Two days after the Board of State Canvassers certified the Unlock Michigan signatures, I joined my Senate colleagues in voting to approve the initiative. With the approval by the House of Representatives last week, the proposal has been officially approved. The governor cannot veto the measure.

Unlock Michigan was a citizen-led petition drive to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, which allowed a governor to declare a state of emergency and keep it in place without input from the Legislature.

It was led by a citizen group formed in the early days of the pandemic in response to the governor’s decision to use unilateral power to impose lockdowns. Last October, the Michigan Supreme Court said Gov. Whitmer’s actions were illegal and declared the 1945 law unconstitutional. By approving the initiative, we have repealed that law and ensured it will never be abused again to deny the people a say in their government.

The Michigan Senate recently voted to invest $1.3 billion in federal recovery funding to repair Michigan bridges listed in severe condition.

Senate Bill 529 would use $1.3 billion in federal recovery funds to fix bridges across the state in severe condition through bundling, where the design and construction of multiple projects around the state are contracted at the same time. Of the nearly 12,000 bridges in Michigan, 7,038 are managed by local municipalities. Of that number, over 400 are in critical need of repairs.

SB 529 would fund repairs for the bridges in severe condition. The bill also includes over $195 million to cover local road agency revenue losses and $126 million in federal money to improve safety at several intersections between railways and roadways.

SB 529 has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.