Dear Friends,

Welcome to the latest edition of my monthly e-newsletter. As always, I hope you find the news and information below helpful. Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who may be interested.

My staff and I are available should you have any thoughts or concerns about state government. Please feel free to contact my office at SenKDaley@senate.michigan.gov or 517-373-1777.

Sincerely,

Kevin Daley
State Senator
26th District

After months of political games by Lansing Democrats, Republicans in the Legislature were finally able to secure $152 million for upgrades at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

The funding will support runway improvements needed for a new F-15EX Eagle II fighter mission that will complement the base’s KC-46 Pegasus refueling tankers and replace its aging A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron. The new mission, first announced by President Donald Trump in April 2025, followed years of bipartisan efforts to secure a replacement fighter mission and prevent the base from permanent closure.

Selfridge supports an estimated 30,000 jobs statewide and contributes approximately $850 million to Michigan’s economy. It is one of the oldest military airfields in the United States still in operation. The new mission will help ensure Selfridge remains central to U.S. defense operations for decades to come.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved the funding days before the June 1 deadline.

Michiganders have until June 30 to vote online for their favorite designs in the state’s official November 2026 “I voted” sticker contest. More than 2,000 designs were submitted — four times more than the first contest in 2024. Members of the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force selected 30 semifinalists in each of three categories.

Three winning stickers will be selected in each category: elementary and middle school (grades K-8), high school (grades 9-12), and general entry, which is open to Michigan residents of all ages. The winning designs will be distributed by local election clerks during the November election.

Online voting is open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. Voters can pick their top three designs in each category. Winners will be announced later this summer.

Click here to vote.

Summer can mean a first job for Michigan teens, which can lead to questions about work permits and employment rules.

The Youth Employment website includes work permit forms for kids younger than 16 and for teens ages 16 and 17. The site also provides helpful information on work-hour limits, minimum wage requirements and restrictions on the types of work minors may perform.

The Michigan Senate recently approved legislation as part of a bipartisan six-bill package to update the state’s mobile home laws.

These much-needed reforms would improve oversight of more than 1,200 mobile home communities throughout Michigan and expand protections for nearly 475,000 residents.

Senate Bill 938 would create an income tax credit for mobile home park owners who sell their park to the park’s residents. The bill would create a nonrefundable tax credit of up to 15% of the purchase price if the owner sold the park to its residents.

SBs 934-937 and 939 would:

Manufactured homes, often called mobile homes, differ from traditional homes in that they are constructed and assembled in a factory before being transported to a home site. This allows them to be built for significantly less money than a traditional home. While the average cost of a new house in Michigan is more than $350,000, the average price of a new manufactured home is less than $150,000.

Pets depend on their owners for safety, so it is important to be ready in case you need to leave quickly during an emergency. Storms, power outages and other emergencies can happen at any time, and preparing in advance can help keep both people and animals safe.

Before an emergency occurs, identify pet-friendly shelters, hotels or boarding options in your area. Many emergency shelters can’t accommodate animals. Pet owners should also make sure their pets wear ID tags, are microchipped when possible, and have current vaccination and medical records.

One of the best ways to prepare is by assembling an emergency kit for your pet. Consider including:

Visit the Michigan State Police’s MIREADY website for additional emergency preparedness information.

Nominations are now open for the 2027-28 Michigan Teacher of the Year. Each year, the program recognizes outstanding educators and offers award recipients an opportunity to learn more about state education policy and provide input on ways to better serve Michigan students.

Ten teachers will be selected as Regional Teachers of the Year through a competitive process, and one will be named Michigan Teacher of the Year. The honorees also serve on the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council. The Michigan Teacher of the Year serves as a nonvoting member of the State Board of Education and represents the state as a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.

To nominate an outstanding Michigan public school teacher, use this online nomination form. Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 23.

Before heading out on an ORV ride, it is important to understand the rules and safety guidelines.

Most crashes result from excessive speed, careless operation or inadequate supervision of young riders. According to ORV crash data, more than 700 crashes were reported in 2025, including 32 fatalities and more than 500 injuries.

A parent or guardian must supervise children under the age of 16 operating a four-wheel ATV, and operators must possess a valid ORV safety certificate. Restrictions vary depending on age and whether the vehicle is operated on public or private property.

Stay safe by following these tips:

Click here for more information about ORV safety and trail etiquette.

Nine out of 10 wildfires in Michigan are caused by people, but taking a few precautions can help prevent fires from spreading.

Before burning yard debris such as brush or leaves, check the DNR’s interactive Burn Permit Management System map to see if conditions are safe for burning. The map provides daily county-by-county updates and contact information for areas where permits are issued by local municipalities.

When burning, follow these safety tips:

Click here for additional fire safety information, including prescribed burns and burn permits.

Dairy is Michigan’s top agricultural commodity, contributing $15.7 billion annually to the state’s economy. Most milk sold in grocery stores comes from Michigan farms and processors. In many cases, milk travels from farm to processor to store within about 48 hours.

Every milk container has a five-digit code showing where it was processed. The first two digits identify the state where the milk was bottled, and Michigan’s code is 26.

The Michigan Invasive Species Program is partnering with the North American Invasive Species Management Association to promote the PlayCleanGo campaign, which encourages outdoor recreation enthusiasts to help prevent the spread of invasive species.

Whether you hike, bike, paddle, camp, ride horses, climb, fish or visit a local park, you can help protect Michigan’s natural resources by cleaning your gear and learning how invasive species spread.

The steps are easy:

Following these simple steps can help protect our state’s natural resources.

Ninety-seven percent of Michigan state park funding comes from user fees, including the Recreation Passport and royalty revenue.

Over the last few years, state parks and trails have undergone extensive improvements to historic structures, campgrounds, parking lots, restrooms, water and sanitary systems, and other facilities.

Funding for these upgrades came from the American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress approved in 2021. So far, 142 projects have been completed, and another 55 are underway. All 197 planned improvement projects are on track to be completed in 2026.

June is Great Outdoors Month, a nationwide celebration that encourages people to spend time outside and enjoy natural resources close to home.

With 106 state parks and recreation areas and thousands of miles of shoreline, rivers, streams and lakes, Michigan offers countless opportunities to get outdoors. This monthlong celebration reminds us all how beneficial spending time outdoors can be to our physical and mental health.

For ideas and upcoming activities, visit the DNR events calendar or the Get Involved webpage.

My office is happy to offer legislative tributes in honor of noteworthy events such as retirement, anniversaries of businesses in our community, awards and public recognitions.

Michigan Senate website: www.senate.michigan.gov
Michigan House of Representatives website: www.house.mi.gov
Michigan Legislature website: www.legislature.mi.gov
Michigan Citizen’s Guide: Citizen’s Guide to State Government, 102nd Legislature