2024 Year in Review

Dear Neighbor,

As your voice in the state Capitol, I am committed to advancing good government policies that reflect the values and priorities of our community. Throughout 2024, your input was essential in shaping legislation and informing budget negotiations as my colleagues and I worked to deliver results that set Michigan families up for success.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to represent you. I look forward to receiving your input to help address everyday problems. If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2

Continuing The Fight for Criminal Justice Reform

Throughout the 102nd Legislature, I sponsored and advocated for legislation to support those impacted by incarceration and protect their rights, including bills to:

• Combat Prison Gerrymandering: Senate Bill 151 and House Bill 4276 require the state to count inmates as members of their home communities, not where they are serving their sentence.
•  Advocate for Returning Citizens: Senate Bill 282 requires auto insurance companies not to penalize returning citizens who can prove they were released within the last six months.
• Protect Indigent Youth: House Bill 4630 expands the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include juvenile defendants, ensuring they receive dequate legal representation.
• Support Reintegration: Senate Bill 661 creates a productivity credit system for prisoners to reward good behavior and encourage skill development, which aids in reintegration.
• Improve Public Safety and Community Trust with Police: Senate Bills 1091-1101 and House Bills 6112-6121 form a comprehensive package to limit no-knock warrants, require de-escalation and crisis response training, prevent body cam tampering, and enforce safeguards to protect residents.

With the bills not making it across the finish line before the end of the term, I look forward to working with all my colleagues to advance these priorities in 2025 and beyond.

I’ve been fighting hard to protect our workers’ rights and improve their livelihoods. In addition to restoring workers’ rights, reinstating prevailing wages, and expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, my colleagues and I have championed legislation that would:

• Enhance workplace safety standards, and
• Strengthen Michigan’s child labor laws.

I also spearheaded efforts to restore bargaining rights for 35,000 home care workers in Michigan while supporting workforce development and expanding training opportunities. Protecting all workers, including those in care professions, ensures a stronger, more equitable Michigan for everyone.

Investing in Michigan Familes, Students, and Workers

We passed another transparent and bipartisan state budget last year. The 2025 state budget, which took effect on Oct. 1, 2024, continues to invest in children and families, students and workers, public safety, community development, and more.

In the budget, we:

• Extended the universal free school meals program;
• Increased education funding; and
• Invested in affordable housing initiatives.

This budget was intentionally crafted to support the needs and desires of Michiganders in every corner of the state.

We also invested millions into school safety and mental health supports, allowing schools to determine where those funds are needed most — whether it be more school resource officers, counselors, therapists, or infrastructure upgrades.

We also put an end to the 3% tax school districts pay into the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System, redirecting over $600 million from that fund — which is currently funded at 140% — back to our schools every year, which is equivalent to about a $400 per student increase statewide.

We’re proud to have put even more funding toward one of the most important causes we can — the safety and well-being of Michigan students.