Dear Neighbor,
As we enter the holiday season, I hope you are taking time to rest and gather with loved ones. The end of the year is a perfect opportunity to express gratitude and to reflect on the year, and I am incredibly proud of the things the Senate Majority was able to deliver for our residents during my first term representing District 28.
We have passed critical legislation to address the issues and challenges facing our state. I am pleased that our caucus accomplished this by listening and engaging in real conversations with constituents. I look forward to our continued progress in the new year.
As always, my office is here to assist you! If you have questions or need assistance, you can email my office at SenSSingh@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-3447.
Sincerely,
Sen. Sam Singh
State Senator
District 28
Featured in this Newsletter
- Legislative Recap
- Community Updates
- December Coffee Hours
Legislative Recap
Elimination of Immunity for Drug Manufacturers
Senate Bill 410 provides accountability for drug companies, restoring Michiganders’ ability to pursue justice and recoup damages if a faulty drug leads to injury or death.
Michigan’s drug immunity law is the most restrictive in the nation and has prohibited Michigan Attorneys General from pursuing pharmaceutical liability actions for too many years. Taking action to ensure our residents have the opportunity to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable was long overdue, and I was proud to support the legislation.
You can read more here.
Clean Energy Future Plan Signed into Law
- SB 271 establishes a 100% clean energy standard by 2040, an 80% clean energy standard by 2035, and a renewable standard of 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 — ambitious but achievable targets.
- SB 273 focuses on enhancing energy waste reduction (EWR) efforts and creates a low-income EWR program to ensure Michigan residents with low incomes or living in multi-family properties have equal access to energy efficiency programs.
- The Community and Worker Economic Transition Office created by SB 519 will assist workers and communities during the state’s renewable energy transition, supporting job growth and helping the state’s economy evolve. It will be housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
- SB 502 would require the MPSC in its Integrated Resource Planning process to add affordability and overall cost-effectiveness to its consideration as well as require utilities to meet clean energy standards. The bill adds an expanded advisory role for EGLE to include environmental justice and health impacts. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of public input and representation for utility customers, ensuring their interests are adequately addressed.
- SB 277 would encode into state law a successful program that allows farmers to lease some of their land for solar operations if they choose. It would maintain preservation of farmland enrolled in the PA 116 agricultural conservation easement program, while allowing for new revenue from solar leases and helping preserve it for future generations. The bill also requires the developer to ensure the land would be maintained and returned to agricultural use at the end of the solar lease.
Expanded Financial Disclosure for Candidates and Elected Officials
For a long time, Michigan was one of only two states where lawmakers did not have to file any type of public report about their personal finances. After extensive input from stakeholders and lawmakers, bipartisan financial disclosure Senate Bills 613–616, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and me, passed the Senate nearly unanimously and are now one step closer to helping improve government transparency and codify Proposal 1 of 2022 — which was supported by 2.8 million Michigan voters just last year.
- Every source of income;
- Assets held for investment or production of income;
- Significant liabilities;
- Positions held in organizations;
- Future employment agreements;
- Spouse’s occupation and more.
The Senate bills also extend this disclosure to candidates for office so that voters can vet these potential conflicts as they decide on who they want to represent them.
Reproductive Healthcare Act Signed into Law
- Remove barriers to state and federal funding for health care entities that also provide abortion care.
- Repeal laws that require patients seeking abortion care to receive biased, medically inaccurate information.
- Repeal law requiring patients seeking abortion to undergo a state-mandated 24-hour delay.
- Codify current standards of medical practice regarding which qualified health care professionals can provide abortion.
- Prohibit criminal punishment of pregnant people for actions they take during pregnancy that would not otherwise be made criminal or punishable.
- Lift the ban on private insurance coverage for abortion care.
- Ensure insurance coverage for abortion for Michiganders enrolled in Medicaid.
Protecting Survivors of Domestic Violence from Further Abuse
Domestic violence is a crisis facing women and families across Michigan and the United States. The issue of domestic violence is also deeply interconnected with gun violence, as more abusers are choosing firearms as their weapon of choice.
For a long time under state law, individuals convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor were not barred from possessing or carrying a firearm for any amount of time. This dangerous loophole was closed on Nov. 21, when Senate Bills 471, 472 and 528 — sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang and Sen. Sue Shink — were signed into law.
Michigan has now joined the majority of states that have enhanced protections for survivors of domestic violence. Click here to read more about this legislation.
Community Updates
Take Steps to Protect Yourself from COVID-19
As we enter into the winter months, immunizations and testing continue to be critical tools in managing the spread of COVID-19. To help keep yourself and your community healthy, I encourage you to take advantage of the free vaccine and testing options available to you.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Protects Against New Variants
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommends all Michiganders 6 months and older receive the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine which is designed to provide protection against severe COVID-19 disease from currently circulating variants.
Most Michigan residents can still get a COVID-19 vaccine for free. For people with health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. Michigan residents who don’t have health insurance or have health plans that do not cover the cost can reach out to a health care provider or local pharmacy participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, their health department or visit Vaccines.gov for additional information on ways to obtain a free vaccine.
For more information, click here.
Testing Options: At-Home and In-Person
As of September 25, 2023, all U.S. residents are able to go to COVIDTests.govand sign up to receive up to four free at-home tests per household delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) also continues to partner with libraries across the state to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests to Michiganders. Click here for a list of participating libraries.
For Michiganders who are thinking about plans for in-person testing, Michigan.gov/COVIDTest remains in place to assist in locating a testing site.
AG Nessel Launches New Consumer Protection Website, Holiday Scams Campaign
With the launch of Attorney General Nessel’s annual Holiday Scam Campaign, the Department is also launching a new Consumer Protection website and logo! The website now includes:
- A new search tool to make finding consumer alerts and charities faster and easier;
- A page dedicated to common scams;
- The Michigan Identity Theft Support page and resources to detect and report identity theft for consumers and businesses; and
- Educational videos from Attorney General Nessel, the Federal Trade Commission and other trusted resources.
December Coffee Hours
Where: Virtual — Register here: senatedems.com/singh/coffee-hour-register/