Dear Friends,

I am honored to continue to serve the great people of West Michigan in the Senate. To better serve you, I’m offering this e-newsletter on what’s happening in the new 30th Senate District and across our state.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may call toll-free at 1-855-347-8030 or email [email protected]. Also, please check out my Facebook page. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

Working for you,

Mark Huizenga
State Senator

As required by the Michigan Constitution, on Jan. 11, the Michigan Senate held its first day of the 2023 regular session. The state’s constitution requires that the Legislature shall meet “on the second Wednesday in January of each year at twelve o'clock noon.”

The state Senate consists of 38 members who are elected by the residents of each district, which are made up of about 265,000 residents. Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve four-year terms concurrent with the governor’s term of office. The Michigan Senate generally meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. A full 2023 session schedule is available here.

On Jan. 11, I formally sworn in as senator for the 30th District during a ceremony at the state Capitol. Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement administered the oath of office.

I was joined on the Senate floor for the ceremony by my wife, Kris, daughter and son-in-law Olivia and Tim Osipsov, daughter and son-in-law Elaina Huizenga-Chase and Ben Chase, mother Joyce Huizenga, and mother-in-law and father-in-law Barb and Tom Nawrocki.

It is a great honor to continue to serve the hardworking people of West Michigan, and I thank them for again entrusting me to be their voice in the state Senate. I take my oath and the responsibility of my office very seriously. Transparency, accessibility, and accountability are incredibly important to me. We still have much to do for our community and our state, and I am committed to doing my best to stand up for our commonsense values and working together across the aisle to solve problems facing West Michigan.

My office is in Room 7200 of the Connie B. Binsfeld Office Building, at 201 Townsend St., across the street from the Michigan Capitol.

I encourage anyone who wants to share their viewpoint on how to improve our state or who needs assistance with a state issue to contact us. I am dedicated to representing everyone in our district, regardless of partisan affiliation, and will do all I can to achieve positive results for our families.

I recording a video introducing myself and welcoming people to contact our office. You can watch the video by clicking here or on the image below.

I am holding in-person office hours throughout the district on a regular basis because hearing directly from the people about the issues they are facing is an important part of representing everyone in West Michigan. These meetings give local residents a chance to express their viewpoints about what needs to be done and offer help to people dealing with a variety of state issues.

On Friday, Jan. 20, I will be available to meet with constituents from 8 to 9 a.m. at Sundance Bar and Grill, 5755 28th St. SE in Cascade and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Haggerty’s, 1600 E. Beltline Ave. NE in Grand Rapids Township.

Office hours are open to all residents, and no appointment is necessary. Anyone who is unable to attend the office hour may contact my office.

Every January, state and economic leaders come together to offer their economic and state tax revenue projections at the first of at least two annual Consensus Revenue Estimating Conferences. The second conference is held the third week in May.

The January 2023 conference once again revealed that the state of Michigan is bringing in more tax revenue than economists projected last year. Responsible, Republican management of taxpayer dollars has led to a strong state budget outlook.

Despite Democratic previous inaction to help struggling families and seniors, the state’s revenue forecast is expected to trigger a permanent individual income tax rate reduction. The trigger would take effect for the 2023 tax year and could possibly lead to an individual income tax rate reduction from 4.25% to 4.05%, according to the non-partisan House and Senate fiscal agencies.

I’m proud to help lead the state’s bipartisan Biosciences Legislative Caucus for the 102nd Legislature as we work together to help grow our life science industry in West Michigan and across our state.

West Michigan is home to incredible bioscience assets –– like Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, the Medical Mile consisting of the Van Andel Research Institute, BAMF Health, and the North American headquarters of Perrigo –– that represent just a small piece of the state’s life sciences industry.

I look forward to engaging with industry experts, patient groups and the public on ways to further support the biosciences industry in Michigan.

I will co-chair the caucus with Sen. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, and Rep. Doug Wozniak, R-Shelby Township.

The caucus was formed in 2007 to be a bipartisan, bicameral body whose membership is open to any legislator committed to learning from state and national industry experts regarding policies that will support the growth of the biosciences industry in Michigan.

Michigan’s life science industry is one of the oldest in the nation and is currently home to more than 2,400 establishments, including many global brands, and employs more than 44,000 individuals directly.

On Jan. 10, I had the pleasure of attending Ada Township’s board meeting to introduce myself and discuss my legislative priorities. After all, being accessible to local leaders and the general public are both very important to be effective as your state senator.

I’m excited to work hard for Ada families as I represent them in the new 30th Senate District.

Earlier this week, someone vandalized the Kent County GOP headquarters – spray-painting antisemitic and hateful symbols across the building.

The exchange of ideas free from violence and threats is critical to our democracy and to good government. As a Christian and a public servant, I am deeply disappointed by the attack on the Kent County GOP building.

These shameful and disgusting actions are not reflective of our community. The people of West Michigan support building a strong society — free from hate and oppression.

With more than 40 ski areas across the state, you are always within a two-hour drive of the thrills of skiing and snowboarding. Michigan ranks second in the U.S. for the number of places to enjoy this exciting, family-friendly winter sport.

The Cold is Cool Passport, which allows fourth and fifth graders to ski for free in Michigan, is a great opportunity to get kids out on the slopes and try the sport. The passport, sponsored by the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, allows families to receive up to three lift tickets at 29 participating ski hills. Other discounts are also available.

For more information or to register for the passport visit the Cold is Cool Passport site.

Serving the people of West Michigan is very important to me and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may contact me by calling toll-free 1-855-347-8028 or emailing [email protected].

I look forward to serving you, and I encourage you to contact me if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.