Dear Neighbor,
Happy Spooky Season! Over in Lansing, my colleagues and I have been hard at work advocating on your behalf. Along with securing critical investments for students, families, and communities in the 2026 state budget agreement recently signed into law, we have also advanced legislation to protect Michigan consumers, military members, and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
In this newsletter, I hope to provide you with a legislative update, as well as share some helpful resources and information on upcoming events we have planned.
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 reach me and my team by emailing SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov or calling (517) 373-0990.
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
- From combatting human trafficking to protecting victims of domestic violence, my Senate colleagues and I have been working hard to advance critical, bipartisan legislation to safeguard Michigan’s most vulnerable. Learn more below.
- Join me for my upcoming unveiling ceremony for the Women Veterans’ License Plate on Monday, Nov. 10 at 11:00 a.m. RSVP here.
- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help and resources are available — you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or access additional resources here..
Senate Democrats Call on Congress to Protect Health Care Access
No matter your zip code, line of work, or amount of money in your wallet — everyone deserves to access the health care they need, when they need it. Yet, at this very moment, millions of Americans and nearly 500,000 Michiganders who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace are at risk of losing their coverage if Congress doesn’t act now to extend vital tax credits from expiring at the end of 2025.
These premium tax credits are a lifeline for Michigan workers, families, farmers, and small business owners who don’t get coverage through their workplaces or through Medicaid or Medicare. Without these, millions of people across the country will be slapped with insurance bills double or even triple the normal amount — forcing many to forego care all together. This will only result in the health insurance marketplace being destabilized, leading to the loss of 4,400 health care-related jobs here in Michigan and higher health care costs for all of us.
This week, I was proud to join my Senate Democratic colleagues in passing a resolution to call on Congress to act before it’s too late and extend these ACA premium tax credits from expiring. We also held a hearing in the Senate Health Policy Committee to shine a light on the devastating consequences Congress’ inaction would have on Michiganders around the state who rely on these credits to afford their care. Learn more here.
Enhancing Transparency in the State Budget
Upon securing the Majority in 2023, Senate Democrats required lawmakers to clearly put their name next to any funding they secured on behalf of their community — an important step to building a state budget process that is both transparent and accountable to those we work with and serve. But we didn’t stop there.
Before passing the 2026 state budget earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing to review each of the individual enhancement grants we fought to include in the final budget agreement.
And, earlier this week, my colleagues and I passed Senate Bill 596 with unanimous bipartisan support — legislation that requires all legislative directed spending items, including enhancement grants and earmarks, to be publicly disclosed on the Senate or House website before the passage of the state budget. Championed by Appropriations Chair Sen. Sarah Anthony, this bill continues our commitment to Michiganders around the state, ensuring they can see where their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.
A Snapshot of Capitol Activity
Along with securing game-changing investments for kids and communities in the recently signed state budget, my Senate colleagues and I are continuing to advance legislation for Michiganders across the state, including bills to:
- Combat human trafficking in Michigan by strengthening penalties for those who commit this heinous crime while bolstering support for survivors.
- Ensure greater transparency and accountability in the insurance industry and better safeguard Michigan consumers from unfair, deceptive practices. Learn more here.
- Protect people fleeing situations of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or assault by reforming the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process — requiring that PPOs are served immediately and at no cost to the victim by a law enforcement agency. Learn more here.
- Expand access to health and dental care coverage for Michigan’s National Guard members to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, improve troops’ readiness, and protect those who protect our state. Learn more here.
Celebrating Free School Meals Week in Michigan
Gov. Whitmer, Sen. Camilleri, and local leaders at the signing of the K-12 education budget in Flint on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
No child should have to learn on an empty stomach. That’s why, during budget negotiations, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I fought hard to ensure the widely popular free school meals program could continue — and we were successful.
Recently signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, our historic education budget secures over $248 million so that Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students can continue accessing free breakfast and lunch, helping them stay focused in the classroom, while saving families across the state nearly $1,000 per year. In recognition of Free School Lunch Week this past Oct. 13-17, we celebrate the power that bold investments like these have on our kids, families, and communities. Along with ensuring the continuation of the universal meals program, other budget wins Senate Democrats helped secure for Michigan’s schools and students include:
- Record per-pupil funding of $10,050.
- Boosted funding for at-risk students, English-language learners, special education programs, and rural and isolated districts.
- Additional resources for literacy supports, building on Senate Democrats’ legislative efforts to strengthen learning based on the science of reading; and
- Expanded access to free pre-K and community college to save Michiganders money.
To learn more about the investments Senate Democrats delivered for Michiganders around the state, click here.
Unveiling the Women Veterans’ License Plate
WHEN: Nov. 10, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
Dear Community Leaders,
On behalf of State Senator Sylvia Santana, please accept this invitation to attend the unveiling ceremony of the Women Veterans’ License Plate. We are happy to have you as our guest.
Here’s a link to the Women Veterans’ Ceremony RSVP page. Everyone attending should register before capacity is reached. With your help, this will be a great event. We thank you and look forward to seeing you.
Trick or Treating Safety Tips
Spooky season is underway, and while the Halloween holiday is a time for fun and festivities, it can also bring some extra risks for children and teens. Before you head out trick-or-treating, make sure to check out these tips on how to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe:
- Choose your Halloween costume wisely. Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance and dress accordingly. Do not carry toy weapons that could be confused for the real thing.
- Walk, don’t run, and stay on the sidewalks. Cross only at intersections and designated crosswalks.
- Don’t assume cars will stop just because pedestrians have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.
- Be sure to have a charged cell phone while you’re out.
- Plan your route ahead of time and trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods.
- Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses.
- Review with your child how to call 9-1-1 if they ever have an emergency, get lost, or are prone to wander.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Nearly one in eight American women will develop breast cancer over the course of their life. In 2025, it is estimated that 9,900 Michigan residents will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1,350 Michiganders lose their lives. To spread awareness and honor those impacted, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed every October.
To improve mammography standards in Michigan, Sen. Sarah Anthony introduced Senate Bill 136 last Spring — legislation to improve mammogram reporting standards and increase early detection by aligning Michigan’s breast density notification standards with federal guidelines
While my colleagues and I work to get this legislation across the finish line, there are also steps you can take to help raise awareness and save lives. One of the most important things you can do is know your family history and get screened annually starting at age 40. The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages residents to take advantage of the following free health screening programs to put their health into their own hands:
- The Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP), available statewide, provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services to low-income women.
- The WISEWOMAN Program helps participants understand their chronic disease risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices. Every participant receives a free health screening.
- To learn more about these programs, call 844-446-8727 or visit Michigan.gov/cancer. For Spanish resources, call 800-379-1057.
Recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic violence is a serious crisis facing women and families across Michigan and the United States. On a typical day, more than 20,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
To help protect those feeling domestic violence, abuse, harassment, or stalking, Senate Democrats introduced bipartisan legislation this past week that would make much-needed reforms to our state’s Personal Protection Order process (PPO). Currently, it can cost up to $100 to serve a PPO in Michigan — an amount that could be especially tough for someone fleeing domestic violence to afford. To eliminate this financial burden and other barriers, these bills would require a PPO to be immediately served and at no cost to the victim by a law enforcement agency.
Understanding that domestic violence is also deeply interconnected with gun violence, my colleagues and I also delivered long-awaited legislation to keep weapons out of the hands of convicted abusers within mere months of securing the Majority.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please visit the Michigan State Police webpage on domestic violence here for more information or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Additional resources can be found here.