Dear Friends:

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and provide updates about what is going on at Michigan’s Capitol.

I am the state senator for the 18th District – covering all of Barry County and parts of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Kent and Ionia counties. Please feel free to contact me with any issues related to state government at SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov, or by calling 517-373-1734 (toll-free at 855-347-8018).

Sincerely,

Thomas Albert
State Senator

The Michigan Legislature has approved a new state budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. While the new budget includes some positive steps, I voted against the overall plan because I believe we should do more to make life more affordable for Michigan families and taxpayers.

First, the good news — the final budget approved by the Legislature does not raise taxes or raid the state’s “rainy day” fund. These are significant improvements from earlier proposals, and House Republicans deserve credit for this.

But the size and scope of state government have ballooned during Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s eight years in office, worsening our economy and making life tougher for Michiganders. The state budget should help family budgets, and this one does not go far enough toward that end.

We should focus on what families and communities need to thrive but otherwise reduce government spending so we can lower taxes. The many other steps we could take to make life more affordable include repealing the “green” energy mandates that are driving up utility bills across Michigan.

This budget has other structural and sustainability issues that I cannot endorse. When examining the details, federal funding for some programs typically reflected in the overall budget was not included in the top-line totals.

Other structural issues with the new budget include shifting $1.7 billion away from K-12 schools to help fund universities and other programs. I do not believe this money should be diverted from K-12 schools. The budget also fails to tie education spending to policy reforms that will truly improve student outcomes.

On a local note, the budget includes $950,000 to help rebuild a fire station in Calhoun County’s Bedford Charter Township. I joined Rep. Steve Frisbie in supporting this project through the legislatively directed spending item process. The Legislature should do more to support local public safety and infrastructure projects than was contained in this budget, but it’s a positive step that this money was included for Bedford Township.

Many Michigan school districts face challenges recruiting and retaining teachers, especially in fields such as special education and career and technical education.

I recently introduced a plan that would help keep more CTE teachers in the classroom. Senate Bill 1040 would allow qualified, experienced but noncertified teachers to stay on the job beyond the current 10-year limit if approved by their local school superintendent.

Many CTE programs rely on instructors who came from nontraditional backgrounds, often with experience that makes them great teachers and assets to students. We must find solutions to keep quality teachers in the classroom.

I also voted in favor of Senate Bill 989 to help address the special education teacher shortage. This bill would continue to allow interim teaching certificates with a special education endorsement for individuals enrolled in an alternative route certification program. If the Legislature had not acted, that provision would have expired next year.

Senate Republicans recently sent a letter to State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks demanding answers about tax refund delays affecting thousands of taxpayers across the state.

We are calling on the Department of Treasury to explain what caused the delays, what is being done to fix the problem and when taxpayers can expect their refunds.

The issues began after the department transitioned from its legacy tax processing system to the GenTax platform, which is currently being used by more than 30 other states.

Since the filing season began in January, approximately 250,000 Michigan taxpayers have experienced refund delays, and roughly 27,000 incorrect notices have been sent to filers.

For many families, a tax refund is not a luxury. It helps pay for groceries, utility bills and other household expenses. If you are experiencing issues with a tax refund, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.

With overwhelming bipartisan support, the Legislature approved House Bills 4517 and 4518 to address gaps in the Amber Alert system and better protect abducted or missing children.

The legislation is named in memory of Rowan Milford Morey. Rowan’s mother, Brandi Morey-Pols of Caledonia, has worked tirelessly to improve state law since the tragic death of her child in 2024. Rep. Angela Rigas was instrumental in sponsoring this legislation.

The Amber Alert system is critically important to notify the public about abducted or missing children. The changes approved by the Legislature would allow Amber Alerts to be issued in more cases where children may be in jeopardy.

The Legislature approved two bills designed to encourage and enable organ donation in Michigan.

Senate Bill 205 allows physicians and urgent care centers to ask new patients if they want information about becoming organ, tissue or bone marrow donors. Senate Bill 301 creates a tax credit for Michigan employers who allow their employees to take up to 12 weeks off with full pay as they recover from donating an organ.

According to Gift of Life Michigan, well over 2,000 Michigan patients are on waiting lists for an organ transplant.

I voted in favor of legislation that would prevent former state lawmakers and other top officials from becoming lobbyists right after they leave public office.

House Bills 4062, 4063 and 4064 require those with terms beginning in 2027 or later to wait at least two years after leaving office before they can become lobbyists. This would close the “revolving door” that allows high-ranking state officials and lawmakers to become lobbyists immediately after leaving office.

This legislation should help prevent conflicts of interest and ensure policymakers are focused on the public good rather than personal gain.