{"id":7328,"date":"2023-03-23T18:12:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T18:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/chang\/?p=7328"},"modified":"2023-03-23T18:12:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T18:12:53","slug":"legislative-updates-upcoming-events-and-resources-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/chang\/2023\/03\/23\/legislative-updates-upcoming-events-and-resources-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Updates, Upcoming Events, and Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/senatedems.com\/chang\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-13-at-4.27.39-PM.png” _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”Screen Shot 2023-03-13 at 4.27.39 PM” url=”senatedems.com\/chang\/” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Friend,<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope you and your family are safe and healthy. I\u2019ve included legislative updates and upcoming events in this email. Team\u00a0Chang<\/span>\u00a0has been hard at work getting things done and we hope to see you at one of our coffee hours or April 5 Consumer Protection Town Hall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In my last email update, we had voted the safe storage, universal background checks, and extreme risk protection order bills out of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety. I am excited that we also have voted all of these bills out of the full Senate! When these bills are signed into law, we will save Michiganders\u2019 lives. I am eager to continue working with my colleagues on gun violence prevention legislation in the weeks and months to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RESTORING WORKERS RIGHTS<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, I voted along with my Democratic colleagues to restore worker\u2019s rights in Michigan. The bill to restore prevailing wage and the bill to restore worker\u2019s rights now heads to Governor Whitmer\u2019s office to be signed into law. I was proud to vote yes on both bills. This legislation guarantees that unionized employees equally contribute to the costs of union representation in that workplace and it will help families by ensuring that workers are able to join together to negotiate for pay raises, safer working conditions, and more benefits.. It also helps increase an employee\u2019s safety on the job and gives workers the freedom to negotiate with their employer. The prevailing wage restoration law will help ensure that public projects are done by highly skilled workers that get the job done correctly and on time. I am excited that Michigan is reinstating the prevailing wage law so that Michigan workers who build our infrastructure are paid the decent wage they deserve.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

THREE OF MY BILLS HAVE PASSED THE SENATE THIS MONTH<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Three of my bills have passed the Senate and two of them await action in the House. Senate Bill 18 would mark January 30 of every year as Fred Korematsu Day in Michigan and finally recognize this civil liberties champion on a permanent basis. Senate Bill 55 will help more low-income Michiganders on fixed incomes retain their poverty exemption on their property taxes by expanding on a policy we adopted during COVID-19. Senate Bill 82 is part of the safe storage bill package and would exempt the sale of firearm safety devices from use tax in Michigan. This would help responsible gun owners purchase gun safes, gun cases, trigger locks, and other firearm safety devices. This bill has also passed the House. We have several other pieces of legislation we expect to be taken up soon for action in the Senate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GOV. WHITMER JOINS WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY TO ANNOUNCE NEW INITIATIVE, LOWERING THE COST OF COLLEGE<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Wayne State University officials to announce the Wayne State Guarantee, a new initiative offering incoming Michigan students with family incomes of $70,000 or less a tuition-free degree with zero out-of-pocket expenses. The program will begin in the fall of 2023 and cover the full cost of tuition and standard fees. This is made possible thanks to the bipartisan Michigan Achievement Scholarship program, which Governor Whitmer signed into law in 2022, saving students up to $8,250 on their associate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 at a private college, or up to $27,500 at a public university.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s Eligible for the Wayne State Guarantee<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n