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 you feel 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 [email protected] or at 517-373-1777.

Sincerely,

Kevin Daley
State Senator
26th District

In August, I had the privilege to attend and speak during the Saginaw County Farm Bureau’s 2023 Annual Membership Meeting. As a farmer myself, it is always rewarding to engage with the hardworking farming community of the 26th District.

This fall, as the Legislature heads back into session, my office is committed to advancing a crucial bill aimed at supporting our school districts. My primary objective is to amend the punitive fines imposed by the Michigan Department of Education on public schools for minor violations and provide schools with a brief, yet essential, opportunity to rectify these infractions before facing potentially crippling fines.

Additionally, I am determined to modernize the 1899 Sailors and Soldiers Relief Fund to better serve our local veterans. The original legislation limited aid to a maximum of $10 and failed to accommodate female veterans or any branches of the military established after 1899. An update to this fund would extend relief to honorably discharged veterans, members of women’s auxiliaries, spouses, widows, widowers and minor children of deceased veterans and members of women’s auxiliaries. I eagerly anticipate achieving these goals during the upcoming fall session.

Democrats in Lansing, led by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, have unveiled their plan for the fall legislative session. Unfortunately, their plan is at odds with the reality millions of Michigan residents are facing every day.

On the heels of the highest inflation Michigan has seen in four decades, Gov. Whitmer is still fighting to increase income taxes and costs for hardworking families. Rather than supporting proven policies Republicans have worked for decades to put in place that focus on lowering taxes, reducing oppressive regulations, investing in infrastructure, and providing access to reliable and affordable energy, the governor is once again doubling down on radical policies that would do the opposite. Her plans would cripple economic growth and supercharge the inflation we are already experiencing.

Michigan must develop an energy strategy that focuses on reliable, secure energy and storage. A strong and secure energy grid that is consistent in providing power for residents must be maintained over the long term and should be made up of various sources, such as natural gas and propane.

I will continue to support responsible spending and lower taxes that would lead to increased economic growth that benefits all individuals and businesses in Michigan. My colleagues and I will continue to put forward proposals that provide relief for families and seniors and will return taxpayer dollars to individuals who worked hard for their income. Michigan residents are far more qualified to spend their money than the government.

The deadline for local governments and counties to register to receive funds from the multibillion-dollar Walgreens national opioid settlement has been extended to Sept. 20.

In June, the state of Michigan reached a settlement with Walgreens that allows 278 local units of government in Michigan to participate and receive direct payments from the Walgreens settlement. The full list of eligible subdivisions is available on the Department of Attorney General website.

To receive a portion of the settlement, eligible subdivisions can email the department for additional instructions before the Sept. 20 deadline.

As part of Public Act 166 of 2022, the Michigan Legislature appropriated $5 million to provide free well water testing for Michigan residents who rely on a household or private well for their drinking water.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will work with local water departments across the state to test private wells for the most common water quality concerns. Some of the most common water quality concerns for private wells include bacteria, nitrates, and harmful metals like arsenic.

Private well owners can contact their local health department or visit Michigan.gov/EGLEPrivateWells to request a sample kit. The website also contains contact information for local health departments, well records, and an interactive Water Well Viewer that displays the locations of various water wells across Michigan.

Bear season in Michigan has begun; however, the season varies greatly depending on hunt management areas. A full description of hunting dates and bear management areas in both the Upper and Lower peninsulas is available at Michigan.gov/Bear.

Michigan’s Bear Cooperator Patch Program is coordinated by the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, in partnership with the DNR, in an effort to keep Michigan's black bear population healthy and protect their habitat. Anyone may purchase a patch for $7. Hunters who are 17 years old and younger can receive a free patch by sending in a copy of their current bear hunting license.

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. Throughout the month, libraries across the U.S. join the American Library Association to remind parents, caregivers, and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning.

In Michigan, the eLibrary provides free access to articles, books, and digital images. The eLibrary also provides access to an interlibrary loan system that makes it easy to borrow books from libraries across the state. For more information, visit Michigan eLibrary.

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.michigan.gov
Michigan Legislature website: www.legislature.mi.gov
Michigan Citizen’s Guide: Citizen’s Guide to State Government, 102nd Legislature