Dear Neighbor,
While the start of spring often brings more sunshine and longer days, it can also bring frequent temperature changes, and with that, severe weather. Be sure to stay well informed, prepared, and alert for extreme weather events this spring.
Also, keep in mind that taxes are due next week! Read on to learn more about how my colleagues and I have fought for lower taxes and higher returns for working families ahead of the filing deadline, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
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 contact me by sending an email to SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov or calling 517-373-0990.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
- April is tax month! Learn how my colleagues and I are fighting to put more money back into your pockets ahead of the April 15, 2025 tax filing deadline.
- Every year, I like to host a Constituent Day at the Capitol, where I invite you to the Capitol and see what my colleagues and I are working on to make Michigan a better place for everyone to live. This year, the visit will be on Tuesday, May 13. You can find more information below, or reserve your spot on the shuttle bus here.
- With Michigan individual income tax filing season winding down, the Michigan Dept. of Treasury is reminding Michiganders to be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft. Read on to learn how you can be cybersecurity aware.
Michigan Senate Continues to Fight for Teachers, First Responders, & Corrections Officers
Despite a recent Court of Court of Claims ruling in favor of the Senate Majority Leader in Michigan Senate v. Michigan House of Representatives — making it abundantly clear that the Michigan Constitution requires every bill passed by the Legislature to be presented to the governor — the House continues to unlawfully withhold nine critical bills.
These bills would provide much-needed cost-saving relief to Michiganders, a need that has only grown more urgent in the wake of Donald Trump’s trade war and the resulting stock market crash.
We recognize the importance of these bills and the relief they offer. We are grateful that the Michigan Supreme Court has ordered the Court of Appeals to swiftly take up the matter. The Senate remains committed to pursuing every legal avenue available to ensure these bills get signed into law.
But the fastest way to resolve this issue and deliver real relief to people across our state is for House Republicans to stop playing political games and to fulfill their constitutional duty to deliver 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 Michigan
Right now, my colleagues and I are working hard to craft Michigan’s next state budget. We believe that the budget should address the real needs of everyday Michiganders and serve the hardworking taxpayers who fund it.
We know the decisions we make will shape the future of our state. That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly — and I’m proud to work alongside my colleagues to deliver a budget that puts people first. What are some things that you want to see prioritized in the next state budget? Let me know at SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov.
It’s Tax Month! Working to Maximize Your Return
The rising cost of living continues to make it more difficult for Michigan families to get by — that’s why my colleagues and I have fought hard to cut taxes and lower costs for our residents.
Last session, we passed the historic 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, click here.
Holding the Trump Administration and DOGE Accountable
Building on previous work Senate Democrats have 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 came together to stand up and speak out to protect Michiganders’ health care and private 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.
To learn more, you can watch the 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.
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 other disadvantaged communities. 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.
Constituent Day at the Capitol
I love seeing our residents at the state Capitol — from school groups to senior citizens and everyone in between. That’s why I like to host a Constituent Day at the Capitol every year, where I invite you to the Capitol to see how my colleagues and I are working to make Michigan a better place for everyone to live.
We will have a shuttle leaving around 7:30 a.m. from Dearborn that will return around 4:00 p.m. Look for more details coming soon.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 13 – Buses leave around 7:30 a.m. and return around 4:00 p.m. PICK UP LOCATION: Dearborn Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126. Reserve your seat here.
Michigan Vietnam Veteran Recognition Certificate
The Michigan Vietnam Veteran Recognition Certificate is a prestigious honor acknowledging the bravery and sacrifices of our Vietnam veterans. If you or someone you know fits the criteria below, you may be eligible for this special recognition:
- Citizenship: You must be a citizen of Michigan, or have been one while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States — this includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, as well as the Michigan National Guard and reserve components.
- Honorable Service: To qualify, you must have received an honorable discharge or been released under honorable circumstances.
- Service Period: Your service must have occurred during the Vietnam War era, from February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.
In addition to this recognition, there is an opportunity for a special designation from the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This designation is specifically for veterans who were exposed to dioxin or phenoxy herbicides during their service. To receive this honor, individuals must have a medical diagnosis of a disease associated with such exposure.
To submit for consideration, complete the Michigan Vietnam Veteran Recognition Certificate Form.
If you have questions about filling out your application or questions regarding the Vietnam Veteran Recognition Certificate, please contact 1-800-MICH-VET or email MVAAResourceCenter@michigan.gov.
Michigan Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers
With Michigan individual income tax filing season winding down, the Michigan Dept. of Treasury is reminding Michiganders to be cybersecurity aware 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 be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight 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.
- Be sure to only connect to secure, password-protected networks.
- 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.
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, which are available to all workers seeking services.
- Individualized Career Services, which are designed for workers who are unable to obtain employment through basic career services alone.
- Training Services, which are necessary 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.