There has been a lot happening in Lansing and our district lately! The Michigan presidential primary took place on Tuesday, February 27 and several important pieces of legislation took effect over the last two weeks — including new gun violence prevention laws, tax relief for Michigan families and seniors, support for Michigan workers, reproductive health protections, and clean energy legislation. In addition to these laws, I was in attendance when Governor Gretchen Whitmer presented her executive budget to the Senate Appropriations Committee. I look forward to developing another budget that continues to make important investments in our state.
March is both Women’s History Month and Marching is Reading Month! Women’s History Month offers a time to shine a light on the resilience and achievements of extraordinary women throughout history who deserve celebration. March is Reading Month emphasizes the joy and importance of reading for all ages. Reading is a crucial part of learning and social and professional development. We honor the legacies of remarkable women and embrace the transformative power of literature throughout the month of March.
As always, if you want to share your views on legislation or budget priorities or need assistance, you can email us at senmmcmorrow@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-2523.
Sincerely,
Mallory McMorrow
State Senator
District 8
Action In the Legislature
Senate Fiscal Agency Presents on Governor Whitmer’s Executive Budget Recommendation in Senate Appropriations Committee
On Wednesday, February 14, a week after the Governor presented her budget recommendation to House and Senate Appropriations, Michigan’s Senate Fiscal Agency presented on the recommendation to Senate Appropriations members. The Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA) was created by State law as a nonpartisan legislative agency designed primarily to provide the Michigan Senate with sound and unbiased assistance in two principal areas: fiscal related issues via detailed projections of the United States and Michigan economies and forecasts of State revenue collections and written analysis of all proposed legislation being considered by the Senate.
State budget recommendations are usually referred to as one budget, but they’re often comprised of multiple pieces of legislation. This year, the Governor presented three budgets that work together:
- Departmental/general budget,
- Education/school aid-specific supplemental budget,
- Supplemental budget for the Department of Natural Resources
SFA explained that the adjusted gross total of the Governor’s budget recommendation is around $80.7 billion, with about 47% of that going towards the Department of Health and Human Services. They also detailed that the Department of National Resources supplemental budget accounts for ~50 projects statewide that were approved last December. We will continue to receive SFA projections and will dive deep into the budget over the next couple of months as the Legislature prepares our budget legislation.
Senate Economic and Community Development Committee holds first committee hearing of 2024
Besides being a member of the Senate Appropriations committee, I am the Majority Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic and Community Development, which held its first hearing of the year on February 15th. Testimony was given by Senator Klinefelt and the East Michigan APEX accelerator Program Director on Klinefelt’s Senate Bill 481, which is a technical fix bill that adjusts the name of the APEX accelerator program in pre-existing statute to match name changes that were enacted last year by the program.
The Chief Growth Officer for Michigan, Hilary Doe of the MI Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), also joined the committee to present on the Growing Michigan Together Council’s December population growth report, which was commissioned by Governor Whitmer to better understand and address Michigan’s dire population predicament.
Doe shared several sobering data points — Michigan is currently ranked 49th out of 50 U.S. states when it comes to population growth annually; population declines are proven to threaten business attraction, erode local tax bases, and even limit political influence and this report reflects just how. Whether it be a need for more young people to move to Michigan or a need for higher wages, more diverse industries offering job opportunities, public transportation, affordable housing, or even affordable childcare access, this report and Doe’s testimony reiterated what I have been saying, that there’s much work to be done here at home and many possible routes we can take to get back on track.
Asbestos Transparency and Accountability Legislation Passes Out of Senate
On Tuesday, the Senate passed House Bills 4185, 4186, 4188 and 4190, along with Senate Bills 225–226. The changes laid out in this legislation will help protect Michigan municipalities, residents and asbestos abatement workers from the health hazards that can occur when asbestos removal is handled improperly.
Contractors bidding on public projects must disclose all environmental violations at the state or federal level that occurred within the last 5 years. Public agencies may withhold payment until contractors prove that they have taken remedial steps if a violation occurs. Additionally, the MI Dept. Of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) will collect notification fees to fund asbestos abatement inspections and file an annual report on asbestos inspector staffing levels. This legislation will also assist EGLE in addressing the lack of resources to conduct proper inspections to ensure safety.
Addressing Financial Penalties in Auto Insurance
Senate Bills 282, 708 and 709 were passed regarding no-fault insurance. These bills provide a waiver of penalties for lapse of car insurance policy for certain individuals and would amend the Insurance Code to specify that an automobile insurer could not refuse to insure or modify coverage and costs of insurance solely because of an individual’s failure to maintain insurance while incarcerated. The bills would prohibit an automobile insurer from refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, limiting coverage available to, charging a reinstatement fee for, or increasing the premiums for automobile insurance for an individual who was an eligible person solely because the individual failed to maintain insurance during the six-month period preceding the application if the individual provided the insurer a certified statement.
Generally, car owners must maintain insurance coverage or face penalties for a lapse. According to testimony before the Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection, it is often impossible to maintain coverage while incarcerated, and once released, these individuals need reliable methods of transportation to fulfill parole or release requirements such as securing employment.
In the Community
Honoring Those Impacted by the MSU Tragedy
February 13 marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting incident on Michigan State University’s campus.
We remembered the three lives lost — Arielle Anderson, Alexandria Verner and Brian Fraser — and honored them as well as those who are forever impacted.
Two days later, Michigan Senate Democrats supported students at the Capitol who rallied for commonsense gun safety legislation a year ago during a sit-down demonstration. This simple yet powerful gesture served as a reminder of our shared humanity, and we stand united in our resolve to rebuke acts of violence and terror within our communities. #SpartanStrong
Michigan’s Presidential Primary
The Michigan Presidential Primary Election took place on Tuesday, February 27 and many took advantage of the increased access to absentee or early voting made possible through the implementation of Prop 2 legislation to secure and expand voting rights. Over one million early and absentee votes were cast ahead of the Primary as voters embraced convenient options that make it easier to vote in a secure way, ensuring Michiganders can make their voices heard in every election.
Women’s History Month / March is Reading Month
March is both Women’s History Month as well as March is Reading Month and Dr. Naomi Long Madgett is an inspiration for both.
Publishing her first poetry book at 17 years old, she was a professional poet since 1941 and built her career on helping other poets. Not being able to find the right press for her fourth book, Dr. Madgett published it herself and founded Lotus Press, which she ran from her basement in Detroit for decades and is one of the oldest Black-owned presses in the country. Dr. Madgett was popularly known for her contributions in pushing representation of African Americans in textbooks. She earned her master’s degree in English education from Detroit’s Wayne University (now Wayne State) in 1955. In the 1960’s she taught at Detroit’s Northwestern High School, launching the school’s first accredited course in African American literature. In 1968, she taught creative writing and Black literature at Eastern Michigan University, where she worked until retirement in 1984. The longtime Detroit Poet Laureate said, “What I have done with my life is only what I was supposed to do.”
Her poem, “Midway,” was a response to Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that found racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional. It concludes with these lines:
I’ve seen the daylight breaking high above the bough.
I’ve found my destination and I’ve made my vow;
So whether you abhor me
Or deride me or ignore me
Mighty mountains loom before me and I won’t stop now.
Dr. Madgett died in 2020 at the age of 97.
News You Can Use
Gun Violence Prevention Laws Went into Effect This Month
To help protect Michigan families — particularly children — from the tragedies of gun violence and unintentional firearms injuries, a law requiring secure storage of firearmstook effect on February 13.
Under Public Act 17 of 2023, firearms must be locked and unloaded when unattended, particularly if minors are likely to be present. Failure to comply, as outlined in Public Act 16 of 2023, results in penalties, including misdemeanors and felonies, if minors gain access to improperly stored firearms.
These measures aim to address alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, revealing that many unintentional firearm injuries among minors occur due to unlocked and loaded firearms, often stored in accessible areas like nightstands. Additionally, firearms are involved in over half of Michigan’s suicide deaths. Find more information on the new gun safety laws here.
Please remember: If you are a gun owner who has children, make sure to safely secure your firearms — unloaded, locked, and if possible, separate from ammunition when not in use. To help defray the cost of purchasing firearm safety devices, additional legislation made these devices exempt from sales and use taxes through December 24, 2024. To find a free gun lock, please click here. For more information on secure storage, please visit BeSMARTforKids.org.
Mental Health Resources for the Spartan Community
As we marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting on Michigan State University’s campus, many survivors, victims and their families — as well as MSU and the communities affected — understandably are still in need of support.
For resources, please go to the university’s Spartans Together website.
If you find yourself emotionally struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, please be sure to utilize the following resources:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health. To learn more, click here.
- If you need mental health care, go to the MDHHS website for more information.
Legislation Ensuring Michigan’s Clean Energy Future Took Effect February 13
In 2023, the Michigan Senate passed the Clean Energy Future plan in response to the escalating impact of climate change and the rising frequency of severe weather events and extreme temperatures in our state. The Clean Energy Future plan took effect — establishing clean energy and renewable energy standards, elevating energy efficiency targets, establishing a new Community and Worker Economic Transition Office and broadening the responsibilities of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
These laws mark significant and historic progress toward a sustainable future for Michigan and lay the foundation for continued work to improve Michigan’s energy industry, while protecting our air, land and water. Read more here.
Legislation Ensuring Access to Reproductive Healthcare Went into Effect
Michigan voters showed overwhelming support for Proposal 3 in November 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In November 2023, we took another step forward to ensure Michigan laws reflect Michigan values when Governor Whitmer signed the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law. The RHA went into full effect in February, and it enshrines reproductive healthcare and abortion access as a constitutional right.
These laws mark significant and historic progress toward a sustainable future for Michigan and lay the foundation for continued work to improve Michigan’s energy industry, while protecting our air, land and water. Read more here.
Legislation Ensuring Access to Reproductive Healthcare Went into Effect
Michigan voters showed overwhelming support for Proposal 3 in November 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In November 2023, we took another step forward to ensure Michigan laws reflect Michigan values when Governor Whitmer signed the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law. The RHA went into full effect in February, and it enshrines reproductive healthcare and abortion access as a constitutional right.
Individuals can file their state income tax return online, with a tax professional or by mailing in paper forms and documentation. All state of Michigan income tax returns and payment of any taxes owed must be received by April 15, 2024. For the convenience of taxpayers, the state’s individual income tax deadline is the same date set by the Internal Revenue Service. To learn more, click here.
If you are mailing in a paper form, please ensure to make a copy for yourself!
My office recently sent out a Tax Tips mailer. Here is a digital copy.
Earned Income Tax Credit Checks Sent To Michigan Families in February
On February 12, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that eligible Michigan families began receiving Working Families Tax Credit supplemental checks. The new checks were part of a $1 billion tax relief package signed into law last year that help put an average of $550 back into the pockets of working families.
The Department of Treasury automatically processed checks for Michiganders who submitted their 2022 tax return and confirmed eligibility for the additional state credit. Checks were mailed on a rolling basis as soon as they were printed. It is estimated to take between five to six weeks to print and distribute all payments.
Michigan Green Schools Application Open Through March 3
The Michigan Green Schools program is a fun, educational initiative that encourages students and faculty to participate in activities that are good for the environment and promote energy efficiency and savings. Any K-12 public or private school in the state may apply. Visit the Michigan Green Schools Hub to submit your application by midnight on March 3.
If you need assistance with your application, check out their tutorial video or reach out to the statewide coordinator, Eileen Boekestein, at BoekesteinE@michigan.gov. EGLE Classroom will also be hosting a MI Green Schools Helpdesk at the Michigan Science Teachers Association annual conference from March 1-2, 2024.
For more information, visit the Michigan Green Schools’ website here.
New Design for Michigan Driver’s Licenses
If you are applying for your first ID or renewing / replacing your current one, it will look slightly different. The front of the new Michigan driver’s license nixes the Mackinac Bridge and features the Michigan Coat of Arms.
All valid features, designations and endorsement on a current license or ID will transfer to the new one. Michigan’s old driver’s license design is valid until expiration and will phase out over five years.
These changes come at no additional charge and intend to stop counterfeiting.
Good News From The District
You’re never too young to be an engaged citizen! This was evidenced by two of Ferndale’s residents, Oscar Updyke and John Withrow, students at Ferndale Upper Elementary School.
Concerned about the safety of pedestrian crosswalks on Pinecrest at Geary Park, these kids observed driving habits and collected data, drafted a presentation, and delivered it to City Manager Gacioch, Police Chief Emmi, DPW Director Jameson, and Parks & Rec Director Wheeler. Leaders will be working together to address their concerns and improve safety in the area. Ferndale is lucky to have young residents looking out for the safety of everyone!
You’re never too young to be an engaged citizen! This was evidenced by two of Ferndale’s residents, Oscar Updyke and John Withrow, students at Ferndale Upper Elementary School.
Concerned about the safety of pedestrian crosswalks on Pinecrest at Geary Park, these kids observed driving habits and collected data, drafted a presentation, and delivered it to City Manager Gacioch, Police Chief Emmi, DPW Director Jameson, and Parks & Rec Director Wheeler. Leaders will be working together to address their concerns and improve safety in the area. Ferndale is lucky to have young residents looking out for the safety of everyone!
Cheers to Royal Oak High School Girls Varsity Basketball coach Brian Sopata for a well-deserved honor. He has reached an impressive milestone of 200 career wins and has also built a solid and inclusive program from the ground up. Coach Sopata was recently named Basketball Coaches Association of MI/Detroit Pistons Coach of the Week. Congratulations on this achievement!