- Legislative Update: House Speaker Matt Hall continues to unlawfully withhold nine critical bills from being signed into law, despite a judge ruling in favor of the Senate, clarifying that the Constitution requires every bill passed by the Legislature to be presented to the governor. The Michigan Supreme Court has recently ordered the Court of Appeals to swiftly take up the matter.
- Legislative Update: To support federal workers who have recently lost their jobs, the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity has launched a resource hub at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp with information on unemployment benefits, job search support, and community services. Additional help is available through the Unemployment Insurance Agency and Michigan Works, offering everything from application guidance to career training and personalized assistance.
- District Update: As tax season comes to a close, the Michigan Dept. of Treasury is reminding people to stay alert and take steps to protect themselves from identity theft. Read on to learn how you can be safe online.
- In the Community: I visited Oak Park Service Learning Academy, Einstein Elementary, Northwood Elementary and MacDowell Preparatory Academy to read to their classes in recognition of March is Reading Month. Thank you for a great month! Keep reading!
- In the Community: Mark your calendars! On April 12th, Ferndale’s Parks and Recreation will be hosting an Eggstravaganza from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. On April 13th, Beverly Hills’ Kensington Church is hosting an Easter breakfast and egg hunt, starting at 10:00 a.m.
- Good News from the District: The City of Ferndale selected Colleen O’Toole to become the new City Manager. Congratulations Colleen!
Michigan Senate Continues to Fight for Teachers, First Responders, & Corrections Officers
A recent Court of Claims ruling in Michigan Senate v. Michigan House of Representatives made it clear: the Michigan Constitution requires that every bill passed by the Legislature must be sent to the governor. Still, the Speaker of the House, Matt Hall, continues to refuse to submit the nine bills for the governor’s signature.
These bills would help lower costs for people across Michigan — a need that’s only grown more serious after the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s trade policies and the resulting stock market drop. We know how important these bills are, and we’re thankful the Michigan Supreme Court has asked the Court of Appeals to move quickly. The Senate will keep using every legal option to make sure these bills become law.
But the quickest way to get this done is for House Republicans to stop delaying and follow the Constitution by sending these bills to the governor.
The lawsuit was brought forth by Leader Brinks after House Speaker Matt Hall failed to present nine bills that passed both chambers to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The bills — House Bills 4177, 4665-4667, and 4900-4901 of 2023 and House Bills 5817-5818 and 6058 of 2024 — improve retirement benefits for state corrections and conservation officers as well as lower health care costs for firefighters, teachers, and other public sector employees.
A People-First Budget for the State of Michigan
The state budget plays a big role in making sure resources go where they’re needed across Michigan — whether that’s building and fixing roads, improving access to affordable housing and healthy food, or protecting our air and water.
Each year, the budget is put together through a process that involves both the legislature and the governor. It all starts in January with the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC), where state officials update the financial outlook for the year. This helps guide how much funding is available as budget proposals are developed. After that, the governor presents her proposed budget to the House and Senate. This proposal outlines her priorities and gives lawmakers a starting point as they begin shaping their own versions of the budget.
Right now, that’s the stage we’re in. Lawmakers are reviewing the proposals, holding hearings in Appropriations committees and subcommittees, and making changes. Local leaders and community members can also weigh in to support or raise concerns about different parts of the budget.
The goal is to pass the final state budget by the end of June. If you’re interested in learning more about the process or the investments being considered for communities across Michigan, you can read more here.
It’s Tax Time! Maximize Your Return
The cost of living continues to increase, and it’s hard on all our budgets. That’s why my colleagues and I have worked to reduce taxes and ease financial burdens for you.
In 2023, we passed the Lowering MI Costs Plan — the biggest tax relief initiative Michigan has seen in decades. This plan repealed the unfair retirement tax to help seniors save an average of $1,000 annually and provided the largest tax break for working families in state history, helping them save an average of $3,150.
Taxes are due next week on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. To learn how to take advantage of these expanded benefits and maximize your tax return ahead of the filing deadline, you can click here.
Holding the Trump Administration and DOGE Accountable
Building on previous work we’ve done to expose and highlight the consequences the federal funding freeze is having on public safety as well as on Michigan children, seniors, and families, my colleagues and I took steps to support protections for Michiganders’ health care and personal data.
Protecting Health Care Access
Last month, Republicans in Washington voted for a budget resolution that paves the way for massive, indiscriminate cuts to Medicaid. And as the federal Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seeks to slash enough from the federal budget to pay for a tax break for the wealthiest 1% of Americans, Medicaid is among the critical programs on the chopping block.
To protect the 2.6 million Michiganders — including children, seniors, and veterans — who rely on Medicaid for essential health care services, my colleagues and I joined physicians, patients, and advocates for a committee hearing and press conference where we called on the Trump administration to stop these dangerous cuts.
Here are some takeaways from the committee hearing that were mentioned:
- Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in the country and covers 1 in 4 Michiganders.
- Michigan’s Medicaid program allows affordable healthcare for more than 2.6 million Michiganders per month.
- The Medicaid program is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, with 65% coming from the federal government and the remaining 35% coming from the state of Michigan.
To learn more, you can watch the full committee hearing here.
Addressing DOGE’s Access to Your Private Information
The Senate Oversight Committee recently heard testimony from IT and cybersecurity experts on the impact and potential implications of DOGE’s unfettered access to Michiganders’ personal, financial, and health information. In addition to addressing the various cybersecurity issues raised by the Trump administration’s invasion of private data, experts also shared ways individuals can protect themselves from any repercussions.
Here’s some ways that individuals can protect themselves:
- If your banking information is compromised, it is recommended that you have some cash set aside, keep screenshots of your balances in government accounts, and be alert for any indication of identity theft.
- Enabling two-factor authentication can add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification when logging into accounts.
- Create strong passwords that are difficult to guess or easily access and avoid reusing them across multiple accounts.
To watch the committee hearing and learn more, click here.
Fighting to Safeguard Michigan Public Schools
On March 20, President Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the U.S. Dept. of Education — a dangerous, unconstitutional action that could result in devastating cuts to public education across the country, including funding for at-risk students, Pell Grant recipients, and more. Similarly, Michigan House Republicans recently passed their education budget, which aims to slash about $5 billion from our state’s public schools.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for PreK-12 schools recently heard from stakeholders on state budget funding needs for public education here in Michigan, underscoring the urgent need for continued support and stability rather than disinvestment and uncertainty. To watch the committee hearing and learn more, click here. In recent testimony before the full Senate Appropriations Committee, similar concerns about the impact of federal decisions on Michigan’s kids and schools were raised by Dr. Michael Rice, the State Superintendent, and officials from the Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.
Here’s a handful of ways that these cuts would impact our schools:
- Special Education Services at Risk: Federal funding provides about $460 million annually for special education in Michigan, accounting for approximately 15% of the state’s special education budget. Reductions could hinder schools’ ability to support students with disabilities.
- Budget Planning Challenges: School districts must finalize their budgets by June 30, but the uncertainty surrounding federal funding complicates this process. Administrators are forced to prepare for various scenarios, including potential program cuts and staff reductions.
- Impact on Districts with Limited Resources: In some districts, federal funding makes up a significant portion of the budget, often due to lower local tax revenue and higher numbers of students facing challenges. Cuts to this funding could have a notable effect on the services available to these schools.
CALL TO ACTION: If you or someone you know is affected by these proposed education cuts, we want to hear from you. Hearing directly from students, parents, educators, and school staff helps us understand how these changes impact our communities. You can contact our office to share your experience or ask questions via email at SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 373-2523.
Michigan Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware of Scammers
With Michigan individual income tax filing season winding down, the Michigan Dept. of Treasury is reminding Michiganders to be safe online and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft.
Often, the taxpayer is already a victim of identity theft when a cybercriminal attempts to claim a state tax refund. To stay safe online and avoid tax-related identity theft:
- Avoid clicking links, pop-ups, or attachments from unknown sources.
- Verify email senders by typing website names manually.
- Don’t share personal information online; legitimate organizations won’t ask for it.
- Review privacy settings on social media to limit information sharing.
- Trust your instincts; if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Use strong passwords (at least 12 characters) for all accounts and devices.
- Never reuse passwords; choose unique ones and update them regularly.
- Report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
You can report tax fraud or identity theft to the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.
To learn more about the state Treasury Department, go to Michigan.gov/Treasury. Additional information about state individual income taxes can be found at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax.
Be sure to only connect to secure and password-protected networks.
Child Vehicle Safety
Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young children, but you can reduce your child’s risk of death in a crash by 50% simply by ensuring they’re properly restrained in the appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for their age and size.
As of April 2nd, Michigan’s child vehicle safety standards have changed. Here’s what you need to know:
- Children must ride rear-facing until they are at least 2 years old or outgrow the height or weight limits of their rear-facing car seat.
- Children must ride in a forward-facing car seat with an internal five-point harness until they are at least 5 years old or outgrow the car seat’s height or weight limits.
- Children must ride in a booster seat secured with a lap and shoulder seatbelt until they are at least 8 years old or until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall.
- Children younger than 13 years old must be restrained in the vehicle’s rear seats unless all rear seats are occupied by other children or the vehicle doesn’t have rear seating.
While not every location offers car seat installation, many fire or police departments have individuals certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can assist with car seat inspections and installations, often free of charge. Contact your local station to learn more.
For more information about the law change or tips on how to install a car seat yourself, you can visit the Michigan State Police’s webpage on child passenger safety here.
Severe Weather Resources
From a dangerous ice storm knocking out power for thousands of Northern Michiganders to severe thunderstorms ripping through the lower peninsula, our state has recently faced significant storm damage. Here are some resources that may be useful in the aftermath of recent severe weather:
- To report downed power lines:
- DTE: outage.dteenergy.com/report-down-line
- Consumers Energy: Call 1-800-477-5050
- Lansing BWL: Call 1-877-295-5001
- For storm recovery resources, visit michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/materials management/storm-recovery/.
- For insurance help, visit michigan.gov/difs/consumers/disaster-prep/tornado-severe-storms.
- For additional resources and safety tips, visit Michigan.gov/miready.
Continued Support for Federal Workers Impacted by Federal Layoffs and Funding Cuts
To support federal workers who may have recently lost their jobs, the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has compiled several resources to offer support. A new, comprehensive webpage, Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp, provides impacted federal workers with easy access to unemployment, job search, and community resources.
Workers who recently lost their jobs through no fault of their own may be eligible to apply for temporary financial assistance through the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) as well.
UIA has resources in place to help any laid-off federal worker, including:
- UIA Claimant Roadmap: An easy-to-follow, six-step guide to applying for and understanding unemployment benefits.
- Online Coaching Sessions: Web-based guidance from UIA staff who walk users through the steps needed to complete an application and qualify for payments.
- UIA Community Connect: This program partners with local groups to provide guidance for workers from underserved groups who have faced barriers when filing for jobless benefits.
- Schedule an Appointment: Schedule either an in-person, phone or virtual appointment to speak with a UIA Customer Service Agent.
- Looking for Work: Tips to understanding your responsibilities when it comes to conducting and documenting your successful work searches.
- Assistance with Setting Up an Account: Workers must create a MiLogin account before setting up a MiWAM account.
For additional assistance, workers can find FAQs, videos, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA. To reach an agent or unlock a MiWAM or MiLogin account, you can reach a customer service representative at 866-500-0017.
In partnership with LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, Michigan Works! agencies are also available to assist affected federal workers. Services offered include:
- Basic Career Services, available to all workers seeking services.
- Individualized Career Services, designed for workers who are unable to obtain employment through basic career services alone.
- Training Services to equip workers with the skills needed to obtain and retain employment.
To connect with your local Michigan Works! service center, call 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visit Michigan.gov/MichiganWorks.
Detroit’s Michigan Avenue Road Project Awaiting Federal Grant Review
The Michigan Avenue rebuild project in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood is awaiting federal grant approval to move forward. Here are the key details:
- The project will span a two-mile stretch of Michigan Avenue.
- The estimated cost of the project is $70 million.
- The city has requested $25 million in federal grant funding.
- The outcome of the federal grant review will determine the project’s timeline and scope.
This project aims to improve infrastructure, traffic flow, and pedestrian safety in the area, and the federal funding decision is expected to play a critical role in moving the project forward.
Reading in the District for March is Reading Month
Thank you to Oak Park Service Learning Academy, Northwood Elementary, Einstein Elementary, and MacDowell Preparatory Academy for inviting me to read to your students in recognition of March is Reading Month. Keep reading!
Easter Events in the District
Ferndale Parks and Recreation is holding its annual Eggstravaganza on Friday, April 12th, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. This year’s event will take place at three different parks, with staggered egg hunts based on age and location:
- Wilson Park: 1:00 p.m. for children up to 4 years old
- Geary Park: 1:30 p.m. for children ages 1–11
- Martin Road Park: 2:00 p.m. for children ages 1–11
Families are welcome to visit any of the parks to take part in the egg hunts and simple spring activities. No registration is required.
Kensington Church at Groves High School in Beverly Hills will host a Pancake Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 13th starting at 10:00 a.m. The event will include pancakes, an egg hunt, along with games and crafts for the kids. All are welcome to attend!
City of Ferndale Gets New City Manager
Last month, Colleen O’Toole was selected to become Ferndale’s new City Manager! Team McMorrow wishes her the best of luck in her new position and looks forward to working with her.
Oakland County Commissioners Women’s History Month Awards
Photo: Oakland County Times
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners honored six women with Women History Month awards in March. Every year, commissioners nominate women making a historic impact in their respective districts as part of the Board’s celebration of Women’s History Month. This year’s honorees included two from our district.
Clawson’s Bonnie Swope (pictured above) has been a community leader and entrepreneur for many years. She is a creative artist and owns Pop-up Art Studio, specializing in art classes, design, screen printing, decals, embroidery and more. In addition, Swope is an enthusiastic supporter of Clawson businesses, residents and city events. She shares her skills with civic and non-profit groups to help them achieve their goals.
Leslye Harelik-Richie (not pictured) from Oak Park has served in many capacities in the city. She has served as treasurer and vice president on the Oak Park Library Board; a board member with Oak Park Youth Assistance; president of the Oak Park Historical Society; and as chair of the Oak Park Dog Park Committee. Well-deserved recognition for these women and all those who were honored!
Thank you for staying connected with us through our biweekly e-newsletter. We’re committed to keeping you informed on our work in Lansing and the progress we’re making in our district. Whether it’s legislative updates or community initiatives, we want to ensure you’re engaged and aware of the ways we’re advocating for you.
Reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas that you may have. Our office is here to assist you with any state-related matters, and we value your feedback. Feel free to contact us at (517) 373-2523 or by email at SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov.