I am excited to announce that my new 26th Senate District Office is now open and ready to serve its constituents in Genesee, Lapeer, Saginaw, and Tuscola counties.

From left to right: State Senator Kevin Daley, Constituent Relations Coordinator Alex Poirier, Legislative Assistant Casey McGuire-Riley, Former Chief of Staff Amanda Wright, and Chief of Staff Bryce Fisher.

It was an honor serving the people of the 31st Senate District over the past four years. As a result of the actions of the Independent Redistricting Commission, however, the area I represent has changed and I was elected to serve the 26th Senate District in my second term. I am excited to get to know so many new people in new areas of our great state. I look forward to hearing from them and working hard to keep Michigan moving forward and I will continue to prioritize the needs of my constituents and be their voice in Lansing.

My Lansing office is located in Room 5200 of the Connie B. Binsfeld Office Building at 201 Townsend St., across from the Capitol.

My staff includes Chief of Staff Bryce Fisher, Legislative Assistant Casey McGuire and Constituent Relations Coordinator Alex Poirier.

The office can be contacted at 517-373-1777 or [email protected]. The mailing address is Sen. Kevin Daley, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909.

The new 26th Senate District includes the following portions of Genesee, Lapeer, Saginaw, and Tuscola counties:

Genesee County: Montrose Township, Vienna Township, Thetford Township, Forest Township, Genesee Township, Richfield Township, Davison Township, and the cities of Montrose, Clio, Davison and Burton.

Lapeer County: Rich Township, Burlington Township, Marathon Township, Deerfield Township, North Branch Township, Burnside Township, Oregon Township, Mayfield Township, Arcadia Township, Goodland Township, Elba Township, Lapeer Township, Attica Township, Imlay Township, and the cities of Lapeer and Imlay City.

Saginaw County: Richland Township, Thomas Township, James Township, Swan Creek Township, Spaulding Township, Bridgeport Township, Frankenmuth Township, Blumfield Township, St. Charles Township, Albee Township, Taymouth Township, Birch Run Township, Chesaning Township, Maple Grove Township, and the city of Frankenmuth.

Tuscola County: Wisner Township, Akron Township, Gilford Township, Fairgrove Township, Denmark Township, Juniata Township, Tuscola Township, Vassar Township, Fremont Township, Dayton Township, Arbela Township, Millington Township, Watertown Township, and the city of Vassar.

As required by the Michigan Constitution, on Jan. 11, the Michigan Senate held its first day of the 2023 regular session. The state’s constitution requires that the Legislature shall meet “on the second Wednesday in January of each year at twelve o'clock noon.” The legislative session ends on Dec. 31, 2024.

The Michigan Senate consists of 38 members who are elected by the residents of each district. Senate districts are made up of approximately 265,192 residents. Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve four-year terms concurrent with the governor’s term of office. The Michigan Senate generally meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10 a.m. A full 2023 session schedule is available here.

Every January, state and economic leaders come together to offer their economic and state tax revenue projections at the first of at least two annual Consensus Revenue Estimating Conferences. The annual conferences, held during the second week of January and the third week in May, are required by statute.

The January 2023 conference once again revealed that the state of Michigan is bringing in more tax revenue than economists projected in May of last year. Responsible, Republican management of taxpayer dollars has led to a strong state budget outlook.

Despite Democratic previous inaction to help struggling families and seniors, the state’s revenue forecast is expected to trigger a permanent individual income tax rate reduction. The trigger would take effect for the 2023 tax year and could possibly lead to an individual income tax rate reduction from 4.25% to 4.05%, according to the non-partisan House and Senate fiscal agencies.

With more than 40 ski areas across the state, you are always within a two-hour drive of the thrills of skiing and snowboarding. Michigan ranks second in the U.S. for the number of places to enjoy this exciting, family-friendly winter sport.

The Cold is Cool Passport, which allows fourth and fifth graders to ski for free in Michigan, is a great opportunity to get kids out on the slopes and try the sport. The passport, sponsored by the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, allows families to receive up to three lift tickets at 29 participating ski hills. Other discounts are also available.

For more information or to register for the passport visit the Cold is Cool Passport site.

In the fall of 2022, the DNR successfully restocked 7.8 tons of fish at 85 locations across the state. The restocking is part of its ongoing efforts to provide enhanced fishing opportunities throughout Michigan. The fall 2022 fish restocking consisted of four fish species: brook trout, Eagle Lake and steelhead strain rainbow trout, walleye, and muskellunge.

The first known hatchery in Michigan was a brook trout hatchery started in Clarkston in 1867; the first state hatchery was built in Pokagon in Cass County in 1873. Since that time, Michigan has developed a robust fisheries management program that includes six state hatcheries and three cooperative hatcheries that work together to produce the species, strain and size of fish needed by fisheries managers. Biologists, technicians, and management teams work together year-round to decide how to best manage Michigan’s fisheries, develop re-stocking programs and how to best manage invasive species in the Great Lakes, and in Michigan’s inland lakes and streams.

For more information on fisheries management in Michigan the DNR’s fisheries management page.

The DNR has announced a free snowmobiling weekend.

The free weekend, which lands on Feb. 11-12, comes as a result of Public Acts 55 and 56, passed by the Legislature in 2022. During these two days, snowmobilers can operate their machines without the need for a snowmobile registration or trail permit.

For more information on snowmobiling in Michigan, including trail maps, visit Michigan.gov/snowmobiling.

Would you like to give ice fishing a try? The Outdoor Skills Academy is offering a Hard Water School (ice fishing class), on Jan. 21-22 and again on Feb. 4-5, at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac.

The two-day class will be led by experienced ice fishermen and will cover everything from how to set up equipment and where and when to fish, to ice safety and rules and regulations. The class will focus on techniques for panfish, walleye and pike. The cost to attend is $40, which includes one-on-one instruction from a professional, lunch Saturday and Sunday, bait and a goodie bag.

The Outdoor Skills Academy offers courses on a wide variety of outdoor activities including winter bird feeding, snowshoe-building, maple syrup making and more. For more information on the ice fishing courses, or one of the other courses offered by the Academy, visit Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.

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, 101st Legislature