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

My legislation — as part of a bipartisan package designed to implement the financial disclosure measures of Proposal 1 of 2022 — is on its way to the governor’s desk.

The people of Michigan voted overwhelmingly to require more financial transparency from their elected state officials — and that is what this bipartisan effort will do. This legislation is a good start toward a more open and accountable state government. Most importantly, it will help restore the public’s trust and better ensure public officials are not making decisions for their own personal benefit.

In November 2022, Michigan voters approved Proposal 1 with over 66% of the vote. The constitutional amendment included language to require statewide office holders and members of the Legislature to file an annual financial disclosure report with the state.

Senate Bills 613-616 would implement Proposal 1’s financial disclosure section by requiring the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, members of the Legislature, candidates for those offices — and spouses in limited instances — to disclose certain financial information every year.

A major overhaul of Michigan’s energy policy was recently rushed through the Legislature. The changes would make energy in our state less reliable and much more expensive — even though Michigan’s power outage rate is double the national average and energy rates are among the highest in the nation.

I support using more new technologies to enhance and promote clean energy and protect our environment, but this plan simply goes too far. These bills would impose an unrealistic mandate on how Michigan producers provide the energy we need to cool our homes in the summer, light our homes at night and power our economy year-round.

Senate Bills 271, 273 and 502 would reform Michigan’s energy laws to, among many things, mandate a 100% clean energy standard by 2040. Such a mandate — even one with a patchwork set of exemptions — will result in less-reliable energy at a greater cost to West Michigan families and job providers.

Prior to Senate passage of the reforms, I proposed two amendments to protect schools and nonprofits. — but they were not adopted.

My amendments would have ensured the tax dollars invested in educating Michigan students stay where they belong — in the classroom — and also protect the vital work Michigan nonprofit organizations do every day by holding them harmless from any rate hikes under these bills.

Many nonprofits operate on a razor’s edge financially, and the last thing they can afford is a massive hike in their energy costs. Likewise, energy is a tremendous cost driver for schools, and now is certainly not the time to take vital resources from the classroom.

On Nov. 11, our nation will pause to pay tribute to all American veterans and offer our gratitude to those who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. To help honor our veterans, I will be speaking on Friday at events in Allendale.

In 1918, during World War I, an armistice, or temporary interruption of fighting, was declared between the Allies and Germany on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Armistice Day was commemorated in many countries the following year and declared a federal holiday in the U.S. in 1938. In the years following World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.

My staff and I are truly grateful to each person who has chosen to protect our freedoms through serving in our military. I am pleased to offer a publication, Veterans Benefits and Services to anyone who requests it. This useful booklet explains how to obtain veteran benefits and services from federal, state and local agencies. Subjects range from acquiring a home mortgage, education, employment, insurance for medical treatments and death benefits. Please contact my office for a print copy or visit my website to view it online.

Hunting has been a tradition for many Michigan families for generations. Our state offers vast opportunities for hunters, who play an important role in wildlife conservation and management while contributing roughly $11 billion to the state’s economy and supporting 171,000 of Michigan jobs.

Last year, over 586,000 deer hunters harvested more than 300,000 deer. With deer firearm season opening soon, I wanted to pass along some useful information. Hunting digests, including the 2023 edition of the Michigan General Hunting Digest from the Department of Natural Resources, feature all current state rules and regulations. It is one of several digests available online and that can be downloaded to a smartphone or other personal device for use in the field.

I urge all hunters to keep safety in mind. Most hunting-associated injuries and casualties are preventable. Please follow gun safety rules like wearing “hunter’s orange” and never mixing hunting with drinking alcohol. Good luck!

The Department of Treasury has announced a total of $2.5 million in grant funding available for cities, villages, and townships that are struggling financially. These funds will help municipalities fund special projects and free up revenues for important local services for the 2024 fiscal year.

The Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and Townships Grant Program helps eligible localities pay for specific projects or services that move a community toward financial stability. Preference is given to applications from municipalities that meet one or more of the following criteria:

A total of $2.5 million in funding is available for Treasury to award through the grant program for the 2024 fiscal year.

Grant applications must be submitted to the state treasury department by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8.

Visit Michigan.gov/RevenueSharing for more information and to download an application.

A 4-year-old doe in Klacking Township, Ogemaw County, recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease also has been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland and Montcalm.

Since CWD was first detected in 2015, over 103,000 deer have been tested for CWD in Michigan. There have been over 137,000 wild deer tested in total. The Ogemaw County deer is the department’s 251st positive animal.

Each year, the DNR selects a different group of counties for testing. This year, testing will focus on the northwestern Lower Peninsula and a few counties in other areas where additional herd information is still needed. The focal counties for 2023 CWD testing include Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Osceola and Wexford. These counties will have CWD testing drop boxes, staffed submission sites, and partner processors and taxidermists to assist with collection efforts.

In the rest of the state, testing is available through direct submission by hunters to a cooperating approved U.S. Department of Agriculture diagnostic laboratory for a fee or through free self-sample shipping kits in counties where CWD has previously been detected.

Proper disposal of a deer carcass is critical to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Deer carcasses should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through your regular trash pickup to be taken to a landfill. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape in non-CWD areas.

For more information on chronic wasting disease, visit Michigan.gov/CWD.

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.