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 who 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 SenKDaley@senate.michigan.gov or 517-373-1777.

Sincerely,

Kevin Daley
State Senator
26th District

This month, my team will host another round of in-district office hours. While I won’t be able to attend, I am thankful to everyone who joined me at previous office hours and took the time to share their concerns. Your input matters!

On Friday, Sept. 11, my staff will be available to meet with constituents at the following times and locations:

Office hours are open to all residents, and no appointment is necessary. Staff will be available to assist with unemployment, legislative questions, and other state issues. Anyone unable to attend may contact my office.

The Detroit News recently published my guest column on how Congress should pass the REPAIR Act to protect every Michigan driver’s right to choose the repair shop they trust.

If farmers who work in our fields can choose who repairs their equipment, drivers who depend on their cars every day deserve that same choice.

You can read the full column here.

Nine winners have been selected for the state’s 2026 “I Voted” sticker design contest.

Over 2,000 designs were submitted, and more than 53,000 votes were cast during the public voting period. Three winners were selected from each of three categories: elementary and middle school students, high school students and the general public.

The winning stickers will be available for local election clerks to order and distribute to voters during the November general election.

The contest was first held in 2024 and was created with help from the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force. The group reviewed thousands of submissions and selected semifinalists before the designs were opened for public voting.

To view the winners, click here.

The 2026 Michigan Deer Hunting Regulations Summary is now available online and through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Hunt Fish app.

The summary provides a condensed overview of current regulations. A complete list of regulations and legal descriptions, including deer management unit boundaries, can be found in the Wildlife Conservation Order issued by the Natural Resources Commission.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is asking residents to watch for and report signs of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle.

August is a good time to check trees for the beetle and the damage it can cause. Even if you do not see the insect, signs of an infestation may include round exit holes, bark scars, wood shavings and dead branches. The beetle is shiny black with white spots and long, banded antennae.

The beetle attacks several hardwood trees, including maples, elms, horse chestnuts, birches and willows. Because it has no effective natural predators or diseases in North America, infestations can spread quickly, killing trees and creating safety hazards.

If you find a suspected beetle or signs of tree damage, call the ALB hotline at 866-702-9938 or submit a report through the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

Camp Grayling has been selected as one of four premier stateside military test ranges for private industry internal research, development and rapid experimentation.

The U.S. Army designation will give companies greater access to Camp Grayling’s specialized testing environment for technologies such as drones, counter-drone systems, long-range fires and low-cost interceptors. The goal is to help industry test and develop new technologies more quickly.

The designation builds on Camp Grayling’s role as a major military training and testing facility and could create new opportunities for Michigan’s growing defense and aerospace industry.

The DNR is accepting applications for grants to support community tree-planting projects across the state.

Grants of up to $4,000, with a 1-to-1 matching requirement, are available to help communities plant trees away from utility lines along streets, in parks and near schools. Communities served by DTE Energy’s electric and natural gas services are eligible to apply.

Funding is provided by the DTE Foundation. Applications are due by Sept. 14 and can be submitted through DNR MiGrants. Click here for more information.

The Michigan State Police is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and law enforcement agencies across the state for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

The campaign runs from Aug. 19 through Sept. 7 and focuses on the dangers of impaired driving. In 2025, 1,002 fatal crashes occurred across Michigan. Of those, 44.3% were related to drug or alcohol impairment.

As students across Michigan head back to school, drivers and families should review the rules for sharing the road with school buses.

The Michigan State Police offers these safety tips for students getting on and off the bus:

Drivers should also use extra caution when sharing the road with school buses:

On Friday, Sept. 11, we will remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks 25 years ago.

In the days that followed, Americans came together and demonstrated true heroism through acts of selflessness, compassion and courage.

As we mark this solemn anniversary, we honor the first responders, service members and everyday Americans who bravely put others before themselves during one of our nation’s darkest moments.

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