Dear Neighbor,
The summer season is finally upon us! I hope you and your family are able to enjoy the sunshine and spend time taking advantage of all the fun summer activities our state offers.
But even though summer break is here for our youngest Michiganders, my colleagues and I are still hard at work at the Capitol. From advancing our Michigan You Can Afford agenda to protecting voting rights, we’ve been keeping busy on your behalf. Keep reading for updates on our work in Lansing, as well as helpful resources and information so that you make the most of the summer months.
If you have questions, concerns, or need help navigating state resources, my office is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out by email at SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 373-0990.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
- From cracking down on deceptive corporate pricing practices to expanding the supply of affordable housing options for low-income Michiganders, my colleagues and I have made some exciting progress on our A Michigan You Can Afford agenda in recent weeks.
- TOMORROW: You’re invited to join me on Juneteenth for a Coffee & Conversation at Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails. Find more details in this newsletter.
- With farmers market season officially here, it’s a great time to find out if and how you can take advantage of Michigan’s Double Up Food Bucks program to get your fresh fruits and veggies without breaking the bank. Click here or continue reading to learn more.
Making Progress with Our A Michigan You Can Afford Agenda
From the grocery store and gas station to the price tag on childcare and doctors’ visits, reckless actions by D.C. Republicans are taking their toll on household budgets across Michigan. That’s why Senate Dems launched A Michigan You Can Afford agenda just a few weeks ago, which aims to do exactly what it says — lower the high costs of living burdening Michiganders around the state. In recent weeks, my colleagues and I have made exciting progress on some of the bills outlined in this agenda to:
- Ban auto and home insurance companies from exploiting your shopping patterns to determine the highest rates you are willing to pay, a practice also known as “price optimization.” (Passed out of committee)
- Prohibit surveillance pricing for e-commerce and dynamic pricing for retail stores, additional deceptive practices companies utilize to take advantage of consumers to benefit their bottom line. (Introduced)
- Establish a new tax credit to increase the supply of guaranteed affordable housing in our state. (Passed out of the Senate)
- Eliminate out-of-pocket costs for three of the state’s most high-volume, life-saving medical necessities, including Insulin, Epinephrine, and Inhalers. (Introduced)
- Create a state-based health care exchange, which would lower premiums and give Michiganders more options and more control over their health insurance. (Passed out of the Senate)
As we do this work and advance this legislative agenda through the Senate, I want to hear from you. Make your voice heard and help shape this package by sharing your experience in the survey below, so we can work together to deliver a solution that works for you, your family, and our state.
A Snapshot of Capitol Activity
In addition to driving forward legislation to make life more affordable for Michiganders, my colleagues and I have also been working to address other critical issues facing residents and communities across the state. This past week, I’m proud to report that we’ve made some progress advancing bills to:
Protect Voting Rights: After months of reports detailing the Trump administration’s efforts to nationalize elections and restrict access to mail-in voting — the latest blow to election integrity came earlier this spring as the U.S. Supreme Court eviscerated key protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. To fight back against these attacks, my colleagues and I passed legislation that would establish a state-level Voting Rights Act to ensure every eligible voter has access to the ballot box. Read more here.
Help Residents Save for Retirement: Michiganders deserve the opportunity to retire with dignity and financial security, but right now, more than 1.5 million private-sector workers have a lack of retirement savings options. To help ensure all hardworking folks in our state can save for their golden years, we passed legislation to establish the MI Secure Retirement Savings Program, which would automatically enroll individuals who are not offered a savings plan through their current employer in a state-run Roth IRA. Read more here.
Crack Down on Blighted Storefronts: Blighted storefronts create safety hazards, decrease property values, and hinder economic growth here in our community and across Michigan. Yet right now, big box retailers are exploiting loopholes in our state’s tax code, using these vacant properties to artificially lower their tax bills instead of reinvesting in the communities they’ve left behind. To address this issue, Senate Dems introduced legislation to help our local communities put an end to “dark stores.” This bill is currently moving through the committee process.
Senate Dems Highlight How Federal Attacks on Clean Energy are Harming Michigan Farmers
Over the last year and a half, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I have been working tirelessly to speak out against the reckless, cruel actions of the Trump administration and use the tools we have at the state level to defend Michiganders from the chaos they’re creating. Most recently, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to highlight how the federal attacks on clean energy are impacting Michigan farmers and rural communities.
During the hearing, the owner of Michigan’s oldest farm and energy industry experts shared testimony on the consequences of the USDA’s cancellation of renewable energy projects and grants under the federal Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) last year. Following the announcement in August 2025 that subsidies for solar panel systems on productive farmland would be terminated, numerous REAP energy projects across the state were left in limbo. With the grant funding once promised to them ripped away, Michigan farmers have been left to foot a bill they weren’t prepared for — at a time when the cost of fuel and other essentials are already stretching their budgets razor-thin.
Following the hearing earlier this month, my colleagues and I passed a resolution through the full Senate that calls on Washington to reinstate the REAP program and deliver some much-needed relief for Michigan farmers.
Coffee & Conversation on Juneteenth
WHEN: Tomorrow, Friday, June 19, 2026, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails, 16801 Plymouth Rd., Detroit, MI 48227
Learn more here.
Summer Meal Programs Available to Michigan Children
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as Meet Up and Eat Up, is available for children to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations when they do not have access to the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs. This program is operated at the local level by program sponsors and is administered by the Michigan Dept. of Education (MDE), Office of Nutrition Services. To find a Meet Up and Eat Up Site, please call 211, text “food” to 304-304, or click here.
Take Advantage of Double Up Food Bucks
Buying food is expensive right now, especially for our neighbors struggling to put food on the table. Double Up Food Bucks is here to help. For those who shop for groceries with a SNAP or Michigan Bridge Card, you can double your benefits to purchase fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and veggies using Double Up Food Bucks. The program is available at 240+ participating farmers markets, farm stands, and grocery stores across Michigan. With farmers market season officially here, it’s a great time to use the program! Learn how it works and find a participating location near you at DoubleUpFoodBucks.org.
How to Beat the Heat This Summer
Summer weather means getting outside and having fun or working in the yard, but too much heat can make you sick. Your body normally cools itself as your sweat evaporates, but during extremely hot weather, when the humidity is high, sweat can’t evaporate very well. These conditions can cause the temperature of your body to become dangerously high and can lead to severe illness or even death.
Heat related illness is preventable, so it’s important to understand what you can do to keep yourself healthy when temperatures are extremely high.
- Keep cool indoors. Use an air conditioner or go to a cool place such as the basement, a neighbor’s house, shopping mall or cooling center.
- Take a cool shower or bath.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated — don’t just wait until you are thirsty. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks such as pop. These beverages may actually dehydrate you even more.
- Avoid exercise and physical activity during the hottest time of the day. Mornings and evenings are usually cooler than midday.
- Stay out of the sun. Wear sun protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going outside to protect yourself against sunburn.
- Never leave children, the elderly, or pets in parked cars. Cars heat up very quickly and can become dangerously hot, even with the windows open.
And if you, a loved one, or a neighbor need a place to escape the heat, click here to find a list of cooling center locations in and around our community that are open to the public.