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, my  official account on X or my Instagram for recent updates.

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

Memorial Day is a time to pause and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. While we can never fully repay their sacrifice and dedication, we can honor their memory and the freedoms they helped protect.

Please click here to view a video I recorded this week commemorating this somber, special day.

I had the honor this week of welcoming U.S. Marine Cpl. Ryan Burke of Rockford as my guest for the 2026 Senate Memorial Day ceremony.

The Senate hosts this annual reminder that freedom isn’t free and is paid for by the sacrifices of the men and women who serve this country.

Thank you to Ryan for making the trip to Lansing and joining me, my Senate colleagues and veterans from around the state in paying respect to those who gave everything for our country.

In this week’s episode of Conversations with Mark, I’m joined by Ada Township Clerk Jo DeMarco as we look beyond elections into the daily functions and roles that our local clerks play in our communities.

It was a tremendous conversation that highlights just how much goes on behind the scenes, how involved people can be on the local level and the resources available to residents of Ada Township.

Click here or on the image below to watch the podcast. The episode is now available on all major platforms, and new episodes drop every other Thursday at noon.

I hold in-person office hours throughout the district on a regular basis because hearing directly from people about the issues they are facing is an important part of representing everyone in West Michigan. These meetings give local residents a chance to express their viewpoints about what needs to be done and receive help with a variety of state issues.

I will be available to meet on a one-on-one basis with constituents at the following dates, times and locations:

Office hours are open to all residents, and no appointment is necessary. Anyone who is unable to attend the office hours may contact my office.

People deserve safe, timely and professional care when facing a mental health crisis.

I recently introduced bipartisan legislation to improve resources for those facing a crisis and ensure first responders remain available for emergencies in their communities.

My legislation, which I worked on with state Sen. Sylvia Santana and Rep. Steve Frisbie, would create a framework for behavioral health transportation. Currently, paramedics are called upon for transports when someone is having a mental health emergency — sometimes to a destination hours away. This takes a critical emergency response element out of a community for a significant period of time.

Senate Bills 927 and 928, along with House Bills 5943 and 5944, would make behavioral health transportation, including interfacility transfers, psychiatric admissions and mental health evaluations, a Medicaid-covered service.

The bills outline patient eligibility, provider operating requirements and standards to ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars, while also establishing safety and training standards for care to keep workers and patients safe. Training includes mental health first aid, CPR, trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, vehicle regulations and other patient protections.

Allowing trained professionals to transport patients in a safe, controlled environment will reduce costs for families, improve care and ensure local paramedics remain on call for other emergencies.

These reforms provide a foundation for a system that treats mental health crises with the seriousness and compassion they deserve by providing a safer, more affordable solution to help people in crisis.

Click here or on the image below to view the press conference I recently hosted to outline the need for this legislation.

I recently joined community partners, local officials and West Michigan Sports Commission representatives at a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the official opening of the $13.5 million expansion of the Meijer Sports Complex in Plainfield Township.

The project came to fruition through both public and private funding. During last year’s budget discussions, I fought to secure $3 million in state funding for the project because of the impact this expansion will have throughout the region — building on the significant benefits and community connections created by the West Michigan Sports Commission’s incredible vision.

The Meijer Sports Complex is an invaluable resource for West Michigan families. This expansion will provide even more opportunities and resources for young athletes and open the door for further economic benefit as more events and tournaments are hosted at the new facility.

This is a major win for West Michigan!

It was an honor to be at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to greet our American heroes on an Honor Flight returning from our nation’s capital.

Moments like this remind us of the courage, sacrifice and quiet strength that built and protected our freedoms. I had the opportunity to welcome home veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

We owe them not only our thanks, but our continued commitment to supporting those who served.

It was an honor to attend the ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the new Acrisure Amphitheater and to be joined by its first performer, music legend Lionel Richie.

Through a strong public-private partnership, this state-of-the-art music destination will be a place where memories are made for generations to come.

The Natural Resources Commission met on May 13 and approved several changes to deer regulations for the 2026 and 2027 hunting seasons.

The full list of NRC-approved changes for the 2026 deer seasons can be found here. Some of the changes include:

The commission approved the following changes for the 2027 deer hunt in the Lower Peninsula:

The commission did not make changes to the 2027 deer hunting regulations in the Upper Peninsula.

The full 9 1/2-hour meeting is available on the DNR’s YouTube channel.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is now accepting applications for wildlife habitat improvement grants through the Wildlife Habitat Grant Program. Established in 2013, the program is funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.

Funding is available through a competitive process for local, state, federal and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Grant awards range from $50,000 to about $1 million.

The 2026 grant cycle prioritizes projects that restore large complexes of grassland and savanna habitat.

Applications are due June 25 and must be submitted through the MiGrants system.

Michigan’s summer Free Fishing Weekend will take place June 13-14.

During the Free Fishing Weekend, fishing license fees are waived, and state parks and boating access sites are open without a Recreation Passport. Residents and out-of-state visitors may fish for any species, though all fishing regulations and laws still apply.

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.