Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to this month’s edition of my e-newsletter. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the tough issues that will lower the cost of living, help families get ahead and build a brighter future for all who call Michigan home.

As always, I welcome your feedback on issues facing Michigan or the Greater Rochester Area, Troy, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and Utica communities. Constituent feedback is vital as I represent our communities in Lansing. If you are experiencing a problem with one of our state government agencies, my office is always available to assist with finding a solution. I respect your opinion and will always do my best to make myself available and accessible to you.

Please take a moment to visit my website, like my official Facebook page, send me an email or call my office at 517-373-0994. If you have any questions, concerns or opinions on what is happening, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Michael Webber
State Senator
9th District

I voted to invest $152 million for improvements at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to support the new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets that President Donald Trump announced will be coming to the base. House Bill 4572, sponsored by Rep. Ron Robinson, R-Utica, invests $152 million to support infrastructure improvements at Selfridge, including runway upgrades and repairs to airfield and non-airfield features at the base and in the surrounding community impacted by the runway shift.

As co-chair of the Michigan Aerospace and Defense Caucus, I strongly support this vital investment to help secure a new fighter mission at Selfridge and ensure the base remains operational long into the future. Selfridge is a tremendous asset to Macomb County and a major driver of our economy and national defense.

I am glad this finally got done, as it has been nearly three months since the House approved this funding with no strings attached. I even offered amendments to support Selfridge in the Senate’s budget bills, but the majority failed to adopt my changes to deliver the funding earlier as requested by the Air Force. Thankfully, public pressure in support of this critical asset was eventually enough to force action, but Michigan deserves better.

Late in April, I led the Senate passage of legislation to protect local funding by creating a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund within the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Local governments in our state have a direct impact on the everyday lives of Michigan families and play a vital role in making our state a great place to live and work. To build stronger families and communities, we must ensure our locals have the financial stability necessary to meet the needs of their residents — from keeping our neighborhoods safe to maintaining quality parks and delivering emergency medical services. Creating a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund is about protecting local revenue-sharing dollars and keeping them safe and secure from the political whims of Lansing.

Fellow Michigan Municipal League caucus co-chair Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, and I joined forces last term to introduce bipartisan trust funding legislation to protect local funding. Our bills were reintroduced earlier this year.

During my more than seven years on the Rochester Hills City Council, I saw firsthand how important stable revenue sharing is for local governments. These reforms are about good governance. Investing in our communities and the services they provide isn’t a partisan issue, and statutory revenue sharing to local governments should never be subject to political games or brushed aside for other state spending desires.

Sen. Paul Wojno, D-Warren, and I introduced legislation to allow Gold Star families to enjoy Michigan’s state parks at no charge. Senate Bills 1005 and 1006 would provide free access to Michigan state parks for individuals with a Gold Star Family license plate.

We owe a tremendous debt to our Gold Star families for everything they have sacrificed in defense of liberty here in America and around the world. In the spirit of Memorial Day, we’re proposing free access to 103 state parks as a small way to honor that debt and show our deep appreciation for them and the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones in service to our country.

Michigan offers a special Gold Star Family license plate to immediate family members of military personnel who lost their lives in combat. Eligible relatives include spouses, parents, stepparents, foster parents, siblings, half-siblings, children and stepchildren.

To enter a state park, residents must buy a recreation passport, which currently costs $15 per year for motorized vehicles when purchased online and $19 per year when bought at a state park entrance.

Michigan-registered vehicles currently exempt from the recreation passport requirement include vehicles with an ex-prisoner of war license plate, disabled veteran plate, Medal of Honor plate and Congressional Medal of Honor plate.

I welcomed retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. John T. Gutierrez to the state Capitol as my guest for the Senate’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony honoring Michigan’s fallen service members.

Gutierrez currently serves as executive director of the Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation. The office’s mission is to catalyze growth within the state’s defense and aerospace sectors through the advancement of industrial capacity, innovation and research.

I also participated in the Sterling Heights Memorial Day ceremony and parade. Thousands of people lined Dodge Park Road to watch the parade and recognize the day. It was great to see so many children and families as my staff and I handed out American flags along the route.

Please contact my office via email at SenMWebber@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-0994 to request a free 2026 Pure Michigan Spring/Summer Travel Guide. The booklet highlights Michigan’s beautiful sights, activities and towns to visit.

I will be holding office hours from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on June 15 at the Troy Community Center in Room 403. No reservation is required to attend.