Dear Friends,

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

I am active on social media to help keep you updated. You can check out my Facebook page or my new official account on X (formerly known as Twitter).

I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You can call toll-free at 855-347-8030 or email SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov.  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

I am holding in-person office hours throughout the district on a regular basis because hearing directly from 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 Monday, April 28, I will be available to meet on a one-on-one basis with constituents at the following dates, times and locations:

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

Every March, I visit different schools throughout the district to celebrate National Reading Month and read to kids to highlight the importance of reading.

I want to thank all of the schools that warmly welcomed me last month and gave me the opportunity to share my love of reading with their students and encourage kids to read.

This year, I was able to visit 13 schools, 50 classrooms and more than 1,400 students.

Click here or on the image below to see a short slideshow of my school visits.

Calling all witches, wizards and muggles alike! Prepare to be transported back to the wonder and enchantment of Hogwarts with a captivating concert experience celebrating the iconic music of Harry Potter. Come dressed in your finest robes, Gryffindor scarves or even your own unique wizarding attire for a truly magical experience.

The Grand Rapids Symphony, under the direction of Conductor Bob Bernhardt, will host An Evening at Hogwarts: Music by Candlelight at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12, at the DeVos Performance Hall. Click here to find out more information and purchase tickets online.

The symphony is also hosting a Hogwarts Adventure at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. The one-hour family-focused afternoon matinee performance is the perfect musical experience for Harry Potter lovers of all ages. Hogwarts Adventure journeys through the spell-bounding music of all eight films and has been specially crafted to introduce aspiring symphonic witches and wizards to the captivating live orchestra experience in a short format. Click here to find out more information and purchase tickets online.

The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Paint the Plow program is back for another year, giving high schools and vocational schools the chance to paint one of its plows with winter driving safety messages. This year’s theme is “Give plows space; it’s not a race.”

Design applications are due by Friday, May 16. Selected schools will be notified before the end of the school year, and plow blades will be delivered in the fall. Schools will have about six weeks to complete their design, which will be visible along state trunk lines throughout the winter.

For more details and to submit a design, visit Michigan.gov/PaintThePlow.

In Michigan, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1960, is required to complete a hunter safety class before they can purchase a hunting license.

There are four convenient options available:

Once you successfully complete the hunter education course and receive your certificate, it is valid for life. Learn more and register at Michigan.gov/HunterEducation.

April is National Donate Life Month, raising awareness about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. More than 100,000 patients in the U.S. are waiting for transplants. A single donor can save up to eight lives, restore sight to two people, and heal more than 75 others through tissue donation.

In 2023, Michigan became the first state to allow residents to register as organ donors on their state income tax return. Public Acts 101 and 102 of 2023 allow individuals to sign up by simply checking a box on their state tax form.

Residents can also register online or at their local secretary of state office. For more information, visit GiftofLifeMichigan.org.

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 1-855-347-8030 or emailing SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov.

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.