Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the first edition of my e-newsletter for 2025!

Below, you’ll find an update on what’s happening in your state Capitol and some additional resources I hope you find helpful. For more frequent updates on what's happening in Michigan and the state Legislature, please visit my Facebook or Instagram pages.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.

Sincerely,

Roger Hauck
State Senator
34th Senate District

Michigan’s constitution requires that the Legislature meet “on the second Wednesday in January of each year at twelve o’clock noon” to begin a new legislative session. On Jan. 8, the Michigan Senate met to begin the 2025 regular session.

The Michigan Senate consists of 38 members who are elected by the residents of each district. Senate districts are made up of approximately 250,000 residents and are elected at the same time as the governor to serve four-year terms concurrent with the governor’s term of office.

Visit the Michigan Senate website for 2025 session dates and committee schedules, links to current legislation, and information about visiting the state Capitol.

Before the 2025-26 legislative session had even begun, Republicans in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature had made finding a solution to the elimination of the tipped credit system a top priority.

In July, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling that mandated changes to the state’s minimum wage laws and would eliminate the tipped credit system used by thousands of hospitality industry employees. Without legislative action, these changes are set to go into effect on Feb. 21. The effects on small business owners and their employees would be devastating.

Servers from Michigan have visited the state Capitol many times over the last several months to urge the Legislature to act. Without changes, businesses face the difficult decision of raising prices or closing their doors, leaving as many as 50,000 Michigan residents without a job. Industry surveys indicate two-thirds of restaurant operators expect they’ll have to lay off staff, 94% say they’d have to raise menu prices and one in five full-service restaurants will likely be forced to close permanently.

This week, legislation to preserve Michigan’s tip credit system and save thousands of jobs passed out of a state House committee with bipartisan support.

In her “Road Ahead Address” at the Detroit Auto Show, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer outlined her vision for the immediate future in Michigan.

The short version: She ignored the disastrous last two years of complete Democratic control of state government and wants you to pay more in taxes to help her meet her campaign promise to fix Michigan’s roads.

After blowing a historic $9 billion surplus on partisan wish list items, giving hundreds of millions to CCP-affiliated companies, wasteful corporate giveaways to battery and automotive conglomerates, radical green energy policies that drive businesses away while raising rates for consumers and bonding our grandkids into debt for a short-term road fix, the governor is now pretending the years of extreme partisan governing didn’t happen and now wants to extend a hand to try and “get things done.”

The tone-deaf message of blowing billions and billions of dollars and then asking you for more money to help her fund her failed promise of fixing Michigan’s roads is abhorrent — as is overregulating businesses out of the state and even out of business, then saying we need to work together to grow our economy.

If the governor and Democratic majority had managed taxpayer dollars responsibly and not force-fed radical policies to the people of this state, a road funding plan would be in place, job growth would be higher, and Michigan wouldn’t be the bottom 10 nationally for nearly every important metric.

The state of Michigan made national headlines when it was reported that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is pursuing leasing 420 acres of state forestland for a solar farm, some of which would need to be cleared for the solar array. The plan comes as part of an effort by the DNR to find ways to use state-owned land for renewable energy development.

In 2023, Lansing Democrats passed sweeping and troublesome energy reforms that removed decision-making authority from local governments for wind and solar developments and gave that authority to unelected bureaucrats. The new laws are part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to mandate 100% Green New Deal-style energy changes by 2040. Experts believe if this goal is to be reached, Michigan will need to dedicate an additional 209,000 acres of land to wind and solar installations.

The DNR released a public notice of its plans to lease the land for solar development, opening up three months of public comment.

With temperatures dropping and heating costs on the rise, many in Michigan may find themselves in need of help. Michigan 211 is part of a national system of organizations that connect residents with services in their local area.

At Michigan 211, highly trained specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents can contact one of the seven regional contact centers across the state by dialing 211 or texting the zip code where help is needed to 898211. The website also has a chat feature and search options to allow residents to find service providers in their area.

Last year, Michigan 211 helped more than 500,000 people connect with more than 40,000 services, including utility assistance, emergency housing or shelter, food, legal services, health care, substance abuse, mental health assistance, and more. For more information, visit Michigan 211.

The month of January is designated as National Blood Donor Month to highlight the importance of blood donation during the winter, a time when donations often decline and shortages occur.

Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate 13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells, providing lifesaving resources to patients in need.

This month, consider scheduling a blood donation to ensure that hospitals and clinics have the necessary resources to save lives. Find a location to give blood and schedule your appointment today.

With a new year here, I want to thank the people of the 34th Senate District for their continued efforts in making our region such an amazing place to live.

In 2025, I hope we can work hand in hand to better our state, create new, exciting opportunities and renew the commitment to working toward a brighter, more prosperous future for all. From my family to yours, Happy New Year!