District 10 News and Updates

Sep 5, 2025 | Email

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Dear Neighbor,

We are officially in the month of September, which marks the beginning of school, fall sports, and cider mills. I hope you and your loved ones can find time to enjoy a cider mill, sporting event, or the last of the warm weather. In this newsletter, I have included some information on local events and cider mills.

Featured in this Newsletter:

  • Michigan Senate Acts Unanimously to Ensure Michiganders Stay Warm in the Wintertime
  • Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services Launches MI Options Call Center
  • Free Fillable Power of Attorney Forms
  • Cider Mills in Our Community
  • Safe Driving Tips as New School Year Set to Begin
  • Michigan Achievement Scholarship Unlocks Opportunities
  • OK2SAY School Safety Resource
  • City of Warren Hazardous Waste Day
  • Passport Walk-In Week

As always, it is an honor to represent you. If you would like any assistance with state-based issues, please feel free to reach out! You can email me at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-8360.  or find more information on my Website.

Warmest regards,

Paul Wojno Signature
Legislative Updates

Michigan Senate Acts Unanimously to Ensure Michiganders Stay Warm in the Wintertime
As the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise and too many Michiganders struggle to make ends meet, the Michigan Senate worked across party lines to pass legislation to help folks across the state afford their heating bill. Passed with full support out of the Senate chamber last month, Senate Bill 435 would make time-sensitive updates to how the state Treasury department makes its annual inflation adjustment for the Home Heating Tax Credit — proposing to utilize the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation instead.

The Michigan Home Heating Credit is an Individual Income Tax Credit that reduces the financial burden for over 250,000 low-income households across the state by allowing them to file for an annual credit that reimburses them for the costs of heating their home. Learn more here.

Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services Launches MI Options Call Center
The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched the MI Options Call Center. This call center is designed to support Michiganders’ Medicaid needs and long-term care. This system offers free and comprehensive, person-centered counseling for adults.

Person-centered options counseling can help with:

  • Exploring long-term care and support options for adults, including home and community-based services.
  • Identifying the next steps after a major life event to better understand what services and supports are available.
  • Building actionable steps for pursuing options that align with an individual’s preferences and values.

Medicare counseling can help with: 

  • Medicare enrollment assistance.
  • Medicare and Medicaid coordination.
  • Discussions on cost savings, including low-income subsidies.
  • Prescription drug coverage options. 
  • Billing questions.
  • Benefits explanation. 

Michigan residents may call (800) 803-7174, from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. To learn more, please click here.

Free Fillable Power of Attorney Forms
Attorney General Dana Nessel recently has announced that she has made fillable Power of Attorney forms available for free download on the Elder Abuse Task Force’s webpage.

These are user friendly forms, prepared by the Kimble Center for Legal Drafting at Cooley Law School. These forms aid Michiganders and their families in appointing trusted individuals to make important financial and medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.

To learn more and download copies of the forms, please click here.

Helpful News and Resources

Cider Mills in Our Community
Cider mills are one of the amazing attractions that our great state has to offer. Our area is lucky to have a variety of cider mills open for you to visit and enjoy!

Safe Driving Tips as New School Year Set to Begin

Soon, we’ll be sharing the road with school buses again. Here are some quick tips to remember when you see a school bus stopping for students to board.

Remember, yellow lights on school buses activate when the bus is preparing to stop. Red lights and the long stop arm are activated when the bus is completely stopped and accepting or discharging passengers.

Here’s a reminder on what to do when a school bus stops on different road types:

  • Two-lane roadway
    • When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
  • Multi-lane roadway with a center turning lane
    • When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
  • Four-lane roadway without a median separation
    • When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
  • Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation
    • When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship Unlocks Opportunities in Higher Education for Michiganders
Colleges and universities play a vital role in shaping the future of our state. Recognizing this, my colleagues and I have expanded the Michigan Achievement Scholarship (MAS) program to create the “Community College Guarantee.” The scholarship is available to most graduating high school seniors and incoming college freshmen this year.

Under the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, students can receive:

  • Up to $2,750 annually if they enroll in a Michigan community college, for up to three years.
  • Up to $4,000 annually if they enroll in a Michigan private college or university, for up to five years.
  • Up to $5,500 annually if they enroll in a Michigan public university or a baccalaureate degree program at a Michigan community college, for up to five years.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you or your student can take advantage of the scholarship, the Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is hosting an informational webinar. Participants will be able to gather the following information:

  • Information about the NEW Community College Guarantee
  • Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements
  • Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts
  • Important action items for students and families
  • Additional resources and program information

The webinars are offered on several days and times and run through Dec. 10. You can find a date that works with your schedule and register here.

OK2SAY School Safety Resource
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice, and Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. James F. Grady II are reminding parents and students that Michigan’s student safety program, OK2SAY, is a valuable resource to help keep students safe.

OK2SAY is a confidential tip program that allows students to report potential harm or criminal activities that may pose a threat to students, faculty, and schools. Since its launch in 2014, OK2SAY has received more than 60,000 tips. In 2024 alone, the program received 11,719 tips.

The top five tip categories last year were:

  1. Bullying
  2. Suicide threats
  3. Other (e.g., anxiety, stress, depression, harassment)
  4. Drugs
  5. Sexual assault/misconduct/exploitation

OK2SAY is available statewide for public and nonpublic schools in Michigan. If you receive a threat or know of a threat of violence against your community, please contact your local law enforcement or call 9-1-1. Non-emergency tips can be submitted in the following ways: 

  • Call: 8-555-OK2SAY, (855-565-2729)
  • Text: 652729 (OK2SAY) 
  • Email: OK2SAY@mi.gov
  • Website: michigan.gov/ok2say
  • Mobile App: Available for downloading on Apple, Google, and Android mobile devices.