Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter.

Below you’ll find an update on what’s happening in your state Capitol and some additional resources I hope you find helpful.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.

Sincerely,

Roger Hauck
State Senator
34th Senate District

The first week of December marked the start of the Lame Duck session of the Legislature. In a final push to pass as many tax increases as possible before Republicans regain control of the House, Lansing Democrats have proposed a range of new taxes — from bottled water to gasoline to family fun.

Here are just a few of the bills that Lansing Democrats are attempting to pass in the final weeks of 2024:

Michigan’s 6,000 miles of state-designated snowmobile trails are open now through March 31. Trails are groomed when there is enough snow on the ground. The state’s extensive trail network is made possible by the nearly 1,900 private landowners who allow use of their land, connecting DNR trails to communities across the state. Interactive maps of the trail network are available, which show designated snowmobile trails, shared-use trails, closures, parking lots, and more.

Trail permits for the 2024-25 season are now available and enable you to ride authorized, state-designated trails and thousands of miles of public roads. Permits can be purchased:

Michigan will host its third annual Free Snowmobile Weekend on Jan. 17-19. During this weekend, riders can enjoy DNR-designated trails without needing a snowmobile registration or trail permit.

For more information on snowmobile regulations, visit Michigan.gov/snowmobiling.

During the month of December, many Michigan residents are making plans for their holiday or year-end giving. It is important to be cautious and ask the right questions before donating.

Here are some tools to help you make safe charitable donations and avoid scams this season:

For more information on how to evaluate a charity, visit the Michigan Attorney General Consumer Protection website

This week, Democrats in the House of Representatives moved forward on a package of bills that could release thousands of convicted criminals from prison early, including murderers, armed assaulters and child abusers.

House Bills 4556-4560 would make our state a less safe place to live, work and raise a family. This legislation is a slap in the face to victims and their families who have lost parents, spouses or even children to violent crime.

Rehabilitation is important, but it must not come at the cost of safety or justice.

While many birds fly south for the winter, many Arctic and boreal-breeding birds migrate to the Great Lakes region as their southern winter destination. As the northernmost waters freeze, these birds migrate south to find the open waters of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio — where the climate suits their winter needs. More than 30 species of waterfowl, including ducks, geese and swans, flock to waters that do not freeze completely and can keep themselves well-fed on fish, plant matter and shellfish.

To learn more about the many species of birds you might see on Michigan’s bodies of water this winter and how to identify them, read “It’s Time for Weird Ducks” or watch the “Winter Waterfowl ID” webinar made available by MI Birds.

Michigan’s winter weather can make driving dangerous. A little preparation before you head out can go a long way to ensure you arrive safely at your destination.

The Michigan State Police, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, has several tools you can use to make sure your route will be safe:

Be sure to keep an emergency car kit in your vehicle. Visit this site for a complete list of recommended items and other tips for handling winter driving.

Michigan is home to more than 500 Christmas tree farms that supply nearly 2 million fresh Christmas trees to the national market annually.

With approximately 37,000 acres in commercial Christmas tree production, Michigan ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas trees harvested. For every Christmas tree harvested, Michigan Christmas tree farmers plant three new trees for future harvests.

As we come into the closing days of 2024, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for giving me the honor to represent you in Lansing. This is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and I look forward to working to best represent the families of the 34th District in 2025.

From my family, my staff, and myself, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and best wishes for the upcoming new year!