Dear Neighbor,
In this newsletter, you can find updates on our state budget process and information about our efforts to help address mental health concerns.
Of note, our event scheduled for May 19 with the Attorney General has been canceled.
I appreciate your feedback, so please feel free to reach out. You can contact me by sending an email to SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov or calling 517-373-7670.
Sincerely,
Veronica Klinefelt
State Senator
District 11
Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee Passes 2026 Budget Proposals to Support All Michiganders
This week, the Senate committee that oversees the state budget voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget proposal, putting forward strategic investments in our schools, infrastructure, community services, and more.
This proposal now heads to the full Senate for further consideration. You can learn more about the proposed budgets and the budget process here.
Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with Action
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote understanding and compassion for folks struggling with their mental health. My Senate colleagues and I have worked hard to help address the mental health crisis here in Michigan by:
- Expanding access to mental health care coverage – Last spring, Senate Bill 27 was signed into law, requiring insurance companies to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders at the same level as physical health services.
- Investing in mental health care and suicide prevention – In the 2025 budget, we secured:
- $48.2 million to support substance use disorder treatment and prevention efforts;
- $30 million to increase access to 24-hour crisis services, outpatient behavioral health care, and psychiatric rehabilitation;
- $9.4 million to provide statewide coverage for 988, the suicide and mental health crisis line;
- $1.2 million to support suicide prevention programs for veterans and their families;
- $750,000 to provide resources for community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans, service members, and their families; and
- $250,000 to support Six Feet Over’s suicide loss survivor program, a nonprofit that provides mental health education and support to individuals with lived experiences of suicide.
Coffee Hour in Fraser
Welcoming Students from Immanuel Lutheran School to the Capitol
Saying Goodbye to Our Intern, Truman
What You Need to Know About Measles: Symptoms and Vaccination Information
With recent reports of rising measles cases across the U.S., it’s important for you and your families to stay informed about the ongoing outbreak. Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads via direct person-to-person contact and through the air. It’s also preventable through vaccination.
Measles Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 7–14 days after exposure but may take up to 21 days. Symptoms can include:
- High fever (can exceed 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
- Red, blotchy rash starting on the face and spreading to the body
Measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Awareness and timely vaccination are key to preventing further spread. If you have not received a second dose or if you are unsure of your vaccination status, we encourage you to contact your health care provider. If you or someone you know may have been exposed or is experiencing symptoms like a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash, please contact your health care provider right away.
For more information about measles, visit the state’s webpage.