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 senmcavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7748
Sincerely,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 06
- The Senate hosted our annual Memorial Day ceremony last month, and we paired our celebrations with legislative action and support for Michigan’s veterans and their families. Read on to learn more.
- Join my next community coffee hour on Saturday, June 21, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Stoepel Park in Detroit. Read more below.
- The Senate passed our budget, including my LEO/MEDC budget, out of the Senate in May. Our budget puts families and communities first.
- Lyme disease is on the rise in Michigan with cases increasing by 168% over the past five years. Read on for helpful tips to protect you and your loved ones from tick bites and disease this spring and summer.
Honoring Memorial Day with Support for Michigan Veterans & Their Families
Last month, the Senate 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, Wayne County Commissioner Monique Bishop McCormick 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.
I’m proud to have crafted three of the budget bills that were passed by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Michigan Depts. of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and Insurance and Financial Services. Highlights from these bills include:
- Workforce development to support everyone from our graduating seniors to our veterans. The budget proposes funding for initiatives like Women in the Workplace, Michigan Future Force, and Veteran Wraparound Services;
- Small businesses supports, ensuring our entrepreneurs are empowered with the tools they need to thrive. This includes funding for support hubs that provide resources to small businesses and a Capital Access Program, which helps lenders provide capital loans to underserved communities;
- Tackling the ongoing emergency housing crisis and shortage of affordable housing through an Emergency Housing Fund, local land banks, eviction diversion program funding, weatherization, down payment assistance, and more; and
- Ensuring our local police and firefighters are equipped with the resources needed to keep our communities safe, including important facility and equipment upgrades.
Our budget bills have been sent to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Learn more here.
Run for the Roses
Movie in Rosemont Acacia Park
Exotic Animal Show
June Coffee and Conversation
WHEN: June 21, 2025, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Stoepel Park, 1033 Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48223
Michigan Working Families, Seniors See Benefits of Senate’s Tax Cuts
Back in 2023, Senate Democrats delivered a historic $1 billion in tax cuts for Michiganders who need relief most. Our Lowering MI Costs plan repealed the unfair retirement tax and expanded tax credits for working families. As folks begin to receive refunds, more Michiganders can see more money being put back in their pockets with the average individual income tax refund hitting $843 — a 50% increase from 2022!
This filing season, 207,000 retiree tax returns saw an average jump of $600 because of the retirement tax changes, and our quintupling of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit has also provided an average refund of $900 for working families. This means Michiganders have extra money to pay their bills, put food on the table, and grow their savings. To learn more about how my colleagues and I are working to lower costs for you and your family, click 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.