Dear Neighbor,
With August well underway and the beginning of a new school year approaching, I hope you’re soaking in the remainder of summertime here in our beautiful state. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get out and about in our district this summer, hearing directly from our neighbors about the issues that matter most to our community. I’ll continue using this important input to guide my work in the Capitol and deliver on your priorities.
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 contact us by calling (517) 373-2417 or emailing SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov. We are here to assist you!
Sincerely,
Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
District 13
- Michigan Senate Democrats are working to build on the historic $450 million we’ve secured for school safety and mental health efforts, while House Republicans continue to stall the budget process. Learn more below.
- Join me at two upcoming events with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 16 at Novi Community Town Hall and at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19 at Northville Town Hall. Find more information below.
- Thanks to state funding secured by Senate Democrats, Michigan’s PreK for All program is ranked number one in the nation and is serving more families than ever before. Read on to find high-quality, no-cost preschool in your community.
Fighting for School Safety and Mental Health Resources
Michigan State Police’s Recent Report Highlights Critical Need for Support
OK2SAY, Michigan’s confidential student safety tipline, reported a 20% surge in tip volume compared to the previous year, according to the program’s most recent report compiled by the Michigan State Police. With an unprecedented 11,671 tips received, the program has reached its highest reporting level since its inception in 2014, underscoring the vital role it plays in safeguarding our youngest Michiganders.
My colleagues and I recognize this and the responsibility we have to invest in our children and in their safety, well-being, and success. That’s why we’ve invested a historic $450 million in school safety and mental health over the last few budget cycles. These dollars have gone into supporting the OK2SAY program, modernizing school security systems, as well as hiring more counselors, social workers, and school resource officers.
But as we see our kids carrying heavier burdens and facing greater threats than ever before, our work is far from over. In our 2026 State Budget proposal, Senate Democrats put another $350 million behind these efforts to ensure every child feels safe while in the classroom. Unfortunately, as back-to-school season rapidly approaches, House Republicans are continuing to stall the budget process, keeping this funding for school safety out of reach for districts to use.
In the Senate, my colleagues and I continue to remain at the negotiating table, ready to reach a final budget agreement that truly supports our students and their families. To keep up to date on the latest developments and learn more about our budget proposal, click here.
Rx Kids: A Prescription for Improving Families’ Physical and Economic Health
Rx Kids is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States, initially launched in Flint in 2024, before expanding to seven other communities across the state in early 2025 — thanks in part to funding secured by Senate Democrats. Now, we’re working to pass legislation to expand this successful program statewide to reach more families around Michigan. Rx Kids supports parents and babies by providing all pregnant moms, regardless of income, with a no-strings-attached cash allowance of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month throughout the baby’s first year. Research shows that this direct, cash support for new parents helps improve housing security, access to nutritious food, and maternal and child health.
This week, the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee held a hearing on this legislation, exploring the far-reaching benefits of Rx Kids and how its expansion would continue improving maternal and child health outcomes throughout the state. To watch the committee hearing, click here.
In addition to our proposal to expand Rx Kids, Michigan Senate Democrats have introduced bold, transformative legislation to lower costs for working families and make sure kids in Michigan have the best start possible — including through a Working Parents Tax Cut and expanded access to child care. Learn more about this “Building Blocks” package here.
Visit to Prototype Tiny Home in Pontiac
I recently had the chance to visit a prototype tiny home in Pontiac — made from a shipping container! — alongside my friend and powerhouse advocate for our unhoused neighbors, Kimber Bishop-Yanke (pictured above). It’s so exciting to see innovation reign in Michigan in real time, and to witness the work behind ending homelessness and addressing the challenges that fuel it.
Blueprint to End Homelessness — Oakland County
You may think this looks like a boring group meeting, but I must say that this is the most exciting thing I’ve done in quite a while!
This is the Oakland County Blueprint to End Homelessness working team. Since we first got a bit of state funding to create the blueprint back in 2019, the County has made incredible progress in moving toward that goal. Each of the six working teams are focused on improving some aspect of the emergency housing system, from having a single point of entry for help that can direct individuals to the organization best equipped to serve them, to helping people and families find a safe place to be right away.
The members of the blueprint team include people from many different organizations and stakeholders who are striving and working together to move toward a single system. Instead of many capable systems working on their own and disconnected from other needs, they are making something that will help people from their very first phone call to their first steps in a new home.
Here I am with one of the incredible leaders, Khadija Walker-Fobbs, who is an Officer at Oakland County Neighborhood and Housing Development — amazing, astonishing, and wonderful!
Novi Community Town Hall with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Rep. Kelly Breen, and Oakland Co. Commissioner Gwen Markham
WHEN: Monday, August 18 at 6:00 PM
WHERE: Novi Civic Center Council Chambers, 45175 Ten Mile Rd., Novi, MI 48375
Northville Town Hall
WHEN: Tuesday, August 19, at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Northville Twp. Hall, 44405 Six Mile Rd., Northville, MI 48168
PreK For All: Improving Outcomes for Michigan Families & Kids
August means the back-to-school season is approaching, so what better time to spread the word about the best PreK for All program in the nation? Last year, Senate Democrats worked across the aisle to secure state funding that helped expand access to no-cost, high quality preschool — and our work is paying off, giving kids the tools they need for successful futures, helping tackle the childcare crisis, allowing parents to stay in the workforce, and saving Michigan families about $10,000 per child.
Michigan’s PreK for All program is available to all children who are four years old by Dec. 1, and enrollment is now open for the upcoming school year. To learn more or find options for no-cost Pre-K in your community, visit MiPreKforAll.org.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
With summer in full swing and flu season just around the corner, we recognize National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for Michiganders of all ages. Vaccines are the best way for you to protect yourself from preventable diseases and avoid spreading those diseases to others in your community.
To locate a health department nearest you and get up to date on your vaccines, click here. And to learn more about the vaccines you and your family members may need to stay healthy, visit the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services website here.