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 encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You can call toll-free at 855-347-8030 or email [email protected]. Also, please check out my Facebook page. 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 want to thank everyone who came out to our recent town hall meeting. It was great to meet with West Michigan families and job providers, give them an update on what’s happening in Lansing and answer their questions.

Events like this town hall are critical to being an effective public servant. During the forum, I was able to hear directly from residents about the issues facing their families and talk with them about possible solutions.

The overall takeaways from the town hall are that people remain concerned about their children’s education, their family’s health, pocketbook issues and how their tax dollars are being used.

During the meeting at the Cascade branch of the Kent District Library, I discussed the governor’s fiscal year 2025 budget plan and the community investments I supported in the current state budget. I also outlined legislation I am working on in the Senate, including measures to opt in blood testing for PFAS, increase penalties for manufacturing and trafficking fentanyl, and expand apprenticeships for training cosmetologists.

Education is vital to the future of our children and our state, and we discussed efforts to provide the best and most affordable education in the country. These efforts include ensuring students from lower-income families have the resources to access additional assistance like tutoring and summer school, finding fiscally responsible ways to keep college affordable, and improving student reading outcomes.

I am here to serve the people of Kent and Ottawa counties and want them to know that their voices are heard. Participants at the town hall asked me questions on a wide range of topics, including what is being done about PFAS, restrictions being proposed on homeschooling, plans to improve water affordability, a statewide septic code, ending daylight savings time, investing in biomedical research, Kent County being a sanctuary county and banning TikTok.

I am holding in-person office hours throughout the district on a regular basis because hearing directly from the 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 offer help to people dealing with a variety of state issues.

On March 4, I met with constituents at New Beginnings in Coopersville. Later this month, I will be available on:

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.

March is Reading Month and one of my favorite times of the year. It is an excellent opportunity to connect with local schools and visit with young students in our community. I recently had the pleasure of reading to students at Knapp Forest Elementary and East Leonard Elementary.

This winter has been unseasonably warm. Snowfall in Grand Rapids is more than three feet below its seasonal average. On Feb. 27, the temperature in Detroit reached 73 degrees, and in the Upper Peninsula, the annual UP200, Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race, and the Copper Dog 150 all had to be canceled due to lack of snow.

Forty-two counties in Michigan are covered by a disaster designation for drought from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making businesses in those counties eligible for federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Economic Injury Disaster Loans, through the U.S. Small Business Administration, are designed to help businesses through disaster situations. Loans up to $2 million are available to help businesses meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Businesses pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of 4% for the rest of the loan period. Businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county.

For more information or to apply, visit lending.sba.gov or call 800-659-2955.

It is springtime in Michigan, and the orange barrels are going up. While the delays and detours are frustrating, we all play a part in keeping each other safe. When driving through work zones, remember to slow down, follow all posted signs and be alert.

Mi Drive is a construction and traffic website that provides instant and up-to-date information about current and future traffic projects. Before heading out the door, motorists can view traffic cameras and speeds, locate incidents and search construction projects, helping them plan their commute to work or a vacation.

This spring, before burning yard debris like brush and leaves, check the DNR’s Burn Permit Management System map to see if weather conditions are safe for burning. The interactive map provides detailed information, by county, as to whether or not burning is permitted and is updated daily. The site also provides detailed contact information where permits are issued by local municipalities.

In Michigan, a burn permit is required for open burning any time the ground is not completely covered by snow. Burn permits are available from the DNR for counties in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. In the southern Lower Peninsula, permits may be obtained from the local fire department or local governing body.

The 2024 Michigan fishing guide is now available. New regulations go into effect on April 1. The fishing guide is a one-stop resource for current rules, regulations, and license information. An all-species fishing license is required for anyone over the age of 17 to fish in Michigan’s lakes or rivers. Annual and short-term licenses are available online at MDNR-elicense.com or at participating retailers. License fees are waived for Michigan residents who are veterans with 100% disability or active-duty military.

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 [email protected].

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.