- Upcoming Events: Save the date for my Lower Costs, Higher Wages Town Hall with Rep. Regina Weiss, which will take place on Saturday, May 16 in Ferndale. More details below.
- Legislative Update: This week, Michigan Senate Democrats have advanced critical budget investments, passing legislation that would provide financial relief to families statewide and continue robust support for our schools. Learn more below.
- District Update: As spring weather rolls in, construction and road work do, too. Find road closure information and updates from the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) below.
- Good News from the District: Marygrove’s robotics team headed to the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston this week!
- Good News from the District: Congratulations to the Birmingham Groves High School Forensics team, which competed in the MIFA State Tournament last week! They received many awards, including state champions in four categories.
SAVE THE DATE: Lower Costs, Higher Wages Town Hall 5/16
Join State Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Regina Weiss for a Lower Costs, Higher Wages Town Hall on Saturday, May 16, to talk about real solutions that help people make ends meet and build a stronger future.
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Tri-County Educational Center (TCEC), 21131 Garden Ln., Ferndale, MI 48220
We’ll discuss:
✔ Universal free Pre-K and how to enroll
✔ Job training and apprenticeship opportunities
✔ Tuition support and education affordability programs
✔ Michigan’s retirement tax repeal — what it is, who benefits, and how the phase-in works
This town hall is about putting resources within reach — so you leave knowing what support is available and how to access it.
Come with questions. Leave with answers.
Michigan Senate Passes 2027 Budget
This week, the Senate voted to advance a future-facing plan for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. With the costs of gas, groceries, utilities, and other essentials on the rise, Senate Dems’ 2027 state budget proposal works to make life more affordable for Michigan residents by:
- Continuing to invest in programs that work, including the widely popular free school meals program, tax credits for working families, and Rx Kids to support more moms and babies.
- Ensuring transparency and fair pricing for Michigan consumers, taking steps to address the high costs of everyday essentials like car insurance, prescription medications, and the ever-increasing rate of utilities.
- Investing in our workers and local economies by increasing wages for direct care workers, boosting benefits for corrections officers, establishing a new payment fund for child care providers, securing resources for small business development, and strengthening scholarships to help Michiganders get the education they need to land the career they want.
In the face of economic uncertainty, rising costs, and federal funding gaps, Sen. McMorrow and her Senate Democratic colleagues have put forward high-impact, targeted investments to deliver real solutions for the people of Michigan.
These proposals now head to the House for further consideration. Read more here.
Michigan Senate Advances Record Education Budget
While Washington Republicans have proposed multi-billion dollar cuts to education for the coming school year, Senate Democrats are stepping up and prioritizing Michigan students and teachers over tax cuts for the wealthy by passing another record education budget this week.
For the fourth consecutive year, Senate Dems’ proposal includes a per-pupil increase for a total of $10,300. This investment is paired with a new weighted funding formula that would provide more predictable school funding for years to come, giving districts the ability to make strategic, long-term plans to support student success. Also included are resources to provide free school breakfast and lunch for all students, bolster school safety and mental health efforts, and ensure every child can become a confident, capable reader.
Michigan Senate Passes Package to Put Kids Over Clicks
As we rapidly accelerate into the age of digital and AI advancements, our youth are bearing the brunt of the harmful consequences of Big Tech’s exploitive algorithms. That’s why Senate Democrats introduced legislation, which Sen. McMorrow has co-sponsored, that would implement stronger safety measures to prevent social media companies and AI platforms from targeting and exploiting minors.
This week, the Senate passed this package in full, sending it to the House for their consideration. If you have just a couple of minutes, please take our survey and let us know your thoughts on how social media is impacting our youngest generation — your input can help shape what the final package looks like to ensure we meet the needs of Michigan families.
Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with Action
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness, reduce stigma, and promote compassion for those struggling with their mental health. Sen. McMorrow and her Senate colleagues have worked hard to address the mental health crisis here in Michigan by:
- Expanding access to mental health care coverage – Senate Bill 27, now signed into law, requires insurance companies to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders at the same level as physical health services.
- Preventing suicide through commonsense gun safety legislation – Firearms account for over half of all suicide deaths, and 90% of suicide attempts with firearms are successful. That’s why Sen. McMorrow and her colleagues passed an 11-bill gun violence prevention package in 2023, including a “red flag” law that helps temporarily remove firearms from the homes of people who pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. In the first year since this law took effect, 30% of the Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) filed mentioned threats of self-harm or suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline for compassionate care and accessible support, available via call, chat, or text.
New Report Highlights Positive Impact of Literacy Coaches
Michigan State University’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative recently released a report showing that teachers who receive literacy coaching produce better instruction in the classroom. The report states that their findings “…provide compelling evidence that Michigan’s investment in early literacy coaching is producing measurable gains in classroom instruction for the teachers who receive it.”
Thanks to state funding Senate Dems have secured in recent years, the number of literacy coaches here in Michigan has tripled. And their 2027 budget proposal continues to build on this tremendous progress by funding a comprehensive approach to boost literacy rates among Michigan students. Early literacy coaches, school libraries, LETRS training, and curriculum supports are among the critical resources receiving funding, so that every child has the opportunity to become a confident, capable reader.
Learn more about this exciting news here.
Flood Damage Support and Resources
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods are the most common, and most costly, natural disaster. If you or someone you know is facing extensive flood damage following last month’s severe storms, tornado conditions, and record flooding across the state, the Michigan Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) has a slate of resources to assist those navigating filing insurance claims.
If you’re in Southwest Michigan and struggling with severe flood or tornado damage, MI 211 is also directing you to the Disaster Relief Center for emergency housing, crisis counseling, utility assistance, and more resources.
Stay Up to Date with Spring Construction
As road work starts to pick back up across the state, the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) encourages drivers to remain vigilant, minimize distractions, slow down, and follow posted signage in work zones. For more information on work zone safety, click here.
To view an online map of ongoing road projects near you that may impact your commute, click here.
Marygrove Robotics Team Goes to World Championship
Marygrove’s robotics team, Team 8280 K9.0 Robotics, headed to the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston, TX this week! This is the first time in 18 years that a Detroit Public Schools Community District high school has qualified. At the state competition, they earned the “Gracious Professionalism Award,” a recognition that honors teams that compete with excellence while showing respect, collaboration, and integrity. Out of 531 teams, they ranked 25th! Congratulations to everyone competing!
Royal Oak Veterans Grave Cleaning Days
Memorial Day is coming up, and a group of volunteers in Royal Oak is planning to clean the grave sites of veterans in advance of the holiday. Anyone interested can volunteer for the Veterans Grave Cleaning Days — Saturday, May 2 and Saturday, May 9, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Oakview Cemetery, 1032 N. Main St., Royal Oak, MI 48067. Look for orange t-shirts by the pond near the entrance from 10:00–10:15 a.m., where you can grab lawn bags and pick up supplies.
What to bring: Brooms, manual or electric trimmers, gloves, water; and rags for headstones if you have them
The Royal Oak High School’s National Honor Society students will be focusing their efforts on the graves of 20 individuals whose names are remembered on the Royal Oak War Memorial in Centennial Commons and are laid to rest at Oakview Cemetery.
Huntington Woods Library Hosts Local Author
The Huntington Woods Library and Cultural Center spring series of programs kicks off with local author Lynne Golodner. She will discuss her book, I Love You, Charlie Tanner, whose protagonist is an avid gardener. Join to talk about reading, what it’s like to become an author, and how to do research on gardens. The program takes place on Wednesday, May 6, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Register here in advance.
Birmingham Groves Forensics Champions
Congratulations to the Birmingham Groves High School Forensics team, which competed in the MIFA State Tournament last week! Forensics competitions are structured contests in which individuals or teams compete in public speaking, debate, and interpretation events. Groves received many awards, recognized as state champions in four categories:
Broadcasting – Helena Zweig
Oratory – Ruhi Patil
Poetry – Vidu Hettiarachchi
Prose – Annie Johnston
Way to go, Falcons!
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.