Dear Neighbor,
I hope you’re soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the warm weather as spring dwindles down and the official start of summer approaches. June is a busy time in the legislature as we continue our work on a state budget for the next fiscal year. My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are focused on delivering investments that improve opportunity, support our students and schools, and most importantly, lower costs for Michigan families.
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
- Happy Pride Month from Michigan Senate Democrats! Read on to learn how we’re commemorating Pride Month with action and support for Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community.
- You’re invited to join me on Juneteenth for a Coffee & Conversation at Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails. Find more details in this newsletter.
- Join me in wearing orange this weekend to show solidary in the fight against gun violence and in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Read on to learn more.
Senate Democrats Honor Pride Month with Action
Here in Michigan, we are dedicated to cultivating inclusion, belonging, and welcome for everyone — not just during Pride Month but every day year-round. 🏳️🌈
Since the onset of our state’s first Senate Democratic Majority in over forty years, my colleagues and I have taken swift, decisive action to expand protections for the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, one of the first bills we passed in our new majority was the historic expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), safeguarding Michiganders from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression — a collaborative effort that was decades in the making. Senate Democrats also passed new laws that banned the harmful practice of conversion therapy for minors and championed a resolution that recognizes June as Pride Month in Michigan.
These efforts are a meaningful step forward for Michigan, but they are certainly not the last. With all the uncertainty and chaos coming out of Washington D.C., we recognize the continued need for education and awareness to end discrimination and prejudice — and we’ll always continue fighting to ensure every Michigander can live freely and authentically.
Michigan Senate Passes Legislation to Cut Childcare Costs, Support Providers
To tackle the affordability crisis facing residents statewide, Senate Democrats recently passed a bold bill package to lower the cost of childcare for Michigan parents and increase avenues for childcare providers. Senate Bills 310–313 would make childcare more affordable for families and more sustainable for childcare professionals and entrepreneurs by:
- Codifying the innovative bipartisan program, Tri-Share, that splits the cost of childcare equally among employers, the state, and employees;
- Tying the Childcare Reimbursement Rate to inflation to provide certainty and consistency to providers; and
- Updating licensing requirements for childcare centers and removing burdensome barriers to opening and operating centers.
By passing this legislation out of the full Senate, we are one step closer to codifying this critical programming for Michigan families and childcare providers. Senate Bills 310–313 now head to the House for further consideration.
Read more here, and learn more about how these bills fit our broader A Michigan You Can Afford agenda here.
Senate Democrats Outline Plan to Combat Attacks on Voting Rights
Amid threats against state-run elections from the Trump administration and Congress — and the U.S. Supreme Court’s sweeping rollback of key protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — Senate Democrats are fighting back.
In recent weeks, Senate Democrats introduced the Michigan Voting Rights Act, Senate Bills 961–964, to ensure every Michigan voter can cast their vote at the ballot box. Building on Senate Democrats’ previous efforts to uphold the integrity of the state’s election process, the Michigan Voting Rights Act would protect against voter intimidation, provide transparent election data, and offer language services and more to make our elections more accessible for eligible voters.
Read more about the Michigan Voting Rights Act here. To view our recent press conference, visit our YouTube here or our webpage here.
Senate Democrats Fighting to Lower Costs & Protect Consumers from Deceptive Dynamic Pricing
Michigan Senate Democrats recently introduced comprehensive legislation to ban surveillance pricing for e-commerce and dynamic pricing for retail stores. Used by airlines, rideshares, online retailers, hotels, and grocery stores, these deceptive practices work to benefit businesses’ bottom line at the expense of the consumer.
Senate Bills 991–992 would ban businesses from setting custom prices for customers based on personalized algorithms or real-time information, protecting both Michigan consumers’ peace of mind and hard-earned money. This legislation remains in the Senate Committee on Economic and Community Development for further consideration.
Read more here, and learn more about how these bills fit into our broader A Michigan You Can Afford agenda here.
Coffee & Conversation on Juneteenth
WHEN: Friday, June 19, 2026, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails, 16801 Plymouth Road, Detroit, MI 48227
Learn more here.
Gun Violence Awareness & Wear Orange Weekend
Every June, we recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Month to honor the lives lost to senseless gun violence and raise awareness of this growing epidemic. During this month, advocates across the country also wear orange to commemorate the life of Hadiya Pendleton — a 15-year-old who was shot and killed on a playground in 2013 just one week after she performed with her high school marching band at former President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.
Since the onset of our Senate Democratic Majority, my colleagues and I have championed commonsense, evidence-based gun safety legislation to better protect Michiganders from the threat of gun violence. These actions include legislation to:
- Require universal background checks;
- Ensure firearms are stored securely and are inaccessible to minors;
- Allow a court to issue an “Extreme Risk Protection Order” (ERPO) to temporarily suspend a person’s access to firearms if they pose an immediate threat to themselves or others;
- Prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of bump stocks;
- Better protect the Michigan Capitol complex and its visitors from gun violence; and
- Ban ghost guns, or guns without serial numbers, and make it illegal to assemble, import, sell, or possess a ghost gun.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is observed on the first Friday in June — falling on June 5 this year — and marks the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend, which is an awareness campaign to honor the lives lost to gun violence and elevate the voices of survivors and advocates. Join us in wearing orange this weekend, and together, let’s continue the fight to help end gun violence here in Michigan and across the nation.
Stay Protected at the Gas Pump
Right now, Michigan drivers are paying an average of $71 for a full tank of gas, as the Iran war has disrupted global oil markets. According to the AAA, Michigan drivers are paying 70 cents more per gallon of gas than a month ago and $1.66 more per gallon of gas compared to this time last year.
Below are some consumer protection resources to ensure you are filling up with quality, more affordable gas:
- The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is a useful resource for staying safe at the pump. If you have concerns about fuel quality or received a short/incorrect measure, you may file a complaint online or call the motor fuels quality hotline at 800-632-3835.
- If you suspect or have information about potential unfair gasoline pricing practices, please call the Attorney General’s Office at 877-765-8388 or file a gasoline price gouging complaint online.
- To find cheaper gas in their area, Michiganders can use popular tools from AAA and GasBuddy. For additional resources, call 211 or visit Michigan Association of United Ways.