Dear Neighbor,
The summer season is finally upon us! I hope you and your family are able to enjoy the sunshine and spend time taking advantage of some of the many Pure Michigan summer activities our state offers. Even though summer break is here for our youngest Michiganders, the Legislature is still hard at work. From standing up to federal cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs and advancing gun safety policies to holding polluters accountable, we’ve had a busy few weeks at the Capitol. Keep reading to learn more about these efforts and the steps we’re taking to build a healthier, safer, and more prosperous Michigan for all who call our state home.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at sensshink@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-2426. Also, please visit my official Facebook page for the latest updates.
Sincerely,
Sue Shink
State Senator
14th Senate District
- In honor of Gun Violence Awareness Month, read on to learn how Senate Democrats are continuing to advance commonsense gun safety legislation to build a future free from gun violence.
- Please mark your calendar for my annual Senior Resource Fair in Jackson at the Crouch Senior Center, Friday, August 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Michiganders, beware of the newest scam facing drivers! To stay safe, please remember that Michigan does not have toll roads and will never solicit payment via text or include threatening verbiage to avoid late fees or harsher penalties.
A Snapshot of Legislative Activity at the Capitol
Along with recently passing a bold budget plan for 2026, Senate Democrats have been working hard to advance critical pieces of legislation to reduce barriers for Michigan renters, safeguard our environment, and increase protections for Michigan consumers.
Supporting Michigan Renters: Senate Democrats recently introduced a comprehensive bill package to lower fees and reduce barriers for Michiganders trying to access rental housing. This legislation works to lower costs for renters, eliminate junk fees, and allow for the expungement of eviction records.
Holding Polluters Accountable: Another large-scale legislative package introduced recently would protect public health and our environment by strengthening Michigan’s pollution clean-up laws. This legislation would require polluters to clean up the messes they make by requiring more thorough cleanups as well as allowing those harmed by pollution to seek justice. As part of this package, my bill, Senate Bill 386, would address legal claims for medical monitoring of toxic substance exposure.
Protecting Michigan Consumers: Long overdue legislation to restore power to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act by equipping the Attorney General with the authority to hold bad actors and businesses accountable recently passed the Senate floor. Senate Bill 134 would also enhance education efforts to reduce scams and strengthen penalties for violations against elderly and vulnerable adults. And, to protect Michigan consumers from disruptive, deceptive telephone solicitation tactics, the Telephone Solicitation Act was also introduced recently. This bipartisan bill package would prohibit telephone solicitors from engaging in misleading, exploitative business practices and grant the Attorney General the authority to act against violators.
Building a Future Free from Gun Violence
From big cities to small rural towns, gun violence hurts communities in every corner of our state. To keep our communities safer from senseless gun violence, my colleagues and I passed commonsense gun safety policies, including legislation to:
- Strengthen background checks to close the private sale loophole;
- Promote safe storage by creating child access protection laws to keep legal firearms safely and securely stored and out of the hands of children and teens;
- Allow courts to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders to temporarily intervene and suspend a person’s access to firearms if they show clear warning signs of violence and pose an immediate threat to themselves or others;
- Protect survivors of domestic violence by preventing those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing, using, purchasing, or carrying a firearm in Michigan for eight years; and
- Safeguard the democratic process and protect voters by prohibiting an individual from possessing a firearm at or near a polling place, an early voting site, an absentee voter ballot drop box, and other spaces where election work is occurring.
Building on this progress, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety, on which I serve as Majority Vice Chair advanced additional bills through the legislative process this month that would:
- Prohibit bump stocks, devices that can convert semi-automatic firearms into deadly weapons that have a fire rate like that of a machine gun;
- Require serial numbers on all guns, so addressing ghost guns, which are fully functioning, untraceable firearms and the fastest-growing gun safety problem facing our country; and
- Keep the Michigan Capitol complex safe from gun violence to ensure a secure environment for students, teachers, parents, advocates, and lawmakers.
These actions come during National Gun Violence Awareness Month when communities across the nation come together to honor survivors of gun violence and build community with those working to address this pervasive issue. To learn more about how my colleagues and I are working to build a future free from gun violence, click here.
Senate Hearings Highlight Risks of Proposed Cuts to Families, Farms, and Food Access
As Washington Republicans’ sweeping and short-sighted budget bill makes its way through Congress, Michigan Senate Democrats held committee hearings this month to examine how their plan threatens the health and well-being of Michigan families and farmers across the state.
To afford a massive $4 trillion tax break for the wealthiest Americans, Congressional Republicans are proposing a $300 billion cut in SNAP funding, in addition to adding unnecessary red tape for program participants and threatening the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). If signed into law, these cuts would devastate millions of Michiganders who rely on these benefits to put food on their table and meet their nutritional needs. They would also further exacerbate economic instability for Michigan families, farmers, and communities by slashing resources for local food banks and the state’s agricultural industry. To read more about the impact of these cuts, click here.
These committee hearings build on Senate Democrats’ previous efforts to examine and expose the impact of federal cuts, including Medicaid cuts, and actions on families and communities around the state. Learn more here.
Save the Date: Jackson Senior Resource Fair
I’m hosting my annual Senior Resource Fair at the Senior Center in Jackson. I hope you’ll attend to learn about services available for seniors, plus safety tips for identity protection and avoiding scams. There will be several state agencies and local organizations on-hand to answer your questions and offer resources.
WHEN: Friday, August 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Crouch Senior Center, 1715 Lansing Ave., #672, Jackson, MI 49202
Washtenaw Community Town Hall
Thank you, Congresswoman Dingell, for hosting another Washtenaw Community town hall that included me and six other state legislators. We stayed late to hear every question and touched on everything from state and federal budgets to education, housing and health care, and how we’re working to hold the line in the face of Republican cuts and chaos. I appreciate the involvement of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office in ensuring everyone’s comfort and safety.
Rosie the Riveter Lunch
It was amazing to share lunch with World War II veterans and Rosie the Riveters as well as with veterans of several wars, their families, and Girl Scouts! Thank you, One Stop Veterans, for including me in this special day!
Dexter Forum
The Dexter Forum is a bipartisan discussion group where we talk about tough and sometimes not-so-tough issues in a constructive manner. This month we talked about education and worries about what will happen if the legislature doesn’t pass the budget by July 1. Together with my Senate Democratic colleagues, I am committed to making that happen.
Open House in Brooklyn
Brooklyn’s Master Plan Open House asked the community to give input on housing, land use, parks and recreation, and more. Thank you to Village President, Estella Roberts, and Manager, Matt Swartzlander, for welcoming Nancy Smith of my team!
Safe Firearm Storage Reminder
Each year in the United States, hundreds of children are accidentally injured or killed by firearms that are not properly secured.
With June being National Gun Violence Prevention Month, the Michigan State Police is reminding residents that Michigan gun owners are legally responsible for ensuring their firearms are stored in a safe manner. The state’s Secure Storage Law requires individuals to keep unattended firearms unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.
Safe storage can reduce the risk of both intentional and unintentional injuries and deaths, as well as lower the rates of firearm theft. Next time you store your firearm, ensure it’s unloaded, locked, and kept separate from ammunition. If you don’t have a gun lock but need one, you can get a free lock through Project ChildSafe police partners across the state. To find one near you, click here.
Recognizing Juneteenth
Happy Juneteenth! Observed on June 19 every year, Juneteenth commemorates the day that the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. learned of their freedom — June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation.
The significance of Juneteenth extends beyond its historical roots. It symbolizes triumph over the injustices of slavery and stands as a testament to the progress made and the work still needed to achieve true freedom and equality for all. As we celebrate this day, please know that I remain committed to fighting for equity and justice so that all people are not only free but can have access to opportunity here in Michigan.
Heads Up Michigan Drivers: Be Aware of Toll Road Scams
The Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) wants Michigan drivers to be aware of the newest toll road scam, which includes an imposter government website that mimics MDOT’s official site but carries a different URL address. MDOT reminds all drivers that Michigan does not have toll roads and will never solicit payment via text or include threatening words about late fees or harsher penalties.
To stay safe, please remember that government agencies:
- Will not request personal information through email, over the phone or text.
- Will never demand money through email, over the phone or text. They will mail you a notice and offer payment options.
- Do not ask for or take payment by prepaid gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment apps.
Safe Pet Food Practices
The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reminds Michiganders to maintain safe pet food practices. MDARD offers the following safety tips for handling your pet’s food:
- Don’t use your pet’s feeding bowl to scoop food. If the bowl is dirty, you can contaminate the entire container of pet food. Instead, use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
- Always follow any storage instructions on pet food bags or containers.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling pet food or treats. This is the most important step to prevent illness. Occasionally, pet food can become contaminated with germs. Pets and people have gotten sick from foodborne illness outbreaks tied to pet food. Washing hands before handling your pet food keeps your pet safe; washing them after handling the food keeps you safe.
- When possible, store pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from the reach of young children.
The MDARD Animal Feed Program (AFP) inspects and licenses animal food and treats products manufactured and sold within the state. Anyone who makes animal feed, pet food, or treats must follow state and federal rules to ensure product safety and effectiveness. The AFP also reviews product labels to prevent deceptive labeling practices and investigates reports of animal deaths or illnesses where feeds may be implicated.
Learn more at MDARD’s Pet Food and Treats web page.