbors,
As your State Senator, it’s been my honor and mission to help make our communities and state more affordable for working families, more attractive for good-paying jobs, and more appealing to everyone looking for a safe, thriving place to live.
As you may know from the November 5th elections, I will be leaving the Michigan Senate to continue these fights for mid-Michigan families in a new role, effective January 3, 2025.
Your Senate District 35 team and I are committed to meeting constituents’ needs through this transition phase. If you have questions about the transition, legislation, or need assistance navigating state government matters, you have (3) options:
- Now through January 3 — Reach our office staff through this contact form.
- Anytime — Reach out to your elected Representative in the Michigan House.
- After January 3 — Our office will be staffed by a caseworker who will be able to facilitate constituents’ contact with State of Michigan departments.
I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving filled with what’s most meaningful to you.
Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator
District 35
(517) 373-1725
PO Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov
- With bipartisan support, the Senate passed my legislation to improve retirement benefits for corrections and conservation officers.
- Senate Democrats also advanced bills protecting Michigan workers and children.
- I joined veterans, community members and leaders at Midland’s Veterans Day ceremony to honor and thank the men and women who served in our armed forces and their families.
Senate Passes McDonald Rivet Legislation to Strengthen Retirement Benefits, Help Officer Recruitment
In late October, with some bipartisan support, the Michigan Senate passed legislation which I’m sponsoring with Senators John Cherry and Sue Shink. Senate Bills 165–167 would allow corrections, conservation, and certain other state officers to participate in the Michigan State Police hybrid retirement plan.
This will help address severe staffing and recruitment challenges, making everyone safer and providing these public servants with a much-deserved, fair and sustainable path toward retirement. I will continue to advocate for these bills as they move through the House.
Improving Michigan’s Unemployment System
In difficult times, unemployment benefits play a crucial role in stabilizing Michigan workers and their families while job searching. The pandemic and changing needs of Michigan’s workforce brought several issues to light in this space, including unnecessary barriers and outdated processes facing Michiganders who file unemployment claims.
In early November, the Senate Labor Committee voted to advance legislation that would make long overdue updates to Michigan’s unemployment insurance system, modernizing and streamlining processes so that claimants, workers, and employers all benefit. These bills now head to the Senate floor.
Cracking Down on Child Labor
Our children’s health and safety must never be compromised or exploited for profits. To crack down on child labor abuses, empower parents, and hold offending employers accountable, my colleagues and I passed Senate Bills 963–965 earlier this month. If passed by the House and enacted, this legislation would increase penalties and fines for businesses found to be employing minors illegally or subjecting them to unsafe working conditions.
Kudos to Election Officials and Workers
The Michigan Legislature passed a number of significant voting reforms in 2023. Implementation of these reforms — including expanded options for voting by mail and early, in-person voting — required an amazing effort from county and local clerks across our state. We owe tremendous credit to them, their teams, and every citizen who played a part in executing a free, fair, and record-turnout election in Michigan this fall.
East Side Soup Kitchen Receives $1 Million for Facility Expansion
The State of Michigan has awarded East Side Soup Kitchen a $1 million enhancement grant for a facility expansion, allowing them and Hidden Harvest to better serve Saginaw, Bay and Midland residents with safer, more efficient operations. State Representative Amos O’Neal and I advocated for this funding, and we are elated it was approved. This investment, along with the compassionate commitment of countless volunteers and staff, will meaningfully impact our community.
Celebrating Veterans, and Working for Them & Their Families
On November 11, 2024, I joined in Midland’s Veterans Day ceremony to honor the men and women who have protected our freedoms and inspired each succeeding generation to never take those freedoms for granted. On so many levels, it is important to have this dedicated day to express our profound gratitude for these bravest believers in America. It’s also every American’s obligation to help make veterans and their families whole for their time and sacrifices in service.
To help fulfill that obligation, my colleagues and I have worked to pass legislation and secure investments that include:
- Lowering costs for families of disabled veterans by eliminating red tape and ensuring spouses can maintain property tax exemptions.
- Securing funds for suicide prevention programs that help veterans and their families address the trauma related to military service.
- Strengthening protections for active-duty military members’ homes and credit union accounts while they are deployed.
- Expanding eligibility for tuition assistance to spouses and dependents of National Guard members.
- Expanding eligibility of the Disabled Veteran registration plate to partially disabled veterans and establishing a special registration plate for women veterans.
More information about the Senate’s efforts to do right by Michigan veterans is here, and more about resources available to veterans is here.
Encouraging Youth Interest in Government
It was a pleasure to help open the YMCA Michigan Youth in Government District 4 Fall Conference hosted at Delta College, and encouraging to see so many students taking an interest in how our democracy works. These young men and women take seriously their responsibility to build on past progress and challenge the status quo with fresh perspectives. It’s never too early (or late!) to be an engaged citizen.
Now is an excellent time to winterize your home and vehicle, and to make or review an emergency plan for extreme cold and other winter weather events. The Michigan State Police recommend weatherproofing homes, insulating pipes, cleaning gutters to prevent ice dams, and ensuring heating systems are safe. Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors and create an emergency kit with essentials like food, water, and blankets. Have emergency supplies in your vehicle including a flashlight, jumper cables, and extra warm clothing. The resource links below also have helpful information:
Severe Storm, Power Outage and Utilities Assistance Resources
- MI READY (disaster, power outage, and emergency preparedness)
- Managing Storm Debris (EGLE resource for local officials)
- State Emergency Relief Program (extreme hardship threatening health and safety)
- Michigan Energy Assistance Program
- Weatherization Assistance Program
Deer Hunting Season Information
The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources has a dedicated webpage to help hunters have a safe and successful season. You may find dates, licenses, regulations, maps, and more here. You may also click on these links to learn how Michigan Senate Democrats have worked to reduce red tape for hunters, restore our game species, and protect Michigan’s outdoor spaces.
College and Career Training Resources and Scholarships
Whether your student’s path is community college, skilled trade certification or other career training, I encourage you to learn more at either the November 26 or December 10 informational session/ webinar; each begins at 6:30 p.m.
Mental Health Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit this Lifeline Chat, to connect with a trained crisis counselor at this free 24/7 nationwide confidential hotline.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255.
- The Trevor Project has counselors trained in the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here for their 24/7 support.
Locating Mental Health Treatment Services
- Michigan 211: Call 211 or visit mi211.org to speak with a live person who can help you locate long-term mental health resources or talk through a problem. All conversations are confidential, can be made anonymously, and are available in 180 languages upon request.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Visit FindTreatment.gov, a confidential and anonymous resource, to locate treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders near you.
- Michigan Community Mental Health Services Programs: CMHSPs provide a comprehensive range of services and supports to children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in all 83 Michigan counties. Find your local program here.
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.
- Website Contact Form: This is the best, fastest way to reach us.
- Phone: (517) 373-1725 | Email: SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov
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 ways to learn about our work.
- Enewsletter Signup | Newsletter Archive | Press Releases | Sponsored Bills
- My Senate website | Senate TV website | Michigan Senate website
- Upcoming Events