I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health and high spirits this April.
Remember, the deadline to file state and federal taxes is this Monday, April 15. I have my tax tips listed below, but if you have questions about filing your taxes or want to check your refund status, view account information and more, click here. If you are a qualified recipient and believe there was an issue with getting your check, the Michigan Tax Help Center may be able to provide additional help.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can email us at SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-2523.
Sincerely,
It is critical for our state to pass such legislation as we see Black mothers in the United States face disproportionately higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black women’s mortality rate from pregnancy-related causes is three times higher than that of white women, with structural racism underlying these disparities.
The “Momnibus” will now advance to the Senate Housing & Human Services Committee for further consideration.
Senate Democrats Pass the Fertility Health Care Act
Just weeks after the shocking Alabama court ruling declaring that frozen embryos have equal legal rights as children, jeopardizing fertility treatments such as IVF, the Michigan Senate voted on the final passage of House Bills 5207–5215, which eliminate barriers to parentage in fertility health care and allows Michiganders more ways to grow their families. Gov. Whitmer signed those bills into law on April 1.
Before this legislation, children born in Michigan through assisted reproduction, such as IVF and surrogacy, had no clear legal link to their parents. Additionally, Michigan was the only state that criminalized paid surrogacy which left many children in Michigan born through assisted reproduction or surrogacy without clear legal protection and vulnerable uncertainty regarding their legal status. This legislation addresses these concerns to help keep families together, including same sex couples and those who choose IVF or surrogacy.
While reproductive rights face threats across the country, I am committed to dismantling barriers to ensure that those who want to start a family can.
Michigan Public Health Week
During Michigan Public Health Week (April 7-13), we recognize the invaluable contributions of those who safeguard the health of our communities and recommit to supporting their efforts as we work collectively to promote the well-being of our state.
During our Senate Majority’s first year-plus in office, we have wasted no time in enacting meaningful policies and securing investments to achieve a brighter, healthier Michigan for future generations.
Some legislative highlights include:
- Expanding access to care by codifying the Affordable Care Act into state law and passing legislation that would establish Prescription Drug Affordability Board to rein in the skyrocketing cost of medications.
- Combatting gun violence by closing dangerous loopholes to strengthen background checks, requiring the secure storage of firearms, disarming individuals convicted of domestic violence, and allowing for the temporary removal of firearms from people who pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
- Protecting Michiganders’ reproductive freedom by repeal of our state’s archaic 1931 abortion ban, passing the Reproductive Health Act, to repeal medically unnecessary regulations regarding health clinics that perform abortions, and championing the Family Protection Act to eliminate barriers to parentage in fertility healthcare to allow Michiganders more ways to grow their families.
- Keeping Michigan’s air and water clean by passing the Clean Energy Future package which sets long-awaited clean energy and renewable energy standards and increases energy efficiency targets, in addition to passing Filter First legislation that will require Michigan schools and childcare centers to implement a drinking water management plan and install filtered faucets and bottle-filling stations, ensuring every student and educator can fill their water bottle or go to the water fountain knowing it is safe.
In addition to passing a slate of legislation to safeguard the wellbeing of Michiganders, we also made transformational investments in public health in our 2024 state budget, including:
- $280 million to address our mental health crisis through funding for community behavioral health clinics to expand access to care.
- $76 million for local health departments to provide economic stability and ensure they have the necessary resources to supply residents with essential health services.
- $63 million increase in funding for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, an initiative providing postpartum Medicaid coverage to mothers in an effort to reduce postpartum deaths.
- $800,000 to create the Office of Community Violence Services and $6 million for the office to provide grants to community-based violence intervention programs that are working to reduce firearm-related injuries and fatalities.
By expanding access to healthcare, investing in public health initiatives, and leading on clean energy, Senate Democrats have laid a foundation for a healthier and more equitable future and will continue working towards further progress. To read more about the work we are doing to promote better health outcomes, click here.
To celebrate the important work our county governments do across the state, Senate Democrats passed Senate Resolution 105, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin, declaring April as National County Government Month. The theme for this year’s celebration of NCGM is “Forward Together.”
The theme highlights the powerful role of county governments as intergovernmental partners that:
- Connect, building bridges to advance excellence and networks in county government;
- Inspire, driving community engagement and residents’ trust in county government;
- Lead, spearheading local, state, federal and tribal intergovernmental partnerships and common-sense policy solutions.
Counties shoulder the essential tasks of upkeeping roads and bridges, safeguarding public health, overseeing elections, maintaining public safety, bolstering environmental protection efforts, and undertaking various other vital responsibilities.
The senate has maintained a strong partnership with Michigan’s county governments during the crafting of our 2024 state budget. As we continue working on the 2025 state budget, we are looking forward to continuing this collaborative effort, ensuring that counties receive the necessary resources to serve their residents.
State Budget
The budget season is in full swing in the Michigan Senate. Last year I helped secure almost $40 Million for several important projects here in District 8!
Some 2024 highlights include:
- $10,000,000 Marygrove Conservancy Renovations
- $6,500,000 Coleman Young School Building Repairs
- $5,000,000 FLICS School Building Repairs
- $2,000,000 Oak Park Community Event Hub
- $1,900,000 Pleasant Ridge Water Infrastructure Improvements
- $600,000 Royal Oak Downtown Parking Structure Improvements
- $500,000 Ferndale Recreation Center Construction Project
- $380,000 Berkley Community Center
- $100,000 Huntington Woods Pedestrian School Crossing
Now through May is the time when Senate Subcommittees make decisions, the Appropriations Committee (one that I am on) meets and floor votes will take place.
I will continue to work hard to bring needed money to our district in the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget.
In The Community
It was wonderful to welcome 4th graders from Oak Ridge Elementary in Royal Oak to the Senate floor. I absolutely love visiting with students as they come to learn about our state Capitol! To see a short video of that visit, click here.
Interested in having your group come to Lansing? Find out information on Michigan State Capitol tours here.
It was my pleasure to present a Senate Tribute to Chief Judge Elizabeth Gleicher in celebration of her retirement, after 17 years on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Judge Gleicher had an incredible career as a lawyer and an appellate judge and was instrumental in issuing a preliminary injunction against Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban to ensure that abortion would be legal in Michigan prior to Roe v. Wade being struck down. I have said before that our state will be one where everyone will have the opportunity to thrive and Judge Gleicher has certainly been instrumental in that pursuit.
If you would like to celebrate an individual or business in the community with a Senate Tribute, contact our office SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov.
I had a great time reading two of my favorite books to two amazing classes of fourth graders at Einstein Elementary in Oak Park. We read Sofia Valdez Future Prez by Andrea Beaty and I’ll Get to the Bottom of This by Daniel Kwan.
We also talked about how people get my job (running a campaign!), how old I am (guesses ranged from 19-37), and brainstormed tons of ideas for what they’d like to see make Oak Park better (a water park! a football field! a dance studio! a mall for homeless people so they could get what they needed for free! a hotel! a Target!)
This is a favorite part of my job!
This week I joined the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Program participants to talk about my vision for economic development and why it is important for us all. Michigan has traditionally tried to do economic development in ways that have always been done but are not working well. We see that with a stagnating population and wages. People are no longer moving to a state for a job; they’re moving to a place they love knowing they will need to find a new job every 2-5 years. I spoke about this issue being existential for Michigan’s prosperity and how we must expand our ways of doing economic development. We need to invest in transit, communities, and affordable housing.
News You Can Use
Michigan’s Individual Income Tax Filing Due By This Monday, April 15th
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 Monday, 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!
Our office sent out a printed Tax Tips mailer. Here is a digital copy.
Financial Literacy Month
Talking about all things money related can be nothing short of stressful, it doesn’t have to be. And with the Senate passing Senate Resolution 102 recognizing April as Financial Literacy Month, there is no better time to share some important tips on things you can do to start building a brighter financial future.
One piece of advice emphasized by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is just how important it is to establish a relationship with a financial institution. By having an account with a bank or credit union, you can save money by avoiding fees related to check cashing, money orders and more. Thanks to the Michigan Open Account Coalition formed in 2022, low- or no-cost accounts — with no surprise fees — are available at participating banks and credit unions.
Attorney General Dana Nessel also offers up some additional financial education best practices this month by re-issuing her Overdraft Fee Rules alert. This is a great resource to help consumers become more informed on your bank’s overdraft policy, potentially avoiding the accumulation of large fees in your accounts without understanding how they get there.
Get Ready for Fishing Season
With spring upon us in the Great Lakes State, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding anglers to purchase a new license for the 2024 fishing season.
The new fishing license and regulation season kicked off on Monday, April 1. The new 2024 fishing licenses will be valid through March 31, 2025. Licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, which you can download on your smartphone.
Here are key dates to remember:
- Saturday, April 27 – Statewide trout and Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open.
- Monday, May 15 – Upper Peninsula walleye and northern pike seasons open.
- Saturday, May 25 – Season opens for largemouth and smallmouth bass possession, except for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers, which open Saturday, June 15. (Note: Catch-and-immediate-release for bass is open all year on most waters. Check the 2024 Michigan Fishing Regulations for specifics.)
- Saturday, June 1 – Season opens for muskellunge possession on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Mary’s River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. (Note: Catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year.)
For additional information about 2024 fishing license, contact DNR eLicense at MDNR-E-License@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
The DNR is also providing helpful tips for Michigan anglers to help combat the spread of invasive species.
1. Start with a clean boat and clean gear.
2. End by draining live wells and bilges.
3. End by cleaning debris and plant material from boats.
4. Apply safe chemical disinfectants to waders and gear after each use.
5. Dispose of leftover bait in the trash to prevent the spread of fish diseases.
Virtual Resource Fair for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs
The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Michigan Family to Family, and Michigan Family Voices are teaming up for a Virtual Resource Fair on May 7, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
This event is meant to inform individuals with disabilities and their families, caregivers, youth, providers, and community support about the variety of services and resources available in Michigan for children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs, and their families.
Register here.
AG Nessel Warns Renters, Homebuyers of Fraudulent Real Estate Ads, Zillow Scams in New Alert
Spurred by recent reports, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert, Real Estate Scams – How to Avoid Being Taken in by Fake Listings, to educate renters and homebuyers on how to avoid property scams. Fraudulent real estate listings often advertise properties that don’t exist, are not for sale or rent, or are not what they appear to be.
Nessel’s alert cites Zillow’s advice on the red flags homebuyers should look out for:
- Requests to wire funds;
- Long-distance solicitations;
- Requests for verification codes;
- Requests for personal or financial information; and
- Grammar/spelling errors and sob stories.
The red flags for rental listing scams are similar to those that exist in homebuying fraud schemes. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), using the following strategies can help you avoid being a victim of a rental scam:
- Conduct an online search;
- Examine the price of similar units;
- Look carefully at the property before you sign or pay;
- Never provide personal or financial information; and
- Don’t pay with cash.
If you believe you have been the victim of a rental or real estate scam, report it to:
- Your local law enforcement agency;
- The FTC; and,
- The website where the ad was posted.
You can also file a complaint with the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
New Website Available to Help Track MDHHS Benefits Status
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched a brand-new function to their website to help Michiganders applying for assistance monitor their benefits status. The new tool tracks five benefits programs: health care coverage, food assistance, cash assistance, child development and care, and state emergency relief. This new application tracker will allow residents to follow the progress of their benefits application online rather than waiting for a determination letter or having to call a local office.
Applicants can receive assistance through the MI Bridges virtual assistant chat or by calling the MI Bridges help desk at 844-799-9876. Visit newmibridges.michigan.gov for more information.
Good News From the District
Sarah Barnett, a 12th grader at Royal Oak High School, won 2nd Prize for her documentary “Is Ranked Choice the Right Choice?” in C-SPAN Classroom’s 2024 StudentCam video documentary contest. StudentCam is a national competition where middle and high school students produce a documentary on a specific theme. This year’s theme was “Looking Forward While Considering the Past,” with these two prompts: “In the next 20 years, what is the most important change that you would like to see in America?” or “Over the past 20 years, what has been the most important change in America?”
See Sarah’s video here.
Congratulations, Sarah!
Ian Weinberg, a senior at Seaholm High School in Birmingham, recently appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” to talk about his popular book Invest Early to Grow Your Wealth. He began learning about investing during the pandemic and used money he had saved from his part-time job and Bar Mitzvah to buy some stocks. After much success, he wrote his book to help other teens start on their investment journey. A portion of the book’s sales go towards supporting a teen nonprofit organization in Detroit.
Way to go, Ian!
Focus: HOPE offering free mobile health services in Detroit
Detroit-based nonprofit, Focus: HOPE, together with Wayne State Mobile Health Units and Ascension Michigan are offering free health screenings at its food centers through the fall. They will be once a month and there is no eligibility requirement.
The Wayne State Mobile Unit will be at Focus: HOPE’s Westside Food Center at 1300 Oakman Boulevard, the first Thursday every month from April 4-October 3, 2024. In July, the mobile unit will be on site on July 11.
Those interested in specifically getting a mammogram must register by calling 313-494-4600.
Thank you to Focus: HOPE, Wayne State and Ascension for bringing these fundamental services to the Detroit community!
Read more information here: Focus: HOPE, Wayne State, Ascension offer health screenings (bridgedetroit.com)