Mackinac Island has been voted the No. 2 “Best Fall Travel Destination” in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers' Choice 2024 travel award contest! This well-deserved designation highlights one of our most cherished communities and further showcases our region’s tourism potential.

The fall months are a treasure for our district, with incredible sights to see almost anywhere you go. My family and I love traveling to Mackinac Island throughout the season, especially for the Halloween Weekend in October. Congratulations to the entire Mackinac Island community, and if you haven’t already, consider taking a trip to the island to enjoy all it has to offer!

My office was recently notified that nine Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) students were eligible for the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship Program in the amount of $2,000 per student.

I am thrilled to see this new source of funding for those seeking to further their skills in trade schools in the state of Michigan — this has been a key priority of mine throughout the year. Schools like GLBBS provide critical skills to our workforce and tremendous opportunities for individuals who want to enter the trades. Congratulations to these students and to future students who will benefit from this new funding source. It was my honor to pursue access to this funding, and I will continue to advocate for schools like GLBBS and their students!

Congress passed the “Corporate Transparency Act,” and it became federal law in January 2024. For more information, please read the following excerpt from the Small Business Association of Michigan’s website:

“Small businesses must now report sensitive personal information for owners and some employees to FinCen (the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which is part of the Internal Revenue Service) such as social security number, driver’s license number, passport number and home address. ‘Beneficial owners’ refers to all individuals who own or have substantial control in a business. Businesses must keep this filing updated within 30 days of any changes of ownership or previously reported information pertaining to a beneficial owner. The penalties associated with noncompliance are thousands of dollars in fines and up to two years in federal prison.”

It is important to note that businesses that existed prior to Jan. 1, 2024, have until Dec. 31, 2024, to comply. Companies founded after Jan. 1, 2024, must comply within 90 days of forming the new business.

Several constituents have expressed serious concerns about this piece of policy, and while it is federal legislation, I wanted to be sure to share information about what to do and how to comply with this. Several lawsuits are in progress across the country, but should you be impacted by this, please take a moment to review the information on the SBAM website by clicking clicking here.

Please do not hesitate to share with others you know that may need to take notice of this deadline.

I was joined in mid-September by thousands of hospitality workers at the state Capitol to call for action to defend our restaurants, businesses and employees in the wake of this year's devastating state Supreme Court ruling.

The Legislature must act on this by the end of the year to avoid the serious consequences that will devastate businesses across the state come February 2025 if a fix has not been passed. My office and I have been reaching out to as many business owners and industry leaders as we can to gather data on what these changes will mean for businesses in Northern Michigan. If your business will be impacted by these changes and you have data to share with us, please contact my office. I am committed to being a champion for this issue and hope to get this resolved before the end of this year.

There’s no better way to share the love of hunting with the next generation than by taking kids out into the field to enjoy nature and learn about the important role hunting plays in managing and preserving Michigan’s natural resources.

The Mentored Youth Hunting Program offers families the opportunity to purchase a “package” license for children ages 9 and under for just $7.50. This license allows young hunters under the age of 10 to hunt turkey, deer and small game, and fish for all species.

Children ages 10 and older can join the apprentice hunting program by purchasing a base apprentice license. This allows them to hunt with an adult 21 years of age or older who possesses a regular current-year hunting license for the same game they will be hunting. The accompanying hunter must be your parent, guardian or someone designated by your parent or guardian if you are 10-16 years of age. The base apprentice license can be purchased for two years before needing to successfully complete a hunter safety course, allowing the holder to hunt small game and purchase licenses to hunt other species like deer and turkey.

I was glad to join the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) board of directors and CEO Payton Heins for the group’s annual fall fun shoot event hosted at the Charlevoix Rod and Gun Club. This organization has been a tremendous asset for our region, focusing on small business development and economic expansion. I am particularly impressed by their concentration on building a year-round economy that works for our full-time residents.

To commemorate 40 years of service to Northern Michigan, I presented NLEA with a special tribute on behalf of the state of Michigan. I look forward to our continued partnership to help ensure we have the opportunities we need to give our kids a chance to build their lives here in Northern Michigan.

With deer hunting season fast approaching, there was no better way to spend a crisp September morning than at the unveiling of the new statue honoring the legendary Fred Bear in Grayling.

Fred Bear is considered by many to be “the founding father of modern bow hunting.” Immortalized in the classic rock song by Ted Nugent, Fred Bear represents the classic American story of innovation and persistence, and he left a legacy that started right here in Northern Michigan and continues to this day throughout the world.

Be safe out there this hunting season, and when you are in the woods, remember to give a nod to old Fred Bear.

Due to an extended period with no rain this fall, burn permits for brush and yard debris will not be issued in the western Upper Peninsula. Fire danger is also elevated in the eastern U.P. and parts of the northern Lower Peninsula.

Residents should check the burn permit website to see if burning is allowed before starting a fire. Burn permits in these areas will not be issued until significant rainfall has occurred. Southern Michigan residents should check with their local municipality or fire department.

While campfires or warming fires do not require a permit, bowhunters at deer camp or other outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to keep water, a rake or a shovel nearby to extinguish fires and remember to never leave a fire unattended.

Michigan’s 37th Senate District includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau counties and portions of Mackinac and Chippewa counties.