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 all the fun, 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 nutrition programs, advancing gun safety policies, and 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 senmcavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7748
Sincerely,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6
- 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.
- Join me for my next Coffee Hour on July 18 at 10:30 a.m. More information to come!
- Michiganders are urged to be aware 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 break barriers for Michigan renters, safeguard our environment, and bolster protections for Michigan consumers.
Supporting Michigan Renters: I recently introduced Senate Bill 373 along with my colleagues, a comprehensive bill package to strengthen protections and break barriers for Michiganders trying to access rental housing. This legislation works to lower costs for renters, hold landlords accountable, 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 hold polluters accountable by requiring more thorough cleanups as well as empowering those harmed by pollution to seek justice.
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 hits communities in every corner of our state. To keep our communities safe from this senseless gun violence, my colleagues and I championed a slate of 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 advanced additional policies through the legislative process this month that would:
- Prohibit bump stocks, a device that can convert semi-automatic firearms into deadly weapons that have a fire rate similar to that of a machine gun;
- Address 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 currently makes its way through Congress, Michigan Senate Democrats recently held two committee hearings to examine how their plan threatens the health and well-being of Michigan families and farmers across the state.
In order 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 directly disrupt and 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 uplift the impact of federal cuts and actions on families and communities around the state. Learn more here.
Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, & Consumer Protection Advances Legislation to Combat Ticket Resale Bots
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, & Consumer Protection, I introduced bipartisan legislation, Senate Bills 158–159, to combat unfair ticket selling practices for live events. These bills target bots that can be used to bypass online ticket sales regulations, bulk-buy up as many as 15,000 event tickets in as little as two minutes, and go on to resell those tickets for as much as 70 times their original price.
Live events are a large driver of our economy and culture, and they should be a time of enjoyment, not an opportunity for bot-scammers to exploit consumers. This legislation allows the Michigan Attorney General to investigate and enforce these cases, holding bad actors accountable while allowing Michiganders to access tickets to their favorite events without losing out to bots. The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
Light Up Livernois – July 5
Light Up Livernois Fashion, Art, Design Festival celebrates and “illuminates” Detroit’s unrivaled creative class. The event showcases our most notable designers, architects, fashion talent, visual artists, and more. It shines light on the amenities along the avenue, as we “park, walk, shop, dine, and explore,” Detroit’s “makers,” and its re-emerging Livernois merchant corridor. Produced by IBA Detroit CDC.
Farmington Concert Band Performance – July 10 at 7:00 p.m.
- Heritage Park- 24915 Farmington Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48336
- The Farmington Concert Band kicks off the summer concert season with an exciting collection of great music from movies, musicals, marches, and beyond!
- https://fcbmusic.org/events/stars-in-the-park-elnsn
Concert of Colors – June 28 and July 16-20
Gun Violence Prevention Listening Session
Earlier this month, Sen. Santana and I sat down with stakeholders to discuss our efforts to combat gun violence in our communities. While my Democratic colleagues and I have made significant progress towards mitigating gun violence with the passage of safe storage, extreme risk protection orders, and universal background check laws, we know there is more to do. I look forward to continuing to work on this very important issue.
F.A.R.M 10th Anniversary
My team had a wonderful time at the Family Assistance to Renaissance Men (F.A.R.M.) 10th Anniversary Gala. F.A.R.M. does amazing work in our communities to strengthen family bonds and ensure everyone has access to the resources they need. Keep up the good work, F.A.R.M!
North Rosedale Park June Day
On June 14, I was delighted to join members of North Rosedale Park for their June Day festivities. Spending time out in the community is my favorite way to spend a Pure Michigan Saturday. Are there events like this happening in your community this summer? I’d love to attend! Please send us an email with the information so it can get on our calendar.
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, free locks can be obtained 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
he 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 verbiage to avoid 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 a payment app.