Dear Neighbor,
With August well underway and a new school year starting for many across the state, I hope you’re still soaking in the remainder of summertime here in our beautiful state. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get out and about in our district this summer, hearing directly from our neighbors about the issues that matter most to our community. I’ll continue using this important input to guide my work in the Capitol and deliver on your priorities.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email us at SenDPolehanki@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7350.
Sincerely,
Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
District 5
- While Senate Democrats passed an education budget months ago that continues critical investments in school safety, student mental health, and the universal school meals program, continued inaction from House Speaker Matt Hall and his Republican colleagues to craft and negotiate a budget has left districts across the state scrambling. Learn more below.
- Join me for an upcoming Community Conversation on Sept. 18 at the Canton Public Library. Read on for more details.
With the Clock Ticking, Senate Dems Ask House Republicans: Where’s the Budget?
The very real consequences of House Republicans’ inaction to craft and negotiate a state budget are starting to be felt in districts across the state as many students begin heading back to school next week. With Speaker Matt Hall and his House Republican caucus failing to take any reasonable steps to complete a budget or make the investments kids and families need, school administrators are left scrambling to plan without knowing how much funding they’re set to receive for the upcoming year.
Michigan students and teachers deserve better. While the Senate passed an education budget months ago, well before the statutory July 1 deadline, protecting critical programs like free school meals, investing in mental health and safety initiatives, and ensuring smaller class sizes, the continued inaction from the House GOP puts these investments at risk. It’s unacceptable, immoral, and plain bad governance. That’s why last week, Senate Democrats renewed their call to urge Speaker Hall to allow his caucus to begin engaging in good-faith negotiations immediately. For the sake of our students, we must reach a budget agreement before more harm is done. As the clock continues to tick, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I remain at the table ready to negotiate a budget that doesn’t shortchange Michigan students or their families.
Senate Hearing Uplifts Consequences of Trump’s Big “Beautiful” Bill on Michiganders
From funding freezes to massive federal layoffs and short-sighted tariffs, Michiganders and folks across the country have been feeling the impacts of the Trump administration’s reckless actions since the start of this year. More recently, Senate Democrats have been sounding the alarm on his so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was signed into law earlier this summer.
To examine the ugly impacts of this new law on the state budget and economy, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing last week, focusing specifically on cuts being made to Medicaid and SNAP programs. State departments, educational institutions, health care providers, and advocacy organizations all showed up to testify, highlighting how these harmful federal cuts threaten the well-being of our state and all those who call it home. From blowing a massive hole in our state budget to stripping away resources for essential health care and food assistance programs, the effects of the OBBBA are as disastrous as they are far-reaching. Learn more here, and listen to what the various testifiers had to say using this link.
Michigan Senate Acts Unanimously to Ensure Michiganders Stay Warm in the Wintertime
As the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise and too many Michiganders struggle to make ends meet, the Michigan Senate worked across party lines to pass legislation to help folks across the state afford their heating bill. Passed with full support out of the Senate chamber last week, Senate Bill 435 would make time-sensitive updates to how the state Treasury department makes its annual inflation adjustment for the Home Heating Tax Credit — proposing to utilize the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation instead.
The Michigan Home Heating Credit is an Individual Income Tax Credit that reduces the financial burden for over 250,000 low-income households across the state by allowing them to file for an annual credit that reimburses them for the costs of heating their home. Learn more here.
Canton Community Conversation
WHEN: Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Canton Public Library, 1200 South Canton Center Road, Canton, MI 48188
Building Connections Through Neighborhood Outreach
This summer, Team Polehanki knocked on more than 3,600 doors across Senate District 5, connecting directly with residents and hearing what’s top of mind. From concerns about federal issues like tariffs and Medicaid cuts, to jobs, the economy, and our roads and infrastructure, your voices help guide my work in Lansing. There’s truly nothing like meeting neighbors at their doorsteps to remind us how engaged and connected our community is.
Supporting Detroit Horse Power
I was grateful to spend time with Detroit Horse Power at their summer camp, where students learn not only how to ride and care for horses but also life skills like perseverance, empathy, and confidence. This incredible nonprofit has already reached more than 500 Detroit students and is transforming a 14-acre site in Hope Village into the largest urban equestrian center in the nation, opening in 2026. As someone who recently lost my own horse, Oliver, it was especially meaningful to be back in a barn and to support this inspiring mission.
Early Literacy Grants Awarded in District 5
This month over 550 school districts across the state—including right here in Senate District 5—have received vital funding to support early literacy. Backed by $87 million in last year’s state budget, this initiative empowers districts to select high-quality classroom materials, implement evidence-based literacy interventions, and provide professional development for educators—all aimed at improving reading outcomes for Michigan’s youngest learners.
These grants are a cornerstone of bipartisan legislation that I championed to improve literacy rates and help support students with dyslexia. This landmark literacy law that prioritizes early screening for dyslexia and ensures students receive the support they need to thrive. The funding is guided by recommendations from the Committee for Literacy Achievement, which includes educators, researchers, and literacy experts. By investing in our teachers and classrooms, we’re investing in the future of Michigan’s children—and laying the foundation for lifelong success.
PreK For All: Improving Outcomes for Michigan Families & Kids
The back-to-school season is here, so what better time to spread the word about the best PreK for All program in the nation? Last year, Senate Democrats worked across the aisle to secure state funding that helped expand access to no-cost, high quality preschool — and our work is paying off, giving kids the tools they need for successful futures, helping tackle the childcare crisis, allowing parents to stay in the workforce, and saving Michigan families about $10,000 per child.
Michigan’s PreK for All program is available to all children who are four years old by Dec. 1, and enrollment is now open for the upcoming school year. To learn more or find options for no-cost Pre-K in your community, visit MiPreKforAll.org.