- Legislative Update: From exploring the harmful impacts of Trump’s energy policies to advancing bills to lower the cost of child care and tackle medical debt facing Michiganders, Sen. McMorrow and her Senate Democratic colleagues have been working hard on your behalf in Lansing. Learn more below.
- District Update: Tax filing season is well underway, which unfortunately means, tax scam activity is too. Find more information below on how to stay protected from this deceptive behavior, including examples of different ways that residents are targeted by scammers.
- Good News from the District: Congratulations to Royal Oak High School Senior Javien Johnson,who has earned an Honorable Mention in the national C‑SPAN StudentCam documentary competition!
- Good News from the District: Wayne County Parks and People for Palmer Park partnered to host an event for community members to learn about the history of maple sugaring.
- Good News from the District: 26 high schoolers in Senate District 8 have qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference Competition in Atlanta next month!
Holding the Firearm Industry Accountable
Continuing her work to keep communities safe from gun violence, this week, Sen. McMorrow introduced legislation to allow victims of gun violence to file civil lawsuits against firearm manufacturers if a crime was committed with their product. Mirroring a bill package in the House, this critical legislation would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which enables the gun industry to evade accountability for injuries or deaths that occur because of their reckless and negligent sales practices and failure to make guns safer. By repealing the broad immunity from legal accountability that the firearm industry is shielded by, we can ensure victims of gun violence have an avenue to seek justice and restitution while also incentivizing manufacturers, distributors, and dealers to adopt responsible, life-saving business practices.
Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle Medical Debt Facing Michiganders
Medical debt is a burden that can follow someone around for the rest of their lives — hurting their ability to buy a home, forcing them to forgo essential expenses like groceries and rent, and oftentimes trapping them in a cycle of poverty that is nearly impossible to get out of. With about 700,000 Michiganders across the state burdened by this reality, Sen. McMorrow and her colleagues knew they had to take action.
That’s why, last week, the Michigan Senate passed a bipartisan set of bills to tackle this issue head-on. To provide support and safeguards for those struggling with medical expenses, the legislation would establish clear guidelines for hospitals to offer financial assistance programs and regulate how and when debt can be collected, such as by capping interest and late fees at 3% annually after a 90-day grace period. Learn more about this legislation here.
Senate Committee Underscores Need for Bills to Combat Michigan’s Child Care Crisis
Michigan’s child care system demands too much of our families while offering too little to our workers. Combine that with the mountain of red tape facing providers, and the result? A growing care crisis facing families and employers across the state — a reality that many of us know all too well.
To deliver much-needed relief for our families and support for our providers, Senate Dems are taking a comprehensive approach to cut high child care costs and break burdensome barriers in which providers are forced to operate. Discussed last week by employers, parents, and child care providers and advocates in the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee, legislation sponsored by Sen. McMorrow would:
- Codify the innovative bipartisan program, Tri-Share, that splits the cost of child care equally among employers, the state, and employees;
- Tie the Child Care Reimbursement Rate to inflation to provide certainty and consistency to providers; and
- Update licensing requirements for child care centers and remove bureaucratic barriers to open and operate them.
Learn more here.
Senate Dems Explore Consequences of Trump’s Harmful Energy Policies
Over the last couple of weeks, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment has held hearings to examine the detrimental effects of the Trump administration’s actions to dismantle clean, efficient, and affordable energy plans. From dissolving clean energy projects under the so-called “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” to forcing the inefficient J.H. Campbell coal plant to stay open, the Trump administration is contributing to higher utility costs for ratepayers, environmental threats, and the loss of Michigan jobs and investments.
Senate Democrats will continue raising awareness and working hard to safeguard our state and residents from the harmful decisions coming out of Washington, D.C. Read more about this past week’s hearing here.
Senate Committee Hears Testimony on “Kids Over Clicks” Legislation
The Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee recently held a hearing on Senate Bills 757–760, which would implement commonsense safety standards to better protect Michigan children from the emerging risks associated with social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage. The committee heard from parents, advocates, and legal, health, and technology experts about the need to pass our Kids Over Clicks legislation and better safeguard our youth from rampant digital dangers. (To watch a recording of the hearing, click here!)
To help shape this legislation and share your experience navigating parenthood in the digital age, please take Senate Dems’ survey here. To become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of our Kids Over Clicks package, click here.
Watch Out for Tax Scams This Filing Season
With tax filing season well underway, so too is scam activity. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is urging residents to be on the lookout for tax scams, such as someone claiming to be from the IRS who contacts you by phone, email, text, or social media and may demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or ask for personal or banking information. Please note: the IRS does not contact taxpayers this way to demand payment or request sensitive information. If you receive one of these messages, do not respond or share any information.
Another common scam to be on the watch for involves dishonest tax preparers who promise unusually large refunds, charge fees based on the amount of your refund, or ask you to sign a blank or incomplete tax return. For more information on how to identify tax scams, what to do if you’re a victim, and how to report a scam, visit the IRS website.
“I Voted” Sticker Contest Returns!
The Michigan Dept. of State (MDOS) is now accepting entries from Michigan students and residents for the nationally recognized “I Voted” sticker contest for the upcoming 2026 elections. Those interested in entering the contest must select one category and may submit one design. The three categories are elementary/middle school, high school, and general entry for residents of all ages.
Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026. The official entry form and other guidelines can be found here.
Detroit Home Repair Program Application
Detroit Down Payment Assistance Program
The Detroit Down Payment Assistance Program provides eligible residents with up to $25,000 to help cover down payment and closing costs when buying a home. This support can also include interest rate buy-downs and principal reductions, making homeownership more affordable for Detroit families. Learn more or apply at DetroitDPA.org.
If you or someone you know is having a housing crisis or needs emergency support, you can call the Detroit Housing Resource Helpline: 866-313-2520 (Option 3)
Severe Weather Resources & Tips
In response to recent severe weather across the state, our first responders and officials are working hard to ensure there is a swift delivery of resources to the affected areas. We applaud this effort and our dedicated first responders who have been working tirelessly around the clock. To ensure you’re prepared for future severe weather events, please review the following safety tips:
General Storm Safety Tips:
- Prepare a kit of emergency supplies for your family and pets.
- Create a family emergency plan.
- For college students, create a campus emergency plan.
- For guides and checklists, visit Plan Ahead (michigan.gov).
Tornado Safety Tips:
- Sign up for The Emergency Alert System or your community’s warning system.
- Identify a place to take shelter.
- Look for danger signs, such as a dark or greenish sky, large hail, a dark, low-lying cloud, and a loud roar that sounds like a freight train.
- Ensure all doors and windows are shut.
- Be careful when exiting the building after the storm. For more information, visit Tornadoes (michigan.gov).
Thunderstorms & Lightning Safety Tips:
- To prepare, cut down or trim trees that may be in danger of falling on your home.
- Consider purchasing surge protectors or a lightning protection system to protect your home, appliances, and electronic devices.
- When thunder roars, go indoors! Move into a building or car with a roof.
- Avoid running water and using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet.
- Do not drive through flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
- For more information, visit Thunderstorms & Lightning (michigan.gov).
To Report Downed Power Lines:
- DTE: outage.dteenergy.com/report-down-line
- Consumers Energy: consumersenergy.com/outages-and-safety/report-an-issue
Visit the Michigan Prepares website to find a variety of resources on this topic, including guidance on How to Create Your Emergency Plan. You can also stay informed when severe weather strikes by signing up for emergency alerts from your county or city.
Royal Oak High School Senior Earns C-SPAN Documentary Award
Congratulations to Royal Oak High School Senior Javien Johnson, who has earned an Honorable Mention in the national C‑SPAN StudentCam documentary competition! Out of almost 2,000 submissions, his was one of only 150 projects that were recognized.
Johnson’s documentary, “All Men Are Created Equal? An Ongoing Conversation,” explores the Declaration of Independence and its role in our communities today. Watch his documentary here.
Maple Sugar Making in Detroit
Wayne County Parks and People for Palmer Park partnered to host a free event for community members to learn the history of maple sugaring. Participants were able to observe the process of syrup production, all the way from the trees to the pancakes on your table. They even helped tap a maple tree and watched sap boil into syrup. What a fun and educational event!
High School Students Excel at State DECA Competition in Detroit
26 high schoolers in Senate District 8 have qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference Competition in Atlanta next month!
(Left: Marta Jimenez Pelay of Groves High School standing second from the right; Right: Matt Maeso of Royal Oak High School)
Restaurant & Food Service Management: Marta Jimenez Pelay of Groves High School was elected as one of the eight Michigan DECA State Officers for the upcoming year and earned a first place Role Play Medal and an Overall State Finalist Medal.
Principals of Business Management and Administration: Matt Maeso of Royal Oak High School earned two role-play ribbons, and an overall finalist ribbon, finishing as a top finalist. He also received the Glass Award.
Berkley High School Qualifiers
Business Services Operations Research Event: Mitchell Paykin-Steiger and Trey Mitchell
Independent Business Plan: Lindsey Philko, Lily Rogers, and Laney Reich
International Business Plan: Stephanie Hornak
Career Development Project: Tayla Steczek
Community Awareness Project: Mia Mracna and Ava Guerra
School Based Enterprise Retail: Alexandria Sims and Salman Abdella
School Based Enterprise – Food: Lief Schoof and Lola Burns
Seaholm High School Qualifiers
Photographed above, in no particular order: Eli Adler, Ahren Gupta, Cole Southby, Parsa Ayoubi, Deven Badhwar, John Hofley, Abigail Murphy, Sophia Franco, Donovan Schlissel
Also representing Seaholm at the Thrive Leadership Academy: Ava Barrett and Beatrix Pray
Congratulations to all this year’s DECA participants and good luck in Atlanta!
Thank you for staying connected with Sen. McMorrow’s office through the biweekly e-newsletter. We’re committed to keeping you informed on our work in Lansing and the progress we’re making in the 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. You can also fill out a contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able.