Dear Neighbor,
Happy New Year! In 2023, the Senate Majority made historic progress for the people of Michigan. As 2024 begins, I am looking forward to another year of legislative progress and community impact. To officially kick off the new year, I am hosting a coffee hour in Dewitt on January 22 — I hope to see you there!
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 Update
- District Update
- Upcoming Coffee Hours
Legislative Update
After a historic year with the Democrats in the majority, there were major pieces of legislation that passed. These are some of the laws taking effect early in 2024:
Restoring Workers’ Rights
Legislation repealing Michigan’s anti-worker law (House Bills 4004 and 4007 and Senate Bill 34) — which allowed union workers to opt out of paying union dues and fees — is set to go into effect.
Gun Safety
This year, gun safety-related legislation (Senate Bills 79, 80, 81 and 82 and House Bills 4138 and 4142) will take effect, including the following: expansion of background checks, safe gun storage requirements and laws permitting courts to temporarily remove guns from those a judge deems pose an imminent threat to themselves or others, as well as temporarily banning those with domestic violence convictions from possessing and purchasing firearms and ammunition in Michigan.
Reproductive Health Act
The Reproductive Health Act (Senate Bills 474, 476 and 477 and House Bills 4949, 4951, 4953–4956) will remove restrictive regulations for clinics, repeal a state law requiring the purchase of a special insurance rider for private health plans to cover abortion and remove a law banning higher education institutions’ pregnant and parenting services offices from providing referrals for abortion services.
Clean Energy Future Plan
Several clean energy-related bills were passed in November 2023 to help lower household utility costs, protect state water and air and create more green energy jobs. One of the bills I proudly sponsored, Senate Bill 273, will improve energy efficiency and waste reduction programs to lessen costs for Michiganders. This law is set to take effect in February 2024.
Budget Supplemental
To help close the books on the 2023 fiscal year and position Michigan for future success, the Legislature passed a budget supplemental — House Bill 4292 and Senate Bill 174. This fiscally responsible supplemental will help communities across Michigan invest in students — to ensure students have access to clean drinking water at school; put more money into classrooms; and fund critical projects at public universities and community colleges to build a pipeline for more high-skilled talent, among other priorities.
The budget also makes vital investments in clean water, Michigan’s roads and more. To read more about the investments being made throughout the state, click here.
I was also proud to be able to get nine of my sponsored pieces of legislation signed into law. To highlight a few:
SB 129: Allows local governments to offer subsidies on affordable housing projects. This legislation is a tool for local governments to expand affordable housing in our communities and can position Michigan to be a national leader in addressing affordable housing needs.
SB 273: Enhances Michigan’s 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.
SB 280: Requires dental oral assessments for children prior to their first time in kindergarten or first grade.
SB 288: Eliminates the sunset on the Michigan Energy Assistance Program, which provides services to help with the payment of energy bills, establishment of affordable payment plans and support for in-home energy efficiency. The extension of this program will continue to help thousands of low-income residents in need.
SB 519: Establishes the Community and Worker Economic Transition Office within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The office will be tasked with creating and submitting a plan to ensure workers or jobs impacted by the shift to clean and alternative sources of energy avoid suffering economic harm.
SB 614: Will require an elected official and a candidate for office to file financial disclosure reports with the Department of State. This bill was part of a larger package strengthening government transparency and accountability.
District Update
Michigan Strategic Fund Grant Recipients
Woodworth Investments, LLC – Michigan Community Revitalization Program Performance-Based Grant
Woodworth Investments plans to rehabilitate a historic, three-story building located on the corner of W. Exchange and N. Washington Streets in downtown Owosso into a mixed-use development. When complete, the project will include reactivated commercial space on the first floor and nine residential rental units. The first floor currently houses Fifth Third Bank, which will remain as a long-term tenant. The second and third floors will be used for the residential units and a common space for the residents. The concrete and masonry façade will also be improved both structurally and aesthetically, bringing it back to national historic preservation standards.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4.7 million with the support of a $1.48 million Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant. The City of Owosso Brownfield Redevelopment Authority also received MSF approval of state tax capture valued at $248,139 for the reimbursement of brownfield activities at the site.
Norm Fasteners Co. – Strategic Site Readiness Program Grant
Norm Fasteners Co. plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in Bath Charter Township, where it will manufacture externally threaded fasteners. The company, established in 2018 in Lansing, is a subsidiary of Norm Holdings A.S. of Turkey and is a leading manufacturer of various connectors from bolts to fasteners, and has also diversified into machines, logistics, high-quality parts and marketing services. The project represents the parent company’s first manufacturing facility in the U.S.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $77 million and create 200 well-paying jobs with the support of a $1.6 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Bath Charter Township anticipates approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project. Norm Fasteners has selected Dymaxion Development of Lansing as the development partner on the project.
Upcoming Coffee Hour
When: Monday, January 22, 2024, from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: Dewitt District Library 13101 Schavey Road, DeWitt, MI 48820