Senate District 13 Update

In This Edition:

• Statement on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• Updates From the Capitol

RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE

While the focus of our work in the Legislature does not intersect with foreign policy, the horrific and unwarranted attack on Ukraine by Russia and President Vladimir Putin demands attention and clarity from all of us, especially in support of the thousands of Ukranian-Americans who call our district, state, and country home.

We stand with Ukraine and our Ukrainian-American friends and neighbors, and will be monitoring closely.

>> Watch Senator McMorrow speak more on this issue on “This Week with Mallory.”

UPDATES FROM THE CAPITOL

March for Our Lives Capitol Advocacy Day
Last week, students from our district and around Michigan came to speak with legislators about gun violence and mental health. During my conversation with the student advocates, I spoke with a survivor from Oxford High School, who shared her story about transitioning back into school and the struggles she has experienced from the trauma.

>> Hear more of what I had to say about this on YouTube.

Petition Bills
Last week, Senate Democrats introduced a legislative bill package that would make it illegal to use misleading tactics to get voters to sign ballot proposals. My bill in this legislative package, Senate Bill 605, would allow voters who signed a petition, referendum, or an initiative, to be able to remove their signature and name by filing a writing request to do so with their county election official up until when the petition is filed.

>> Learn more about the bill package on my YouTube page.

Prescription Drug Bills
Michigan joined a growing number of states working towards tackling the rising costs of prescription drugs by introducing legislation to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

This bill package would establish drug affordability review boards to determine certain drug rates, set spending targets, limit how much residents pay for certain high-cost drugs, and allow the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services director to decide how much to increase fees. Residents should not have to worry about whether or not they can afford the medications they need and I hope the legislature will take action on this bill package.

>> Learn more about this bill package from my weekly digital coffee hour.

Labor Bill Package
The Michigan Labor Caucus introduced a bicameral bill package to put Michigan workers first by further protecting workers rights and also restoring the right for workers to organize and collectively bargain.

I am the primary sponsor on three bills in this legislative package. The first bill, Senate Bill 921, would repeal the Domestic Partner Benefit Restriction Act that prohibits employers from providing domestic partners benefits. The original intent of the law aimed to deny LGBTQ families their rightful benefits. It’s long overdue for it to be repealed. The Michigan Supreme Court has already struck down Sections 3 and 4 of this Act as being unconstitutional.

Senate Bills 919 and 920, would create a registry of employees who relocate a call center to a foreign country and deny those companies certain economic development incentives for those businesses listed on the registry.

>> Hear me speak more on the bills.

Senate Action
Social Districts (House Bill 5090)
Last week the legislature passed House Bill 5090, which would eliminate the sunset on social districts. Social districts have become a new way to enjoy our downtown spaces and support new our local businesses. Our office had previously worked on this issue with Sen. Jeff Irwin early in 2020 in Senate Bills 939 and 938.

As always, our office can be contacted at SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov or through our contact form on our website here.

Sincerely,