The Michigan House of Representatives recently voted to approve my legislation to strengthen Mackinac Island’s authority to regulate fees related to ferry service.

Senate Bill 304 would allow the city of Mackinac Island to regulate all aspects of ferry service, including additional fees charged for services like parking, priority boarding and baggage.

The bill received the needed two-thirds support from both the Senate and the House, and when signed by the governor, the proposal would be placed on the ballot during the next local election. In order to take effect, it also must be approved by a majority of Mackinac Island voters.

This legislation is critically important to the region and to the countless businesses in the surrounding communities. Mackinac Island is one of Michigan’s premier tourism destinations, and a lack of action would be terrible for the Northern Michigan tourism industry and for the state as a whole.

Make no mistake, our entire region suffers if it becomes too expensive for families to travel to the island. If we allow prices to rise unchecked, families will simply go somewhere else in the state or not come to Northern Michigan or the Eastern Upper Peninsula at all, which would hurt communities well beyond just Mackinac Island.

The Natural Resources Commission met on May 13 and approved several changes to deer regulations for the 2026 and 2027 hunting seasons.

The full list of NRC-approved changes for the 2026 deer seasons can be found here. Some of the changes include:

The commission approved the following changes for the 2027 deer hunt in the Lower Peninsula:

The commission did not make changes to the 2027 deer hunting regulations in the Upper Peninsula.

The full 9 1/2-hour meeting is available on the DNR’s YouTube channel.

Thank you to the Michigan Manufacturers Association for selecting me for the fourth straight year as your Legislator of the Year! Rebuilding American manufacturing is vital to our national security and economic interests, and fighting for the policies and investments to accomplish that mission is among my top priorities.

This honor means so much to me because sustaining and growing manufacturing is one of my core commitments — especially for our region, where we are attempting to build a stronger year-round economy so that our children and grandchildren don’t have to leave the state to build successful careers.

Michigan’s summer Free Fishing Weekend will take place June 13-14.

During the Free Fishing Weekend, fishing license fees are waived, and state parks and boating access sites are open without a Recreation Passport. Residents and out-of-state visitors may fish for any species, though all fishing regulations and laws still apply.

The search is underway for Michigan’s 2026 state Christmas tree.

For 40 years, trees have been selected from communities across the state to display at the Capitol and serve as the centerpiece of the annual Silver Bells in the City tree-lighting ceremony, scheduled this year for Friday, Nov. 20.

To qualify, a tree must:

To nominate a tree, email your name, phone number, a photo of the tree, and details about its size and location to ChristmasTree@michigan.gov. Nominations are due by Monday, Aug. 17.

The selected tree will be harvested and transported to Lansing with assistance from the Michigan Association of Timbermen and the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association.

Each Memorial Day, we pause to recognize the men and women who have put their lives on pause to serve our country. Some paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedom, while others served with distinction, willing to sacrifice everything to answer the call of a grateful nation.

After finishing those duties, some find new ways to continue serving others. Such is the case with the person I selected as my guest for the Senate’s annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 21: Cpl. Juliana Jackson, who has served my office and the residents of the 37th District for years.

Thank you, Juliana, for all you do, and I invite residents to join me in this recognition.

Michigan’s 37th Senate District includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau counties and portions of Mackinac and Chippewa counties.