Dear Friends,

To better serve you, I am offering this e-newsletter on what’s happening in the 30th Senate District and across our state.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions about any of the content discussed in this e-newsletter or if I can be of assistance to you or your family. 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

I recently sent a letter to Michigan Economic Development Corp. CEO Quentin Messer urging him to provide answers about $666.1 million in incentives previously awarded to General Motors now that the company has announced its plan to sell its investment stake in the Ultium Cells Battery Plant.

GM lobbied both the MEDC and the Legislature to receive Strategic Outreach and Reserve Fund incentives under the premise that it was committed to creating jobs and investment in Michigan, but GM’s recent announcement contradicts that premise.

Hardworking Michigan taxpayers deserve answers and expect proper oversight to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly to improve our state and grow our economy. We’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and the people have a right to full transparency in how their tax dollars are being spent.

My letter asked seven questions, including:

When my colleagues and I voted to create SOAR and its respective funds, a central priority of ours was creating accountability mechanisms for recipients of these grants. Clawback provisions, requisite benchmarks for job creation and return on investment, and legislative oversight were all bedrock elements of the program’s creation.

Lame Duck session of the Legislature is underway. Unfortunately, before control of the Michigan House of Representatives flips next year, lawmakers are making a final push to pass as many tax increases as possible — from bottled water to gasoline to family fun. I will do my best to help stop these increases from becoming a reality.

Here are just a few of the bills that they are attempting to pass in the final weeks of 2024:

I was honored to recently ring the bell for The Salvation Army – Kent County and support their incredible work in our community. Thank you to everyone who came by and donated — your generosity helps make a difference this holiday season!

My office was honored to present a tribute welcoming Greyson Clothiers to Grand Rapids!

Greyson’s vision focuses on uniting fashion and sports and has over nine locations here in Michigan and across the globe. Welcome to West Michigan!

Michigan is home to more than 500 Christmas tree farms that supply nearly 2 million fresh Christmas trees to the national market annually.

With approximately 37,000 acres in commercial Christmas tree production, Michigan ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas trees harvested. For every Christmas tree harvested, Michigan Christmas tree farmers plant three new trees for future harvests.

Michigan’s winter weather can make driving dangerous. A little preparation before you head out can go a long way to ensure you arrive safely at your destination.

The Michigan State Police, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, has several tools you can use to make sure your route will be safe:

Be sure to keep an emergency car kit in your vehicle. Visit this site for a complete list of recommended items and other tips for handling winter driving.

During the final month of the year, many Michigan residents are making plans for their holiday or year-end giving. It is important to be cautious and ask the right questions before donating.

Here are some tools to help you make safe charitable donations and avoid scams this season:

For more information on how to evaluate a charity, visit the Michigan Attorney General Consumer Protection website

Michigan’s 6,000 miles of state-designated snowmobile trails are open now through March 31. Trails are groomed when there is enough snow on the ground. The state’s extensive trail network is made possible by the nearly 1,900 private landowners who allow use of their land, connecting DNR trails to communities across the state. Interactive maps of the trail network are available, which show designated snowmobile trails, shared-use trails, closures, parking lots, and more.

Trail permits for the 2024-25 season are now available and enable you to ride authorized, state-designated trails and thousands of miles of public roads. Permits can be purchased:

Michigan will host its third annual Free Snowmobile Weekend on Jan. 17-19. During this weekend, riders can enjoy DNR-designated trails without needing a snowmobile registration or trail permit.

For more information on snowmobile regulations, visit Michigan.gov/snowmobiling.

While many birds fly south for the winter, many Arctic and boreal-breeding birds migrate to the Great Lakes region as their southern winter destination. As the northernmost waters freeze, these birds migrate south to find the open waters of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio — where the climate suits their winter needs. More than 30 species of waterfowl, including ducks, geese and swans, flock to waters that do not freeze completely and can keep themselves well-fed on fish, plant matter and shellfish.

To learn more about the many species of birds you might see on Michigan’s bodies of water this winter and how to identify them, read “It’s Time for Weird Ducks” or watch the “Winter Waterfowl ID” webinar made available by MI Birds.

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 [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.