- Legislative Update: Sen. McMorrow and her Senate colleagues spent 2025 working hard for Michiganders and delivering real progress for our state. Learn more below.
- District Update: Ensure you and your loved ones can stay safe and healthy this holiday season by getting your flu shot this National Influenza Vaccination Week!
- Good News from the District:
- Members of People for Palmer Park (PFPP) welcomed Sen. McMorrow to one of their monthly board meetings.
- Team McMorrow attended the ribbon cutting honoring the Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village, a new affordable senior housing development in Detroit.
- Royal Oak’s Jordan Eyster has been drafted by San Francisco, one of the four teams in the brand-new Women’s Professional Baseball League.
- Sen. McMorrow toured Racquet Up Detroit’s facility and presented a tribute to Executive Director Rosemary O’Connor and Operations Manager Tina Perkins.
- Sen. McMorrow hosted a Community Resource and State Update Town Hall at the Tindal Activity Center in Detroit.
Expanding Opportunity, Lowering Costs, & Protecting Michigan: Senate Democrats Reflect on Progress From 2025
As we wrap up the 2025 legislative session, we’re reflecting on the progress Sen. McMorrow and her Senate colleagues delivered for you. Together, we:
- Saved Medicaid in Michigan, protecting access to accessible, affordable health care;
- Expanded the widely successful Rx Kids program to improve maternal and infant health outcomes;
- Delivered another bipartisan budget that continues the universal free school meals program, implements a long-term road solution, and lowers costs for seniors and families;
- Advanced commonsense gun safety policies to keep our communities safe;
- Fought back against federal chaos and safeguarded our state from the worst effects of Trump’s disastrous budget plan;
- Strengthened protections and benefits for Michigan veterans and their families;
- Championed legislation to improve government accountability, tackle racial and ethnic maternal health disparities, lower prescription drug costs, expand transparency in the state budget process, and so much more.
Sen. McMorrow is proud of all that we accomplished this year, but as always, the work is never done. She’ll be at the Capitol in Lansing through the end of the month wrapping things up, but we’re already looking ahead to 2026 and what’s next on our agenda. We’re excited to keep fighting for our communities and Michigan in the new year.
Want to stay in the loop on what’s happening in the Senate over the next few weeks? You can follow along with the bills we’re working on here.
Fighting Food Insecurity This Holiday Season and Beyond
Everyone deserves access to quality, nutritious food, full stop — but this year, the demand for food assistance is higher than ever as grocery costs soar and federal Republicans have disrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and restricted eligibility. Approximately 1.5 million Michiganders face food insecurity, including over 402,000 children.
We’ve worked hard to ensure that every Michigan family has access to food not only during the holidays, but year-round. From proposing $71 million in relief funding to support food banks and continue SNAP benefits during the federal shutdown to delivering another year of free school meals for every Michigan student, we’ve made significant progress in combating food insecurity here in our state. Learn more about Senate Democrats’ efforts to tackle food insecurity here, and explore food assistance resources below.
- The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) offers various food assistance resources and programs.
- Michigan 211 helps locate local programs to meet food and nutrition needs, from prepared meal programs to emergency formula and baby food assistance.
- Locate food banks in our local community, explore volunteer opportunities, and more at Feeding America – Michigan.
- Explore the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s website to find local food bank information, find assistance with SNAP benefits, and more.
Recognizing National Influenza Vaccination Week — Do Your Part in Keeping Our Community Healthy Over the Holidays!
This National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec. 1-5, MDHHS is encouraging Michiganders to get their flu vaccine if they haven’t already. By getting your flu vaccine now, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from influenza and stay healthy over the holidays.
To protect yourself from other respiratory viruses, MDHHS also recommends getting the COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. You can get all three of these vaccines at the same time. To find a vaccine location near you, visit Vaccine Finder. To learn more about seasonal respiratory illnesses and how to protect yourself, visit Michigan.gov/covidflursv.
Mental Health Support During the Holiday Season
The holiday season can be hard for some. If you or someone you know find yourself struggling emotionally or experiencing a mental health crisis, please be sure to utilize the following resources:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support. Learn more here.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255. Available to veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. Learn more here.
- Local Resources: Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down this page and finding a listing in your county.
Shop Small Not Just on Small Business Saturday, but Year-Round!
Did you know? For every dollar spent at a local business, more than two-thirds stay in our community to support local families, causes, and other businesses.
Throughout Sen. McMorrow’s time in the Michigan Senate, she’s worked with her colleagues to provide expanded tax relief to small businesses and secure funding in the state budget that helps small businesses get off the ground, grow their operations, support their hardworking employees, and more.
Small Business Saturday was Nov. 29, but we encourage you to join us in shopping small and locally all year round. Whether it’s your favorite neighborhood coffee shop, a local clothing boutique, or a family-owned hardware store, any support can make a big impact. And together, we can ensure small businesses remain a vital part of our communities for generations to come.
People for Palmer Park Meeting
Members of People for Palmer Park (PFPP) welcomed Sen. McMorrow to one of their monthly board meetings. The Senator gave an update from Lansing and listened as they described the challenges they face as a non-profit. PFPP organizes their own programing and expressed much uncertainty regarding the future, especially with recent funding cuts and general economic instability. They prioritize making improvements and additions to the park, like the recently re-opened historic Palmer Park Bandshell. They are also planning for restoration of the beautiful Merrill fountain, in addition to offering free entry for events at the park. Thank you to the PFPP board for all you do and for the chance to speak with you.
Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village Ribbon Cutting
Nearly a year and a half ago Sen. McMorrow participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Dr. Violet T. Lewis Village, and just last month, Team McMorrow attended the village’s official ribbon cutting, honoring the legacy of Dr. Violet T. Lewis. The home of Michigan’s only Historically Black College and University is now a $29.3 million affordable senior housing development — bringing over 100 apartments to the northwest side of Detroit. The apartment buildings sit on the original campus of the Lewis College of Business, founded by Dr. Lewis, which provided business training for generations of Black students. Two historic campus buildings were restored, plus a four-story building was added. To learn more and find an application, click here.
Royal Oak’s Jordan Eyster Selected in Women’s Pro Baseball League Draft
Jordan Eyster started out as one of the only girls playing on a third-grade coach pitch baseball team in the Royal Oak Sandlot League (ROSL). Now, she is listed as one of the top 120 female baseball players in the world, recently having been drafted by San Francisco — one of the four teams in the brand new Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL). When the league launches next year, it will be the first pro league for women in the U.S. since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, depicted in the film “A League of Their Own,” which dissolved in 1954.
Jordan is a sports management student at Wayne State University. She coaches a 14U softball team, plays club basketball, and works for the Wayne State athletic department.
The WPBL season will begin in August 2026. For more information about Jordan Eyster and the WPBL click here. Congratulations Jordan!
Racquet Up Detroit
Sen. McMorrow had the opportunity to tour the 18,000 sq. ft. Racquet Up Detroit facility and present a tribute to Executive Director, Rosemary O’Connor, and Operations Manager, Tina Perkins. Racquet Up Detroit is a unique after-school program offering long-term mentoring which includes support with academics, the opportunity for community service, and learning the sport of squash! Most students are not familiar with squash when they first come to the program but quickly learn to love it — with some going on to play at the collegiate level. The passionate and dedicated staff ensure that young people in northwest Detroit have access to quality athletic and educational opportunities that support their college and career goals. Racquet Up Detroit is doing incredibly impactful work mentoring, tutoring, and making a difference with their students.
Click here for more information on this program.
Town Hall
Last week, Sen. McMorrow hosted a Community Resource and State Update Town Hall at the Tindal Activity Center in Detroit. She was joined by District 2 Councilperson Angela Whitfield Calloway as well as Legislative Director for Forgotten Harvest, Eric Candela; Site Coordinator for the Medicare and Medicaid Assistance Program for the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Amy Dukes; Wayne County Director for the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services Economic Stability Administration, Nicole Denson-Sogbaka; and the Budget Director for the Michigan Senate Majority, Lori Dey.
The Senator gave updates from Lansing, followed by a Q&A with attendees. Most concerns were centered around the economy, including how the state government is helping residents in light of federal program cuts and uncertainty surrounding SNAP. Another concern was the higher-than-average car insurance rates in the city of Detroit. Sen. McMorrow is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 328, which would require insurers to reduce total premiums by at least 10% on any newly issued or renewed auto policy without reducing coverage. A companion bill, Senate Bill 329, would bar insurers from applying reinstatement fees or rate hikes for policy lapses.
Thank you to everyone who attended and for being so engaged for the betterment of our community and state!
Below are some informational links from our panelists:
Thank you for staying connected with Sen. McMorrow’s office through the biweekly e-newsletter. We’re committed to keeping you informed on our work in Lansing and the progress we’re making in the district. Whether it’s legislative updates or community initiatives, we want to ensure you’re engaged and aware of the ways we’re advocating for you.
Reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas that you may have. Our office is here to assist you with any state-related matters, and we value your feedback. Feel free to contact us at (517) 373-2523 or by email at SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov. You can also fill out a contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able.