Dear Neighbor,
Over the past weeks and months, my colleagues and I have been working hard to craft a fiscally responsible state budget to ensure that while chaos and confusion comes from Washington, our communities can find security at the state level. Full of people-first investments, our budget will help strengthen local communities, protect vital services, and expand opportunity for every Michigander.
In this newsletter, read more about how our budget will support you and your family, as well as catch up on the other actions we’ve taken to support Michigan veterans and seniors.
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 senwbrinks@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Winnie Brinks
Senate Majority Leader
State Senator, District 29
- The Senate recently hosted our annual Memorial Day ceremony, and we paired our celebrations with legislative action and support for Michigan’s veterans and their families. Read on to learn more.
- Medicaid provides a lifeline for 2.6 million Michiganders around the state, ensuring seniors, children, folks with disabilities and others can access the essential health care they need, when they need it. Congress’ threats to gut this crucial program would hold serious, harmful consequences on Michigan’s people, communities, and economy. Learn more below.
- Senate Democrats advanced legislation to protect workers from wage theft, provide economic relief for Michigan parents, and uphold justice for survivors of sexual assault.
Honoring Memorial Day with Support for Michigan Veterans & Their Families
The Senate recently hosted our annual Memorial Day ceremony to recognize the brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation and our freedoms. Thank you to my special guest, U.S. Army Captain Stacy Bare, who joined me on the Senate floor for this special ceremony.
Senate Democrats paired our Memorial Day commemorations with action to uplift Michigan veterans and their families — because their sacrifice and service deserve to be met with adequate support and care. Through targeted legislation and budget investments, we’ve made it a top priority to build up support for our brave veterans and active-duty service members by:
- Lowering costs for families of disabled veterans by cutting red tape and ensuring spouses can maintain property tax exemptions;
- Protecting the homes of active-duty military members by reducing the likelihood of their properties going unclaimed and reverting to state ownership while they are serving our country;
- Expanding tuition assistance eligibility for spouses and dependents of National Guard members, helping more military families access higher education;
- Strengthening protections for active-duty service members’ credit union accounts during deployment;
- Creating a special registration plate for women veterans, raising recognition of their contributions to our nation;
- Expanding eligibility for the Disabled Veteran registration plate to partially disabled veterans, making it easier for veterans to receive the recognition they deserve while also providing them with free access to Michigan state parks; and
- Investing in veteran mental health services, Michigan’s three veteran homes, grants for nonprofits who provide housing for homeless veterans and their families, and suicide prevention programs for those who have served.
Michigan Senate Passes 2026 Budget to Support All Michiganders
Efforts to finalize our state budget for next year are moving along! The Senate recently passed our proposal for the 2026 State Budget. Crafted through months of collaboration with constituents, community leaders, and key stakeholders, this proposal invests in the people, places, and projects that make our state extraordinary. Together, our budget proposal:
- Puts students, teachers, and parents first;
- Makes government work for you;
- Builds stronger local and state infrastructures;
- Makes our communities safer and backs our first responders; and
- Lowers costs and invests in people.
Our budget bills have been sent to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Learn more here.
A Snapshot of Legislative Activity
Along with our work to wrap up the state budget plans for the next year, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I have also been advancing a slew of legislation at the Capitol to protect Michigan workers, support parents, and give survivors of sexual assault greater access to the criminal justice system.
Protecting workers from wage theft — Last week, the Senate Labor Committee passed legislation to protect Michigan workers and taxpayers by ensuring bad actors cannot continue to game the system and shrink workers’ paychecks. These bills now head to the Senate floor for consideration.
Lowering the cost of parenting — Senate Democrats have officially introduced bills to implement the recently-unveiled “Building Blocks” plan that seeks to provide economic relief for Michigan parents. This legislative package would support parents by establishing a new Working Parents Tax Cut, expanding the widely popular RxKids program statewide, and helping tackle the cost of child care from both the demand and supply side. These bills now head to the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services Committee for deliberation.
Ensuring justice for survivors of sexual assault — This week, Senate passed bipartisan legislation to support and protect survivors of sexual assault while ensuring abusers — and the institutions that shield them — are held accountable. These bills would fix Michigan’s broken statute of limitations for civil claims and repeal immunity for educational institutions that conceal systemic abuse. This package will now advance to the House.
Protecting Michiganders exercising their reproductive rights — Building on a mountain of work we’ve done to expand Michiganders’ right to manage their own reproductive health, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation this week to enhance protections for those exercising their reproductive rights. More specifically, the legislation would prohibit an individual from intentionally attempting to injure, intimidate, or interfere with someone because they are obtaining or providing reproductive health services. These bills now head to the Senate floor.
June is Pride Month!
This month and always, we are working to build a Michigan where LGBTQ+ people have hope, have joy, have community, and have wellness. From expanding civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Michiganders to banning conversion therapy for minors, we’ve made historic progress in the past few years — but more work still lies ahead. We’ll keep at it because Michigan is a place where queer people will always belong. Happy pride!
GRPS Visits Lansing
We have been working hard to ensure this year’s state budget will devote adequate funding to public education — one of our most important responsibilities in the legislature — and so I was especially delighted to welcome board members, staff, and students from Grand Rapids Public Schools to the Senate chamber in Lansing. They shared their ideas about how to keep strengthening education access for everyone in our community. I’m proud to advocate for them!
Medicaid Matters to Michiganders, Impact of Proposed Cuts
Recently, Republicans in Congress announced their plan to slash $880 billion from Medicaid so they can hand over $4 trillion in tax cuts for the country’s wealthiest individuals. If passed, this would be the largest cut to Medicaid in its 60-year history. Medicaid is a lifeline for residents around the state, including seniors, folks with disabilities, children, veterans, and expectant parents. If approved, 750,000 Michiganders are at risk of losing their health insurance, hospitals will close, and it will be harder for everyone to access care. It would also cost us thousands of jobs, and our state economy would take a huge hit by potentially losing hundreds of millions — and even billions — in federal funding.
Long story short: Congress’ threats to gut this crucial program don’t just impact the millions of folks state- and nationwide who rely on the program — they threaten all of us. To stand up to these cuts, this week, Senate Democrats passed a resolution calling on Congress to protect Medicaid and ensure those who need assistance with affording health care can receive it without worry or extra burdensome red tape. Learn more here.
Take Action to Tackle Tick-Borne Diseases
Lyme disease is on the rise in Michigan, increasing by 168% over the past five years. In 2024, the state recorded 1,215 cases of Lyme disease compared to only 452 cases in 2020. As summer approaches and more Michiganders begin venturing into the great outdoors, it’s imperative to take steps to avoid tick bites and prevent tick-borne diseases.
Symptoms of tick-borne disease typically start one to two weeks after a bite, often after time spent in wooded, brushy areas. Early symptoms include fevers, chills, rash, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. To protect yourself against Lyme disease, be sure to follow these tips from the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services:
- Avoid tick-infested areas, including overgrown, grassy, brushy, wooded spaces;
- Talk with your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your cats and dogs;
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin;
- Check yourself and your animals for ticks after being outdoors, even in your own yard;
- Remove any attached ticks carefully with tweezers by grasping the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With steady, even pressure, pull the tick’s body upward and away from the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic; and
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors.