Dear Friends:

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and provide updates about what is going on at Michigan’s Capitol.

I am the state senator for the 18th District – covering all of Barry County and parts of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Kent and Ionia counties. Please feel free to contact me with any issues related to state government at SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov, or by calling 517-373-1734 (toll-free at 855-347-8018).

Sincerely,

Thomas Albert
State Senator

A budget proposal advanced this month by Michigan Senate Democrats would spend more taxpayer money than the state is expected to collect in the next fiscal year.

The Democratic plan for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 is more than $500 million over budget, based on results of a consensus revenue estimating conference held just a few days after their plan was approved.

Democrats again want to expand the size of government after adding thousands more bureaucrats in the past few years. They propose $10 million for electric vehicles and a $1 million program that would enable people with previous marijuana convictions to get into the marijuana business. They want to raise costs for Michigan residents without a real plan to fix the roads or address plummeting student test scores.

Unlike the federal government, the state of Michigan is constitutionally required to have a balanced budget. Spending proposals will have to be trimmed accordingly – and the Republican-led House already has signaled it will bring some fiscal responsibility and accountability back to Michigan’s state budget.

The budget likely will be finalized and sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her review in the coming months.

In 2023, Democrats made massive changes to Michigan’s energy policies. Their mandates take away local control over wind and solar project locations and threaten to raise energy costs for families and businesses.

I joined other Senate Republicans this month to introduce a legislative plan to repeal these unaffordable and unreliable energy mandates.

The package includes Senate Bill 322, which would repeal 100% alternative energy mandates signed into law in 2023 and restore local zoning authority for renewable energy projects. Other bills in the package include:

Sustainable energy policies can be achieved without the government forcing costly and unrealistic mandates on the people of Michigan. We can protect the environment while supporting a free market and the rights of Michigan businesses and residents.

It’s never too early to think about deer hunting season. I am thankful the Natural Resources Commission recently reversed course and will allow hunters who participate in the annual Liberty and Independence hunts to continue taking bucks if they so choose.

I had spoken to the NRC about the need for continued flexibility in these special seasons for youth and disabled hunters. Switching to “antlerless only” during these hunts would have had no impact on the size of Michigan’s deer herd and would have actually discouraged hunting among those who prefer to take bucks.

The commission made the right decision to allow antlered deer to be taken during these hunts.

This year’s Liberty Hunt for youth is scheduled for Sept. 13-14. The Independence Hunt is Oct. 16-19. Michigan’s 2025 archery season begins Oct. 1.

Michigan’s hunting season calendar is available online here.

The March ice storm impacted nearly 1 million acres of state-managed lands, including 19 state parks, 54 state forest campgrounds, 169 boating access sites, 3,290 miles of state-managed trails and 3,400 miles of state roads.

Thanks to fast action from DNR crews across the state, all state park campgrounds and overnight lodging locations can reopen within days of their scheduled spring opening dates.

Visitors are encouraged to check the DNR’s interactive map and dashboard for status updates on accessibility at state parks, trails, campgrounds and boating access sites.

Michigan’s summer Free Fishing Weekend is just around the corner! On June 7-8, all fishing license fees will be waived, and state parks and boating access points are open to visitors without Recreation Passports. Residents and out-of-state visitors can fish for any species of fish. All fishing regulations and laws apply.

Before you plan your next fishing trip, use the interactive Family Friendly Fishing Waters map to find fishing spots across the state with easy access and a high likelihood of catching fish. Locations can be filtered by the type of fish you want to catch, what kind of fishing you are looking for, and which amenities, like bathrooms or swimming, you prefer.

If your fishing adventure will include boating, visit the newly revamped Michigan Boating Facility Finder. The interactive tool makes it easy to find boat access sites and quickly identify essential information about each site, such as the number of lanes, parking info, closures, and more.

I plan to host local office hours to discuss state government-related issues on Friday, May 30, in two locations:

Office hours are open to district residents to talk about issues related to state government or to request assistance with a state issue. No appointment is necessary, but space may be limited at some locations. Priority will be given to constituents seeking to discuss issues requiring privacy or individual attention.

Office hours in other 18th District locations will be scheduled at a later date.