Dear Friends,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Michigan summer. We Michiganders are surely fortunate to have such a beautiful state to explore and call home.

I wanted to take this opportunity to share some updates from the Legislature as we continue to work hard on your behalf. From our roads and bridges to water quality and natural resources, it is important that we continue make wise investments that will benefit the future of our great state and those who will call it home for generations to come.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issue. You may call 517-373-0793 or email [email protected]. 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,

Aric Nesbitt
State Senator
26th District

On July 15, just two days after the Board of State Canvassers certified the Unlock Michigan signatures, Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, joined Senate Republicans as they voted to pass the measure. The House followed with its approval on Wednesday.

Unlock Michigan is a citizen-led petition drive to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, which allowed our governor to declare a state of emergency and keep it in place without input from the Legislature. The group was 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 By approving the initiative, the 1945 law will now be repealed ensuring it will never be abused again to deny the people a say in their government.

The governor cannot veto this action.

On June 24, Sen. Aric Nesbitt joined several Senate Republicans in an effort to fund meaningful investments in the state’s water infrastructure and to protect Michigan’s natural resources.

Senate Bill 565 would designate $600 million for the replacement of lead pipes across the state, $700 million to upgrade local drinking water and wastewater facilities and $85 million to ensure students have access to safe water by installing filtered water stations inside schools. It would also repurpose $290 million in bonds to assist communities with upgrading and replacing water treatment infrastructure, along with establishing loan program for homeowners seeking to replace failing septic systems. The bill also includes $680 million to repair Michigan’s critical dams.

Under the bill, the continuous effort to protect groundwater and the environment will receive a boost that includes an additional $15 million to conduct surface water monitoring, $10 million for wetland mitigation, and $20 million to implement recommendations included in the Groundwater Use Advisory Council Report. The plan also addresses the harmful impacts of PFAS chemicals and would dedicate $100 million in grants to remove the chemicals from “orphaned” sites.

The bill is being considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The 2021 edition of the Michigan Hunting Digest is now available. This annual publication, made available by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, contains everything hunters need to know including the latest rules and regulations pertaining to hunting and trapping, as well as species-specific information.

Hunters can use the hunting digest to find license information, hunting zones and hours, rules, regulations and more.

The 2021 Hunting Digest is available online by clicking here and can be downloaded to a smartphone or other personal device for use in the field.

Did you know? Michigan blueberries are grown, harvested and processed by 575 family farms across the state, with more than 20,000 acres devoted entirely to blueberries.

Michigan ranks third in growing blueberries, producing an average of 92 million pounds with more than 30 different varieties. Michigan blueberry production contributes nearly $132 million to the state’s economy.

Fresh Michigan blueberries are available from July to September.