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

March is Reading Month is almost over. Thanks to the schools across the 18th Senate District that allowed me to visit and read to young students.

It’s a tradition I look forward to every year, and it’s a great opportunity to see classrooms in action and to help teachers stress the importance of literacy.

If you are looking for book recommendations for young children, I talk about my favorites in this video.

Early this month, I introduced Senate Bill 821 to help Michigan’s disabled veterans who hunt and fish.

The proposal would create a tiered structure for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses that aligns discounted costs with the severity of a veteran’s service-connected disability. Veterans classified as 100% disabled would be able to get lifetime hunting and fishing licenses at no cost, which aligns with current law for annual licenses. Under the new proposal, other costs for lifetime licenses would range from $50 to $100 depending on the disability classification — a significant savings.

This licensing change would make hunting and fishing more affordable while recognizing the extraordinary sacrifices made by Michigan’s disabled veterans.

Rep. Steve Frisbie has introduced identical legislation in the Michigan House of Representatives.

The 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations guide is now available for the license season beginning April 1. The guide includes current rules, regulations and license information.

A fishing license is required for anyone age 17 and older. Annual and short-term licenses can be purchased online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Users can select auto-renew at the online checkout or in the Auto Renewals section of the app to automatically purchase future licenses as they become available.

License fees are waived for Michigan residents who are veterans with 100% disability or active-duty military.

The Michigan Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation to ensure Michigan remains part of an interstate medical compact that streamlines physician licensing.

Public Act 6 of 2026 continues Michigan’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The IMLC allows qualified physicians to be eligible for expedited licensure in all participating states, making it easier for patients to access medical care — particularly in rural and underserved communities where physician shortages are most acute. By reducing unnecessary administrative barriers, the compact helps attract and retain highly trained physicians while also supporting telehealth services that increasingly depend on multi state licensure.

The new law also makes Michigan a permanent member of the compact and removes the need for future reauthorization. This long term commitment provides stability for hospitals, health systems and practicing physicians, allowing them to plan with certainty and focus on patient care rather than recurring regulatory hurdles. Ultimately, permanent participation strengthens Michigan’s health care workforce, improves continuity of care for patients and ensures the state remains competitive in a modern, mobile health care environment.

The Michigan Senate passed a bipartisan package of bills aimed at reducing the financial burden of medical debt and helping ensure that a medical emergency does not turn into long term financial hardship.

Medical debt often results from unexpected illnesses or accidents. While health insurance typically covers many expenses, patients are still frequently left with significant out of pocket costs, such as copays, deductibles or charges for out of network care. These costs can quickly accumulate and place a serious strain on individuals and families.

I voted in favor of Senate Bills 701 and 702, which would cap interest rates and fees applied to medical debt and reduce repayment costs for patients. These bills would also limit the use of certain “extraordinary” debt collection practices and provide patients with a grace period before those practices could be used. Together, these reforms take meaningful steps to protect patients during an already difficult time.

However, I did not support the remaining bills in the package. That portion of the legislation mandates expansion of hospital financial assistance policies — requirements that already apply to nonprofit hospitals under federal law — and adds new reporting obligations. In my view, the initial version grants too much discretion to state bureaucrats to determine how the program would operate. It also attempts to prohibit credit bureaus from reporting medical debt, a policy that federal courts blocked earlier this year.

The legislation now moves to the Michigan House of Representatives for further consideration. I am hopeful the House will address these concerns and return an improved version to the Senate. The package has good intentions, and I would like to support more of it once its weaknesses are resolved.

National Donate Life Month is observed each April to raise awareness about organ donation, encourage donor registration and honor those who have saved lives through donation.

In 2022, the United States reached an important milestone by completing its 1 millionth organ transplant. This achievement was made possible by the generosity of millions of registered donors.

In Michigan, residents can register as organ donors on their state income tax return by checking a box on the form. Residents can also register online or at a Secretary of State office.

For more information, visit GiftofLifeMichigan.org.