Dear Neighbor,
Happy Spooky Season! Over in Lansing, my colleagues and I have been hard at work advocating on your behalf. Along with securing critical investments for students, families, and communities in the 2026 state budget agreement recently signed into law, we have also advanced legislation to protect Michigan consumers, military members, and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
In this newsletter, I hope to provide you with a legislative update, as well as share some helpful resources and information on upcoming events we have planned.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can reach me and my team by calling (517) 373-2417 or emailing SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
District 13
- From combatting human trafficking to protecting victims of domestic violence, my Senate colleagues and I have been working hard to advance critical, bipartisan legislation to safeguard Michigan’s most vulnerable. Learn more below.
- Join me and Rep. Arbit for a Budget Briefing on Monday, Nov. 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the West Bloomfield Middle School. Come out and learn how the 2026 state budget will impact our community, from roads and education to health care and more!
- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help and resources are available — you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or access additionalresources here.
Senate Democrats Call on Congress to Protect Health Care Access
No matter your zip code, line of work, or amount of money in your wallet — everyone deserves to access the health care they need, when they need it. Yet, at this very moment, millions of Americans and nearly 500,000 Michiganders who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace are at risk of losing their coverage if Congress doesn’t act now to extend vital tax credits from expiring at the end of 2025.
These premium tax credits are a lifeline for Michigan workers, families, farmers, and small business owners who don’t get coverage through their workplaces or through Medicaid or Medicare. Without these, millions of people across the country will be slapped with insurance bills double or even triple the normal amount — forcing many to forego care all together. This will only result in the health insurance marketplace being destabilized, leading to the loss of 4,400 jobs here in Michigan and higher health care costs for all of us.
This week, I was proud to join my Senate Democratic colleagues in passing a resolution to call on Congress to act before it’s too late and extend these ACA premium tax credits from expiring. We also held a hearing in the Senate Health Policy Committee to shine a light on the devastating consequences Congress’ inaction would have on Michiganders around the state who rely on these credits to afford their care. Learn more here.
A Snapshot of Capitol Activity
Along with securing game-changing investments for kids and communities in the recently signed state budget, my Senate colleagues and I are continuing to advance legislation for Michiganders across the state, including bills to:
- Combat human trafficking in Michigan by strengthening penalties for those who commit this heinous crime while bolstering support for survivors.
- Safeguard missing seniors and vulnerable adults by establishing a statewide Silver Alert public notification system that functions much like an Amber Alert. Passed with unanimous bipartisan support earlier this week, this legislation would help bring more Michiganders back to the safety of their homes and families. Learn more here.
- Ensure greater transparency and accountability in the insurance industry and better safeguard Michigan consumers from unfair, deceptive practices. Learn more here.
- Protect people fleeing situations of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or assault by reforming the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process — requiring that PPOs are served immediately and at no cost to the victim by a law enforcement agency. Learn more here.
- Expand access to health and dental care coverage for Michigan’s National Guard members to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, improve troops’ readiness, and protect those who protect our state. Learn more here.
Celebrating Free School Meals Week in Michigan
Sen. Bayer helping serve healthy breakfasts to students at Gretchko Elementary School last month
No child should have to learn on an empty stomach. That’s why, during budget negotiations, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I fought hard to ensure the free school meals program could continue — and we were successful.
Recently signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, our historic education budget secures over $248 million so that Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students can continue accessing free breakfast and lunch, helping them stay focused in the classroom, while saving families across the state nearly $1,000 per year. In recognition of Free School Lunch Week this past Oct. 13-17, we celebrate the power that bold investments like these have on our kids, families, and communities. Along with ensuring the continuation of the universal meals program, other budget wins Senate Democrats helped secure for Michigan’s schools and students include:
- Record per-pupil funding of $10,050.
- Boosted funding for at-risk students, English-language learners, special education programs, and rural and isolated districts.
- Additional resources for literacy supports, building on Senate Democrats’ legislative efforts to strengthen learning based on the science of reading; and
- Expanded access to free pre-K and community college to save Michiganders money.
To learn more about the investments Senate Democrats delivered for Michiganders around the state, click here.
Plymouth Coffee Hour
State Rep. Matt Koleszar and I had some very productive discussions during our recent Community Conversation. We chatted about several bills that are being considered in Lansing, issues that are impacting the community, and potential investments that people would like to see in Michigan. As always, the Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex (PARC) was a wonderful place to host our gathering. It was also great to see Plymouth Township Supervisor Chuck Curmi and Northville Board of Education President Lisa McIntyre there!
MAPAAC 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Left: Myself alongside Commissioner Sharon Dow, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, and City Council Member Pam Hansen.
The Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC) serves as a vital bridge between the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and the state government. Supporting, leading, teaching, sharing, advocating, creating, bringing cultural awareness and global leadership — MAPAAC is a tremendous asset to our state. Thank you for inviting me to such a lovely event!
Budget Briefing in West Bloomfield
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 10, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: West Bloomfield Middle School, 6000 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Twp., MI 48322
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Nearly one in eight American women will develop breast cancer over the course of their life. In 2025, it is estimated that 9,900 Michigan residents will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1,350 Michiganders lose their lives. To spread awareness and honor those impacted, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed every October.
To improve mammography standards in Michigan, Sen. Sarah Anthony introduced Senate Bill 136 last Spring — legislation to improve mammogram reporting standards and increase early detection by aligning Michigan’s breast density notification standards with federal guidelines
While my colleagues and I work to get this legislation across the finish line, there are also steps you can take to help raise awareness and save lives. One of the most important things you can do is know your family history and get screened annually starting at age 40. The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages residents to take advantage of the following free health screening programs to put their health into their own hands:
- The Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP), available statewide, provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services to low-income women.
- The WISEWOMAN Program helps participants understand their chronic disease risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices. Every participant receives a free health screening.
- To learn more about these programs, call 844-446-8727 or visit Michigan.gov/cancer. For Spanish resources, call 800-379-1057.
Recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic violence is a serious crisis facing women and families across Michigan and the United States. On a typical day, more than 20,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
To help protect those feeling domestic violence, abuse, harassment, or stalking, Senate Democrats introduced bipartisan legislation this past week that would make much-needed reforms to our state’s Personal Protection Order process (PPO). Currently, it can cost up to $100 to serve a PPO in Michigan — an amount that could be especially tough for someone fleeing domestic violence to afford. To eliminate this financial burden and other barriers, these bills would require a PPO to be immediatelyserved and at no cost to the victim by a law enforcement agency.
Understanding that domestic violence is also deeply interconnected with gun violence, my colleagues and I also delivered long-awaited legislation to keep weapons out of the hands of convicted abusers within mere months of securing the Majority.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please visit the Michigan State Police webpage on domestic violence here for more information or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Additional resources can be found here.