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 or my new official account on X (formally known as Twitter).

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

I was proud to have Kate Terpstra at the state Capitol as my guest for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2025 State of the State address. Kate is the senior recreation director and marketing and economic development administrator for the city of Coopersville, and we’ve worked together on various projects for the city, including the North Bank Trails — a proposed 18-mile multipurpose trail that would run from Spring Lake to Coopersville along the former Grand Trunk Railroad right-of-way.

Regarding the governor’s remarks, I believe we need to continue working together, in a bipartisan manner, to deliver results for families across Michigan. However, the governor continues to spend more money and ask West Michigan taxpayers to pay more, while they continue to struggle to make ends meet. It’s out of touch with the reality Michigan families face every day.

Gov. Whitmer has added nearly 4,000 full-time employees since taking office. Yet, instead of improving efficiency and cutting wasteful spending, her mantra is to raise taxes on trash collection, how many miles people drive, and licenses for hunting, fishing and boating.

Our kids deserve the best education possible, and I applaud the governor for proposing an increase in per-pupil funding for all schools. The sad reality is our children are falling behind in the classroom, which is why I support additional resources for students, parents and teachers. Parents deserve school transparency, educators deserve better pay, and children deserve access to assistance like scholarships and tutoring to help them succeed.

We need to fix our roads — especially our local roads. I remain committed to finding a bipartisan road funding solution that doesn’t require raising taxes. We can do it. Just as families have had to tighten their budgets, we can find the existing resources necessary to finally fix our roads.

Click here or on the image below to see a video of some of my comments on the governor’s address.

One of the most important parts of being an effective senator is listening to the people you represent about the issues affecting our region and state and discussing possible solutions to the problems facing families in our community.

To better serve the great people of West Michigan, I will be hosting a town hall meeting on Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Krause Memorial Library, located at 140 E. Bridge St. NE in Rockford.

Everyone is welcome at this event. I encourage folks to send in their questions, and anyone who is unable to attend the event can also contact my office to share their thoughts about the future of our state and region.

Questions for the town hall or comments to my office may be submitted at SenatorMarkHuizenga.com/contact.

I recently attended a press conference hosted by the Michigan Department of Transportation announcing a $25 million federal grant to replace the East Beltline bridge over I-96.

The new bridge will provide:

Building safe roads and infrastructure is important for our growing communities. This project will help us continue to create a more prosperous and safer West Michigan.

I was honored to introduce Senate Resolution 12 to recognize Feb. 21 as Conductive Education Day. Conductive education is a unique teaching system that maximizes the independence and mobility of children and adults with neuromotor disabilities.

My resolution was adopted by the state Senate. In honor of this day, I was joined by Angela Freier from the Conductive Learning Center of North America — an incredible organization working for students with motor disorders to have the tools and resources needed to live life to the fullest.

Click here or on the image below to see a video of some of my comments on my resolution.

In Alpine Township, Amore Trattoria Italiana is known for its delicious Italian comfort food, inviting atmosphere and for being an active member of the community.

But Amore Trattoria is so much more. They continue to give back — whether it be law enforcement, firefighters or snowplow drivers, Amore is known for opening their kitchen and providing food to those that keep us safe.

My office was honored to present a special tribute to owners Chef Jenna and her husband Maurizio for demonstrating the true values of West Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting next week to discuss this year’s rebuilding of the I-96/Fruit Ridge Avenue interchange in the city of Walker. MDOT and Walker officials will provide current project details, scheduling information, and expected traffic impacts. The public is invited to stop by anytime during the meeting to learn more about the project and provide comments.

The meeting will take place on Monday, March 3, from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. at Walker City Hall, located at 4243 Remembrance Road NW in Walker.

In partnership with the city of Walker, MDOT is investing approximately $25 million to rebuild and widen Fruit Ridge Avenue from 3 Mile Road to Northridge Drive. The project will replace the original 1961 Fruit Ridge Avenue bridge over I-96 and rebuild the interchange. Work also includes a new bike path along Fruit Ridge Avenue and 3 Mile Road with trail connections on the north and south sides.

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.