Dear Friends,

To better serve the great people of West Michigan, I’m offering this e-newsletter on what’s happening in the 30th Senate District and across our state.

I am active on social media to help keep you updated. You can check out my Facebook page, my  official account on X or my Instagram for recent updates.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You can call toll-free at 855-347-8030 or email SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov.  Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

Working for you,

Mark Huizenga
State Senator

In this week’s episode of Conversations with Mark, I am joined by Johnny Brann Jr., restaurateur and Grand Rapids-area business leader. We discuss the history of the Brann family, the businesses he has started, and how he gets involved and gives back to the West Michigan community.

Click here or on the image below to watch the podcast. The episode is now available on all major platforms, and new episodes drop every other Thursday at noon.

I had the privilege of participating in the Grand Rapids Chamber’s West Michigan Housing Summit and joining local leaders in this creative forum to tackle the current housing crisis.

The annual event is a tremendous opportunity to engage in discussions with fellow lawmakers, housing leaders, stakeholders and community members from across the region that are centered around innovative approaches to addressing housing challenges in West Michigan and the state as a whole.

A more comprehensive outline of the event can be found here.

I was happy to once again have the opportunity to be a part of Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) Foundation’s Women’s Golf Classic charity event.

This annual fundraiser is a commitment to offering people a chance to better themselves by working to provide inmates within the Michigan Department of Corrections with access to a comprehensive education and empowering them to earn a bachelor’s degree from Calvin University.

This annual event is a tremendous representation of people coming together and working to better both their communities and people’s lives.

I’m proud to have been one of the event’s speakers, and I am proud of CPI’s dedication to offering people a second chance!

Bridge Michigan recently published my guest column on bipartisan legislation I sponsored to make significant improvements to mental healthcare and patient transfers in Michigan.

This legislation reflects input from all angles of the healthcare industry and seeks to offer a safer, more cost-effective option for those who need specialized transportation to receive the care they need.

You can read the full column here.

The Every Kid Outdoors program gives fourth graders and their families free access to over 2,000 federal parks, lands and waters for an entire year.

The pass is offered every year to fourth graders in the United States to encourage younger generations to explore and enjoy the outdoors and learn about wildlife and conservation practices.

No matter where you live, you’re never more than two hours from an included site.

Click here for additional information and to help plan your next family outing!

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.

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:

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.

Serving the people of West Michigan is very important to me and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may contact me by calling toll-free 1-855-347-8030 or emailing SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov.

I look forward to serving you, and I encourage you to contact me if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.