I joined my colleagues Thursday afternoon to approve two measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan and the state’s response thus far.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 will be with us for some time. But Michiganders cannot live under a state of emergency forever. Families and essential businesses are following CDC guidelines and recommendations. We have seen that we can modify our daily lives to protect ourselves and our neighbors while going about many everyday activities, but the governor refuses to give residents any indication of when or how Michigan will emerge from this state of emergency.

The Senate approved legislation that would continue to provide aid to Michiganders in need during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The measure would put several COVID-19 executive orders into law and extend those that are needed to help continue efforts against the virus and deal with its impacts. Among the 28 orders included in Senate Bill 858 are those regarding expanded unemployment benefits (EO 2020-57), distance learning for schools (EO 2020-35), and liability protections for health care workers treating patients in innovative ways (EO 2020-39).

This legislation includes extensions of programs and resources that are needed for the immediate future to help Michigan families continue to deal with this crisis as best they can.

SB 858 also includes language requiring businesses, places of public accommodation and places of public service that remain open to ensure adherence to social distancing and mitigation measures recommended by the CDC. Businesses and other facilities open to the public must adopt heightened standards of cleaning and disinfection protocols, provide personal protective equipment for employees and promote remote work when possible.

The Senate also approved Senate Resolution 114, which authorizes a legal challenge to the governor’s actions to maintain her declared state of emergency. The Michigan House of Representatives approved a similar resolution.

During the last seven days the governor has shown an extreme unwillingness to work with lawmakers on decisions moving forward. She vowed to go beyond the Legislature to maintain her sole authority and followed up on that promise again Thursday evening.

Looking forward, I would prefer to see collective discussions on decisions that drastically impact the health and welfare of every single Michigan resident. I hope the governor reverses course and reconsiders her refusal to work with or include the Legislature as we navigate these difficult times.

The state Legislature Tuesday morning voted to approve two resolutions that encourage Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to adopt the updated federal guidelines for essential workers and begin getting Michiganders safely back to work.

The federal guidelines outline changes, include updated safety procedures for different industries and provide a road map for businesses to begin safely returning to work. Workers in construction and other fields are being allowed to return to work in our neighboring states so long as proper safety measures are followed, but they remain unable to work here in Michigan.

Senate Resolution 112 calls on the governor to join other states in adopting the most recent federal guidelines for which employees are “essential,” which would allow more workers to return to work who can safely do so.

The Senate also approved SR 111 urging the governor to revise Executive Order 2020-17 and allow hospitals and health care facilities to resume elective procedures.

I voted in favor of both resolutions. We need to follow the examples of other states.

These critical infrastructure guidelines have been adopted by many of our neighboring states, and more than 12 states have resumed medical procedures and surgeries. Our construction and hospital workers are familiar with safety equipment and should be trusted to jumpstart Michigan’s economy. My colleagues and I will continue working with other industries as they prove they can operate without posing any danger to employees or patrons.

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Gov. Whitmer will allow the construction industry to get back to work May 7, a spokesman from her office confirmed on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Whitmer said residential and commercial construction and additional outdoor enterprises would be among the next businesses to reopen after the governor effectively shut down the state’s economy March 23. Michigan’s stay-at-home order stopped many construction projects that weren’t deemed “essential.”

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Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be in high demand for the foreseeable future as businesses prepare to safely reopen under anticipated state guidelines.

Many Michigan companies have converted to manufacture PPE that businesses will need — and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce is helping make connections between them with a new webpage. The list includes links and contact information for businesses that can provide hand sanitizer, face masks, clear partitions, isolation gowns, disposable gloves, thermometers and distance markers.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed three executive orders late Thursday evening, shortly before her legislative state of emergency extension expired.

Executive Order 2020-66 terminates the existing state of emergency and disaster that was approved by the Legislature before it was set to expire at midnight Thursday evening.

The governor subsequently signed Executive Order 2020-67, which keeps Michigan under a state emergency via the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 through May 28. Unlike the Emergency Management Act, the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act has no time limit on a declaration and no requirement for the Legislature to extend the declaration. She followed that with Emergency Order 2020-68, which declares a new state of emergency and disaster under the Emergency Management Act through May 28.

Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-63, which extends validity of existing personal protection orders that would have expired during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order coincides with a Michigan Supreme Court administrative order extending the validity of personal protection orders until 90 days after Michigan’s emergency declaration is lifted. Law enforcement agencies are required to extend personal protection orders until July 21, 2020.

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On Sunday, the governor signed Executive Order 2020-62, which extends protections for vulnerable populations in Michigan’s county jails, local lockups and juvenile detention centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order replaces Executive Order 2020-29 and details risk-reduction protocols that have been adopted and implemented by the Michigan Department of Corrections and that county jails and local lockups are strongly encouraged to adopt. This order will suspend transfers into and from correction facilities until risk reduction protocols are adequately in place. The order also suspends provisions of the Jail Overcrowding Emergency Act to allow local officials more flexibility in releasing vulnerable populations who do not pose a threat to public safety.

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On April 26, Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-61, which relaxes scope of practice laws to give hospitals and other health care facilities the flexibility they need to deploy qualified physicians, respiratory therapists, physician assistants, nurses and other health care providers the ability to provide the critical care needed to combat COVID-19.

The order also reinforces an existing law that protects hospitals and health care workers from liability for taking necessary steps to protect Michiganders during an emergency.

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Executive Order 2020-61 — Temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements governing the provision of medical services. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-30.

Executive Order 2020-62 — Temporary COVID-19 protocols for entry into MDOC facilities and transfers to and from department custody; temporary recommended COVID-19 protocols and enhanced early-release authorization for county jails, local lockups, and juvenile detention centers. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-29.

Executive Order 2020-63 — Temporarily suspending the expiration of personal protection orders.

Executive Order 2020-64 — Affirming anti-discrimination policies and requiring certain health care providers to develop equitable access to care protocols.

Executive Order 2020-65 — Provision of K–12 education during the remainder of the 2019–2020 school year. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-35. Frequently Asked Questions.

Executive Order 2020-66 — Termination of the states of emergency and disaster declared under the Emergency Management Act in Executive Order 2020-33.

Executive Order 2020-67 — Declaration of state of emergency under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, 1945 PA 302.

Executive Order 2020-68 — Declaration of states of emergency and disaster under the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390.

Executive Order 2020-69 — Temporary restrictions on the use of places of public accommodation. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-43. Frequently Asked Questions.

Additional information on the governor’s executive orders and other state news can be found here.