Dear Neighbor,
I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day and were able to enjoy the day with family and loved ones.
The Michigan Senate and the House are continuing to work on the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget that will be presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to sign. We are working hard, ensuring state dollars go toward our people and the communities we live, work and grow in. As always, this newsletter serves as a great update on what we’re accomplishing here in Lansing on your behalf.
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 email us at SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-0990.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
Michigan Senate Memorial Day Celebration
Every year since 1995, the Michigan Senate has held a special session to commemorate Memorial Day and recognize Michigan veterans, active military servicemembers, and their families, including our state’s Blue Star Mothers, to express both the Senate and the entire state’s gratitude for their service. The ceremony also recognizes the Michigan soldiers who have lost their lives as well as their Gold Star Families they have left behind.
I was happy to invite Commander Lolita Tucker to the Capitol on Thursday, May 23, to partake in our annual Memorial Day session. Video of the full ceremony can be found here. It was an honor to be a part of this important ceremony to recognize our Michigan veterans and the sacrifices our service members and their families, and I remain committed to supporting our veterans through important policy changes and positive budget investments.
Join Me at Upcoming Coffee Hours
I hope you will join me at my upcoming Coffee & Conversation events at St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Resource Center in Detroit and Henry Ford College in Dearborn! These are great opportunities for you to ask questions and discuss district updates and legislative priorities. For more information, click here.
WHEN: Friday, June 21, 2024, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: St. Suzanne Cody Rouge CRC (Lower level), 19321 W. Chicago Road, Detroit, MI 48828
WHEN: Friday, June 21, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Henry Ford College in the ASCC Rosenau Room (South Entrance), 5101 Evergreen Road., Dearborn, MI 48128
Please do not hesitate to call my office at (517) 373-0990 or reply to this email if you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance.
$20 Million Available for Michigan’s First-Ever Environmental Justice Impact Grants
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate (OEJPA) is launching a $20 million Environmental Justice Impact Grant program.
My Democratic colleagues and I secured funding for this program in our 2024 state budget to help reduce environmental health burdens in Michigan’s environmental justice communities.
Applications are now open for place-based, equity-focused projects.
Eligible projects include:
- Improving local public health.
- Monitoring pollution.
- Removing blight.
- Cleaning up contamination.
- Enhancing indoor air quality in schools and childcare facilities.
Federally recognized tribes, community-based nonprofits, local governments, schools, and childcare centers can apply for up to $500,000. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024, with funds awarded by early September 2024.
Senate Bill 27 Ensuring Equal Insurance Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatments Becomes Law
Last week, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 27, sponsored by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). This new law requires insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorder at the same level as physical health services. It aims to close existing loopholes and ensure that Michigan residents can access the necessary treatments.
Our Senate Majority remains committed to uplifting and supporting Michiganders in every facet of life and will work hard to ensure that our state’s residents have access to mental health care and resources.
Bipartisan Senate Legislation to Address Michigan’s Paramedic Shortage Enacted
Gov. Whitmer also recently signed Senate Bill 249, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), legislation that will help ensure more paramedics can enter the workforce by giving qualified individuals more opportunity for accreditation. The bill allows paramedics to receive accreditation through a state-administered exam instead of only having a national exam option, cutting bureaucratic red tape that could reduce time and financial barriers to becoming a paramedic.
The legislation also updates exams for emergency medical services personnel and requires non-accredited education program sponsors to give specific notices. By expanding accreditation exam options, the State of Michigan is making the cost of paramedic programs more accessible and affordable.
Michigan Senate Moves Forward on Bills for Special License Plates
Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) worked with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to create a new pathway for organizations — like the NAACP or the Divine Nine — to obtain custom license plates featuring their emblems.
To apply, an organization must first gather commitments from at least 500 members to purchase the plate. Once this requirement is met, the organization must complete an application for a New Special Organization License Plate. Finally, the Michigan Department of State will review and approve the application, completing the process.
Similarly, Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) introduced Senate Bill 788, which would authorize a special registration plate for women veterans in the state of Michigan. The bill is intended to further recognize the contributions to and sacrifices for our nation and our state by Michigan’s women veterans.
Last week, the Michigan Senate Committee on Veterans & Emergency Services voted favorably to advance the bill. If passed, this legislation would allow Michigan to join 17 other states that provide a special registration plate to specifically honor women veterans for their sacrifice.
Senate Democrats have emphasized the importance of attracting diverse talent to Michigan. Taking these steps has a significant impact toward providing recognition and representation for diverse organizations making a difference across our communities.
Working to Deliver Innovative “Building up Michigan” State Budget
Last year marked a significant milestone for Michigan Democrats as we capitalized on their first trifecta in 40 years to spearhead a transformative budget — directing vital resources into historically neglected sectors like infrastructure, education, and local communities. This comprehensive budget, encompassing various offices, departments, initiatives, projects, and programs, follows an annual funding cycle, necessitating the State Legislature to craft a new budget each year.
Crafting this state budget is a collaborative effort involving negotiations between both legislative branches and the governor, resulting in a new state budget being signed into law each year to distribute funding to residents, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and more.
Currently, we’re in an exciting moment with our budget process, continuing the transformative investments of the previous year and taking an innovative approach to addressing the needs of all Michiganders. Highlights of our “Building Up Michigan” budget proposal include record school funding, increased access to community college for students, significant funding for local communities and efforts to lower costs for state residents.
As we work to deliver a final budget by the end of June, I encourage you to learn more about the process and the investments we’re looking to make to support communities across Michigan — read more here.
Senate Introduces Bipartisan “Safer Michigan Act” to Reduce Future Crime
Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a package of bills known as the “Safer Michigan Act (SB 861–864) to establish Productivity Credits, which provide incentives for eligible inmates to participate in and complete programs proven to reduce the likelihood of future crime. Productivity Credits are a proven safety strategy to reduce recidivism and prepare people who are incarcerated to return to their communities.
The Safer Michigan Act is sponsored by Sen. Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) (SB 861), Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) (SB 862), Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) (SB 863), and Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.) (SB 864) and has the support of thousands of crime victims, as well as law enforcement, business leaders, and faith groups in Michigan
EGLE and Michigan Saves Launch Septic Replacement Loan Program
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has partnered with Michigan Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, to launch the Septic Replacement Loan Program (SRLP). This program — made possible through the $35 million we allocated to EGLE’s Onsite Wastewater Management Unit — provides low-interest financing options for loans up to $50,000 to Michigan homeowners needing to replace failing or near-failing septic systems.
The SRLP offers two tiers of financing: income-based loans (Tier One) up to $30,000 per project and market-based loans (Tier Two) up to $50,000 per project. Rates, terms, and loan amounts will vary.
To be eligible for the program, septic systems must be permitted by the local health department according to EGLE’s minimum standards and installed by a Michigan Saves authorized contractor.
For more information about the SRLP, to find a Michigan Saves authorized contractor, and to begin the financing process for septic system replacement, please visit MichiganSaves.org/Septic/.
MDARD Encourages Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Safe this Summer
With the unofficial start of summer behind us, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) would like to remind owners of some of the best ways to keep their animals healthy and safe. Keep your animals safe this summer by following these seven easy tips:
- Vax & Relax – Keep animals up to date on routine vaccinations.
- Let it Flow: Provide unlimited cool, clean fresh water
- Happy Tummies: Avoid feeding animals people foods
- Know Their Limits: An animal’s ability to tolerate heat varies
- Look Before They Splash: Avoid harmful algal blooms (HABs) in bodies of water
- Animal illness due to HABs is reportable to MDARD. To report cases, submit a Reportable Disease Form or call 800-292-3939. In addition, to report any suspicious looking algae, please email algaebloom@michigan.gov.
- Search No More: Make sure animals have proper identification
- Small Circle of Friends: Keep animals away from wildlife, ill animals, and animals of unknown health status
These tips can help keep your animals safe and healthy throughout the holiday. If there are any concerns about your animals’ health now or throughout the year, please talk to your veterinarian.
Storm Resources from EGLE
With the tragic devastation caused by the tornadoes that recently ripped through southwest Michigan, the realities of storm season are fresh on our minds. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) encourages Michiganders to prepare as much as possible for severe storm events prior to them occurring. Here are some resources they recommend starting with:
- The MIReady Webpage provides ample resources to help residents prepare for emergencies like natural disasters, homeland security threats, and power outages.
- The EGLE Storm Recovery Webpage page provides resources that help local officials, emergency responders, recycling and disposal vendors, and residents respond to storm emergencies. It provides details on managing storm debris, how to stay informed during an emergency, and how to get an emergency disposal permit in the aftermath of a storm.
- Local officials, disposal and recycling vendors, and emergency responders are encouraged to use EGLE’s NEW Storm Debris Planning Tool before a storm occurs, to troubleshoot how to remove excess waste during an emergency, preventing a nuance, public health threat, or environmental threat.
Explore High-Wage, In-Demand Careers During Professional Trades Month
With more than 520,000 Michigan jobs and approximately 45,500 annual openings in the professional trades projected by the year 2030, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to proclaim May as Professional Trades Month. The annual observance honors hard-working Michiganders in professional trades while encouraging students and adults to explore education and career opportunities leading to high-wage, in-demand careers.
Businesses across Michigan need highly skilled workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, education, energy, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, mobility and outdoor recreation. Many of these high-demand, high-wage careers do not require a four-year degree and have pathways that focus on credentials, certificates, on-the-job training and Registered Apprenticeships.
To learn more about high-wage, in-demand career opportunities in the professional trades, Michiganders can explore the following resources:
- State Apprenticeship Expansion, which allows users to explore registered apprenticeship opportunities in the state, offering paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon program completion
- Going PRO Talent Fund, which helps individuals secure employment, industry-recognized credentials and strong wages by providing training grants to Michigan businesses to support employees in high-demand, professional trades industries
- Pathfinder, which is the State of Michigan’s official career exploration resource that allows users to explore careers and identify educational opportunities throughout the state
- Pure Michigan Talent Connect, which is the state’s online platform for connecting job seekers and employers