No. 32
STATE OF
MICHIGAN
Journal of
the Senate
103rd
Legislature
REGULAR
SESSION OF 2025
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
10:00 a.m.
Pursuant to rule
1.101, in the absence of the Presiding Officers, the Senate was called to order
by the Secretary of the Senate.
The roll was called by the Assistant Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Albert—present Hauck—present Moss—present
Anthony—present Hertel—present Nesbitt—present
Bayer—present Hoitenga—present Outman—present
Bellino—present Huizenga—present Polehanki—present
Brinks—present Irwin—present Runestad—present
Bumstead—present Johnson—present Santana—present
Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present
Cavanagh—present Lauwers—present Singh—present
Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present
Cherry—present McBroom—present Victory—present
Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present
Damoose—present McMorrow—present Wojno—present
Geiss—present
Senator Thomas
A. Albert of the 18th District offered the following invocation:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy
name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us
this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Secretary of the Senate, Daniel Oberlin,
led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motions and Communications
Senator Brinks entered the Senate Chamber.
Senator Lauwers
moved that Senator McBroom be temporarily excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Nesbitt entered the Senate Chamber.
Senator Singh moved that Senators Chang,
Bayer, Geiss, Irwin, Moss, McCann, Shink and Anthony be temporarily excused
from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject
to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:03
a.m.
10:58 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the
President pro tempore, Senator Moss.
During the recess, Senators Anthony, Chang,
Irwin, McCann, Moss, Bayer, Shink and Geiss entered the Senate Chamber.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to
the order of
Introduction and Referral of
Bills
Senator Daley introduced
Senate
Bill No. 205, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public
health code,” (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 10401.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
Senator Bellino
introduced
Senate
Bill No. 206, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The
revised school code,” (MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1170c.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senators Hertel and Hauck introduced
Senate
Bill No. 207, entitled
A bill to create a Michigan veterans coalition
fund; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental
officers and entities.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Veterans and Emergency Services.
Senators Hauck and Hertel introduced
Senate
Bill No. 208, entitled
A bill to create a Michigan veterans coalition
grant program; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state
governmental entities.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Veterans and Emergency Services.
Senators McBroom, Daley, Chang, Outman and Damoose introduced
Senate
Bill No. 209, entitled
A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled “Income
tax act of 1967,” by amending sections 30, 623, and 815 (MCL 206.30, 206.623,
and 206.815), section 30 as amended by 2023 PA 4 and section 623 as amended and
section 815 as added by 2021 PA 135.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs.
Senator Bellino
introduced
Senate
Bill No. 210, entitled
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The
Michigan penal code,” by amending section 45a (MCL 750.45a), as added by
2018 PA 445.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public
Safety.
Senator Bellino
introduced
Senate
Bill No. 211, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The
revised school code,” (MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1138a.
The bill was read a first and second time by
title and referred to the Committee on Education.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to
the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Senator McBroom entered the Senate Chamber.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate
Bill No. 111, entitled
A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled “Revised
judicature act of 1961,” (MCL 600.101 to 600.9947) by adding section 2950p.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members
serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll
Call No. 44 Yeas—19
Anthony Chang Klinefelt Santana
Bayer Cherry McCann Shink
Brinks Geiss McMorrow Singh
Camilleri Hertel Moss Wojno
Cavanagh Irwin Polehanki
Nays—18
Albert Hauck Lindsey Runestad
Bellino Hoitenga McBroom Theis
Bumstead Huizenga Nesbitt Victory
Daley Johnson Outman Webber
Damoose Lauwers
Excused—0
Not
Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
Protest
Senator Runestad,
under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against
the passage of Senate Bill No. 111.
Senator Runestad’s statement is as follows:
Senate Bill
No. 111’s—that we just voted on—ostensible purpose was to protect vulnerable
adults, and it easily could have been written to accomplish that. Instead, it
establishes a system that vastly overextends the purpose of the personal
protection orders. Under this bill, a vulnerable adult, which is defined as
anyone over 60 years old or their court-appointed guardian, would be able to
request a PPO on someone for a vast variety of reasons, up to and including,
and most seriously, whether the accused purchases or possesses a firearm. That
means if the accuser is able to convince the court that there’s a reasonable
cause that the accused might someday buy a firearm, then the court is required
to issue the PPO. This is absolutely unconstitutional. A further constitutional
concern within the bill is that if a PPO is ordered, then the accused is
thereafter barred from purchasing or possessing a firearm. In addition to these
very concerning constitutional provisions, the bill does not lay out any clear
means to determine relationships between the 60-year-old making the request and
the person they’re accusing, as is currently in the PPO bills. This bill is
very, very poorly crafted and could easily have been written in such a way to
appropriately accomplish its purpose. Instead, it is a grave and dangerous
infringement upon our constitutional rights and should have been voted down.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate
Bill No. 112, entitled
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The
Michigan penal code,” by amending section 159g (MCL 750.159g), as amended
by 2022 PA 174.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members
serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll
Call No. 45 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McBroom Shink
Brinks Hertel McCann Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not
Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
Senator Anthony asked and was granted
unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed
in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator
Anthony’s statement is as follows:
I rise to
uplift the significance of this bill as well as the entire package to protect
our most vulnerable adults and seniors. This issue is something I know we all
care about and want to fight for. I’ve been sounding the alarm on this issue
since the early days of my elected service in this Capitol back when I served
in the House in 2018, and I wish I could say that the problem has gotten
better, but unfortunately it has not.
Year after
year we have heard the stories of men and women across the state, and the
heartbreak continues. We hear from seniors who have spent their entire lives
working hard, saving diligently, hoping for a retirement filled with peace and
security, only to have their savings stolen by someone they trusted. We’ve
heard from those who have devoted themselves to raising families and caring for
their communities, only to be met with neglect and mistreatment when their own
health begins to decline. This isn’t just about policy; it’s very personal.
These are our parents and grandparents, our neighbors, and our mentors; the
very people who raised us, who taught us, and built our communities. Right now,
too many of them are being targeted by scams, fraud, and financial predators
who seek out vulnerability as an opportunity. That’s why we’ve reintroduced
this critical bill package time and time again.
Now, it’s long
overdue that our state and communities have the tools they need to better
protect our seniors and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and
exploitation. It’s about creating a system that doesn’t just respond to abuse
but actively prevents it. It’s more important than ever as our seniors and most
vulnerable are seeing federal programs and resources slashed. This is one way
we can tell our seniors, We see you, we value you, and we are fighting for you.
I urge a “yes”
vote so that we can stand up for our most vulnerable populations.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate
Bill No. 113, entitled
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled “The
Michigan penal code,” by amending section 174a (MCL 750.174a), as amended
by 2013 PA 34.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members
serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll
Call No. 46 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McBroom Shink
Brinks Hertel McCann Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not
Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate
Bill No. 114, entitled
A bill to provide for the creation of a
vulnerable adult multidisciplinary team; to prescribe the powers and duties of
a vulnerable adult multidisciplinary team; and to provide for the powers and
duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members
serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll
Call No. 47 Yeas—37
Albert Daley Klinefelt Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lauwers Runestad
Bayer Geiss Lindsey Santana
Bellino Hauck McBroom Shink
Brinks Hertel McCann Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not
Voting—0
In The Chair: Moss
The Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
General Orders
Senator Singh moved that the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for consideration of the General Orders calendar.
The motion prevailed, and the President pro
tempore, Senator Moss, designated Senator Bellino as
Chairperson.
After some time spent therein, the Committee arose; and the President pro tempore, Senator Moss, having resumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and without amendment, the following bills:
Senate Bill No. 129, entitled
A
bill to amend 1976 PA 267, entitled “Open meetings act,” by amending section 3a
(MCL 15.263a), as amended by 2023 PA 214.
Senate Bill No. 93, entitled
A bill to amend 2000 PA 92, entitled “Food law,” by amending section 4105 (MCL 289.4105), as amended by 2016 PA 188.
Senate Bill No. 18, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 203, entitled “Foster care and adoption services act,” (MCL 722.951 to 722.960) by adding section 8f.
Senate Bill No. 29, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections 2227, 2617, 2617a, and 2618 (MCL 333.2227, 333.2617, 333.2617a, and 333.2618), section 2227 as added by 2006 PA 653 and section 2617a as added by 2016 PA 479, and by adding section 2617b.
Senate Bill No. 30, entitled
A bill to create the biased and unjust care reporting act; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities.
Senate Bill No. 32, entitled
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled “The insurance code of 1956,” by amending section 2434 (MCL 500.2434), as added by 1986 PA 173.
Senate Bill No. 33, entitled
A bill to amend 1998 PA 386, entitled “Estates and protected individuals code,” by amending sections 5507 and 5509 (MCL 700.5507 and 700.5509), section 5507 as amended by 2024 PA 1 and section 5509 as amended by 2004 PA 532.
Senate Bill No. 34, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 453, entitled “Elliott-Larsen civil rights act,” by amending sections 201 and 301 (MCL 37.2201 and 37.2301), section 201 as amended by 2023 PA 31 and section 301 as amended by 2023 PA 6.
Senate Bill No. 36, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections 2701, 2705, 2709, and 2723 (MCL 333.2701, 333.2705, 333.2709, and 333.2723), section 2701 as amended by 2022 PA 38, section 2705 as amended by 2022 PA 37, section 2709 as added by 1990 PA 16, and section 2723 as amended by 2014 PA 173.
Senate Bill No. 39, entitled
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” (MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding sections 109q and 109r.
Senate Bill No. 136, entitled
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections 13501, 13521, 13522, and 13523 (MCL 333.13501, 333.13521, 333.13522, and 333.13523), sections 13501 and 13523 as amended by 1994 PA 100, section 13521 as amended by 2018 PA 544, and section 13522 as amended by 2023 PA 138; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
The bills were placed on the order of Third
Reading of Bills.
The Committee of the Whole reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 31, entitled
A
bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,” by amending sections
20201 and 21513 (MCL 333.20201 and 333.21513), section 20201 as amended by
2016 PA 499 and section 21513 as amended by 2022 PA 265, and by adding section
21537.
Substitute (S-2).
The Senate agreed to the substitute
recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was
placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
The Committee of the Whole reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 37, entitled
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled “The insurance code of 1956,” (MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding section 3406cc.
Substitute (S-2).
The Senate agreed to the substitute
recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was
placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
The Committee of the Whole reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 38, entitled
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” by amending section 109 (MCL 400.109), as amended by 2022 PA 98.
Substitute (S-1).
The Senate agreed to the substitute
recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was
placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
The Committee of the Whole reported back to the Senate, favorably and with a substitute therefor, the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 135, entitled
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled “The insurance code of 1956,” by amending sections 3403, 3406z, 3406bb, and 3406ii (MCL 500.3403, 500.3406z, 500.3406bb, and 500.3406ii), section 3403 as amended by 2023 PA 158, section 3406z as added by 2023 PA 159, section 3406bb as added by 2023 PA 160, and section 3406ii as added by 2023 PA 157.
Substitute (S-1).
The Senate agreed to the substitute
recommended by the Committee of the Whole, and the bill as substituted was
placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to
the order of
Resolutions
Senator Singh moved that
rule 3.204 be suspended to permit immediate consideration of the following
resolutions:
Senate
Resolution No. 24
Senate
Resolution No. 25
Senate
Resolution No. 27
The motion prevailed, a majority of the
members serving voting therefor.
Senator Geiss offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 24.
A resolution to commemorate April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week.
Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Black mothers in the United States (U.S.) die at two to three times the rate of white mothers; and
Whereas, The CDC data from 2023 for pregnancy-related deaths shows that maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high: 14.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women, 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women, and 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births for women of all races in the U.S.; and
Whereas, Among high-income nations, the U.S. has some of the worst rates of maternal and infant health outcomes, despite spending an estimated $111 billion per year on maternal, prenatal, and newborn care; and
Whereas, At 14.8 percent, Black women have the
highest percentage of U.S. live births that were preterm; and
Whereas,
Disparities in maternal and infant mortality are rooted in structural racism.
The Institute of Medicine reported substantial disparities in the quality of
care for minority communities even when accounting for healthcare insurance
coverage and income; and
Whereas, Black women are more likely to quit, be fired, or return to work before they are healthy after giving birth due to inadequate family and medical leave policies; and
Whereas, Black maternal death is one of the
widest, but not the only racial disparities in women’s health; and
Whereas, Black women are 22 percent more likely to die from heart disease than white women, 71 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer, and three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related or childbirth-related causes; and
Whereas, According to the National Institutes of Health, when compared with white women with the conditions of preeclampsia, eclampsia, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, and postpartum hemorrhage, which are common causes of maternal death and injury, Black women are three to four times more likely to die than white women who had the same condition; and
Whereas, Black women are more likely to experience reproductive health disorders such as fibroids, and are three times more likely to have endometriosis; and
Whereas, According to the Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance Project, between 2016 to 2020, Black women in Michigan experienced a pregnancy-related mortality rate of 36.5 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 16.3 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women in Michigan; and
Whereas, According to the Commonwealth Fund, the U.S. has the highest maternal death rate in high income countries in which two-thirds of all recorded deaths are deemed to be preventable. Our state currently ranks 23rd in the nation for maternal deaths; and
Whereas, These alarming statistics for Black maternal health cut across socio-economic status, maternal age, and education levels; and
Whereas, We recognize the necessity for increased
attention to the state for Black maternal healthcare as well as the need to
study and understand the root causes of the discrepancies in maternal health
outcomes; and
Whereas, We support community-driven programs, care solutions, the improvement of prenatal care and overall maternal healthcare, the improvement of breastfeeding rates and nutrition, and the amplification of the voices of Black mothers, women, families, and stakeholders, including Black women from across the diaspora and Afro-Latinx groups; and
Whereas, We also recognize the necessity to end maternal mortality statewide, nationally, and globally in order to strengthen the need for maternal health and maternal rights; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body commemorate April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week.
The question being on the adoption of the
resolution,
The resolution was adopted.
Senators Anthony, Bayer, Chang, Cherry, Damoose, Irwin, Klinefelt,
McCann, McMorrow, Moss, Polehanki, Santana, Shink and
Wojno were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
Senator Geiss asked and was granted unanimous
consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the
Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Geiss’
statement is as follows:
I rise today
to offer Senate Resolution No. 24, a resolution to commemorate April 11-17,
2025, as Black Maternal Health Week. This week, now in its eighth year, was
founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance—BMMA—in
2018, and the Legislature has been recognizing Black Maternal Health Week since
its inception. This year’s theme is, “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black
Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy” and emphasizes the
power of Black-led perinatal maternal and reproductive health organizations to
drive systemic change and foster community healing. It’s dedicated to
awareness, activism, and amplifying the voices of Black mamas to express the
concerns and necessary improvements regarding Black maternal health and
reproductive justice.
Black maternal
health disparities still exist across geographic areas, socioeconomic status,
and education levels. These inequities between Black mothers and other mothers
have intensified, often because of still-longstanding institutional policies
and barriers that remain endemic within reproductive health care. I will spare
everyone here the statistics because while there have been some improvements,
those statistics remain harrowing and, in some cases, have even worsened. Also,
they are in the resolution itself. We can only remove these barriers and
inequities by listening to Black mamas and families, hearing and heeding our
experiences, and responding to the solutions that we know we need by harnessing
the direct steps to improve Black maternal health that come from and through
the collective action of community so that we and our families more than just
merely exist and sometimes barely survive, but thrive. This work is not just
being done in statehouses around the country but is being done by, through, and because of the vast coalitions and collective
action of such groups who are aligned with Black Mamas Matter Alliance—Michigan
groups such as the Reproductive Justice Council, Birth Detroit, Mothering
Justice, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, and Revive Village and Revive
Community Health Center, just to name a few of the groups working in this
space.
This work is
and always has been rooted in community. We must uplift that in order to heal
legacies and strengthen Black maternal health. We must have collective action
and advocacy, especially at this pivotal time when reproductive justice rights
and freedom remain under assault. We must recognize the intersections of
economic justice and reproductive justice policies in order to improve Black
maternal health and restore Black bodily autonomy and joy. With this, I welcome
the affirmation of the Michigan Legislature’s eighth annual resolution
recognizing April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week.
Senator Daley offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 25.
A resolution to recognize April 2025 as Donate Life Month.
Whereas, About 2,600 Michigan residents are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and thousands more would benefit from tissue and corneal transplants; and
Whereas, Michigan has about 4.6 million people on the Organ Donor Registry, and more than 42 percent of adults have not yet registered to save and heal others; and
Whereas, The need for organ, tissue, and eye donations remains a critical need in Michigan and in the United States; and
Whereas, Nationwide, an average of 17 people die each day because a donated organ did not become available; and
Whereas, Organ, tissue, and eye donations can provide families that are tragically confronted by the death of a loved one, the comfort of knowing the gift of life provides another person with renewed hope for a healthy life; and
Whereas, A single organ, tissue, and eye donation can save eight lives and heal the lives of up to 125 people; and
Whereas, The act of giving the gift of life through organ, tissue, and eye donations to someone facing imminent death, living with blindness, or a disability is the ultimate act of generosity and kindness; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize April 2025 as Donate Life Month; and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage all residents to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, share their decision with their families, friends, and colleagues, and encourage them to do the same.
The question being on the adoption of the
resolution,
The resolution was adopted.
Senators Bayer, Chang, Cherry, Geiss, Irwin, Klinefelt, McCann, McMorrow, Santana, Shink, Theis and Wojno were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
Senator Daley asked and was granted unanimous
consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the
Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Daley’s
statement, in which Senator Bellino concurred, is as
follows:
I rise today
alongside Senator Bellino as I have a family member,
a son, who was killed and donated his organs about 14 years ago, and we have a
live donor here who donated his kidney, I believe, to a person. We rise today
to speak on a resolution to designate April as National Donate Life Month. This
is a time to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Did you
know that donating your organs can save up to eight lives? Organ, tissue, and
eye donation can provide families that are tragically confronted by the death
of a loved one with the comfort of knowing the gift of donating organs and
tissue provides another person with a renewed hope for a healthy life.
As many of you
know, organ donation is especially important to me. My son, Thomas, passed away
14 years ago. Thomas was not a registered donor, but he would have wanted
to help others. Today, Thomas’ heart, liver, and kidneys live in others and his
legacy lives on. Today I joined with Senator Bellino
to introduce Senate Bill Nos. 205 and 206 which will help increase
participation in the organ donor registry. These bills would encourage doctors
to hand out information about organ donations to their patients and urge
schools to provide an informational presentation on the merits of organ
donation. We hope to have your support on this important package of
legislation.
I urge all my
fellow Senators to become an organ donor and to give the gift of life today. I
encourage support for my resolution.
Senator Hoitenga offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 26.
A resolution to designate April 18, 2025, as Lineman Appreciation Day.
Whereas, The linemen profession has existed for as long as electricity has been a standard part of modern living; and
Whereas, There are over 120,000 highly trained and skilled linemen in the United States (U.S.) and over 3,600 linemen in Michigan, servicing miles of wire; and
Whereas, In order to construct and maintain the energy infrastructure of the U.S., linemen work under dangerous conditions; and
Whereas, Linemen are often the first responders during catastrophic events, ensuring the scene is safe and working around the clock to restore power after a storm emergency; and
Whereas, Linemen readily respond to disaster recovery needs anywhere in the country through mutual assistance agreements; and
Whereas, It is important for Michigan to recognize and express our appreciation to these brave, dedicated men and women who put their lives at risk to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of power to our communities; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body designate April 18, 2025, as Lineman Appreciation Day.
Pending the order that,
under rule 3.204, the resolution be referred to the Committee on Government
Operations,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the
members serving voting therefor.
The question being on the adoption of the
resolution,
Senator Singh moved that consideration of the
resolution be postponed for today.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Bayer, Chang, Cherry, Damoose, Geiss, Irwin, Klinefelt,
McCann, McMorrow, Santana, Shink and Wojno were named
co-sponsors of the resolution.
Senator Cavanagh offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 27.
A resolution to designate April 2025 as Financial Literacy Month.
Whereas, The informed use of credit and other financial products and services benefits individual consumers and promotes economic growth; and
Whereas, The Michigan Legislature approved, and Governor Whitmer signed, Public Act 105 of 2022 to provide for a stand-alone financial literacy course requirement for Michigan high school graduates; and
Whereas, Financial literacy education at an early age encourages greater economic self-sufficiency, higher levels of successful homeownership, and enhanced retirement security, particularly among low and moderate income citizens; and
Whereas, Michigan has formally participated in financial literacy programming for years through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations including financial institutions, non-profit groups, government entities, schools, and libraries. The initiative showcases these organizations’ educational resources, strengthens public-private partnerships, engages the media, and connects people with resources to help them better manage their money; and
Whereas, A greater understanding of and familiarity with financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and
Whereas, According to the 2022 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey report by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 13 percent of Americans have a hard time paying monthly bills such as cell phone or utilities, and 11 percent have missed at least one credit card or loan payment in the last year; and
Whereas, Personal financial education and money management skills are crucial to ensure that all Michiganders, especially our young people, are prepared to manage credit and debt and become responsible workers, heads of households, homeowners, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and productive citizens; and
Whereas, Expanding access to the mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure funding options for managing finances and building wealth; and
Whereas, Young people represent Michigan’s single greatest resource who, in the years ahead, will assume leadership positions and responsibility for the advancement of our society; and
Whereas, Financial Literacy Month highlights the commitment of Michigan’s banks and credit unions to strengthen the financial knowledge of our citizens to prepare them for a fiscally responsible future; now, therefore, be it
Resolved
by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body designate April 2025
as Financial Literacy Month; and be it further
Resolved, That we raise public awareness about the importance of personal financial education in Michigan and the United States. This will help address the serious problems that are associated with the mismanagement of personal finances; and be it further
Resolved, That we call on each parent, school, business, financial institution, community organization, and unit of government to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
The question being on
the adoption of the resolution,
The resolution was
adopted.
Senators Anthony,
Bayer, Chang, Cherry, Damoose, Geiss, Irwin, Klinefelt, McCann, McMorrow, Santana, Shink and Wojno were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
Senator Cavanagh
asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the
statement be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Cavanagh’s statement is as follows:
I rise today to ask for your support for a resolution that will declare
the month of April 2025 as Financial Literacy Month in the state of Michigan.
Financial literacy serves to highlight the commitment of financial institutions
to strengthen the financial knowledge of Michigan residents to prepare them for
fiscally responsible futures. Financial literacy is one of the most critical
resources we can provide to our constituents to give them the knowledge and
personal power to make informed financial decisions.
Personal finance education and money management skills are crucial to
ensure that all Michiganders are prepared to manage credit and debt in order to
become fiscally responsible workers, heads of households, homeowners,
investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and productive citizens. Reports
indicated that 40 percent of adults in the United States cannot cover an
expense of $400. To combat these alarming trends, a renewed focus on financial
literacy programs is necessary. This important education begins with Michigan
youth who in the years ahead will hold the responsibility for advancing our
state. Giving them the tools they need now to invest in themselves and their
futures can benefit Michigan as a whole and generations to come.
Therefore, as chair of the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer
Protection Committee, I proudly sponsor and urge support for this resolution to
declare April 2025 as Michigan Financial Literacy Month.
Statements
Senators Klinefelt, Shink and McCann asked and were granted
unanimous consent to make statements and moved that the statements be printed
in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Klinefelt’s statement is as follows:
My dad’s portrait hangs on the wall at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Hall
of Fame because he served as the 40th quartermaster general of the United
States. I was able to visit him over the break. He’s struggling now. This man who
walked five miles a day up until just a couple of years ago—his heart is
failing him.
The reason I bring this up to you today is because, as I reflect on his
life and how proud I am of him, and what we’re going to be going through in the
near future, I have a nagging feeling that if my dad were a Black man—say the
first Black quartermaster general of the United States—that that portrait might
not still be hanging on the wall under this current administration. Even if he
went through the same path and achieved the same accomplishments, if he were
Black, it would be assumed that he didn’t get there based on merit, when in
fact he probably would have had to work twice as hard and achieve twice as many
accomplishments to be where he ended up at in the quartermaster general
position.
We know that Colin Powell’s picture was taken down
from the Pentagon. Jackie Robinson’s history in the military was removed from
the DoD website. And Harriet Tubman, her picture was removed from the National
Park Service—the writing of the Underground Railroad and slavery was redefined.
Some of those things have been restored, but they’ve been restored because they
were famous and they got media attention. The Enola Gay was removed for
a short period of time. Just think of this—we’ve got U.S. government employees
and AI scouring through our websites looking for the words “Black,” “gay,”
“slavery,” and religious terms like religious holidays that aren’t Christian in
nature. We are wiping out United States history. How many of these are
permanently lost because they’re not famous individuals who are getting media
attention? This is a far cry from, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free.”
I believe that there are individuals on the other side of the aisle who
see this and don’t agree with what’s happening. I hope that someday more on the
other side of the aisle will stand up.
Senator Shink’s statement is as follows:
Today, I want to share parts of a letter that
I received from Julius Buzzard, executive director of Growing Hope, a nonprofit
dedicated to strengthening local food systems from Washtenaw County. In recent
weeks, Mr. Buzzard has spoken with farmers in my district and across Michigan
about how the Trump/Musk federal funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture
has impacted them. He wanted to share their stories in detail, but he wasn’t
able to because, as he put it, every single farmer he’s spoken with has expressed
fear of retaliation from our government and has chosen to remain anonymous.
In his letter, Mr. Buzzard explained how he
and other black farmers in this country have faced additional challenges and
systemic barriers to accessing resources, and that the USDA’s latest action
threatened the progress that they have made. But beyond that, Mr. Buzzard
shared in his letter that he spoke with farmers who have lost thousands of
dollars in expected funding. Some had already spent money based on assurances
of reimbursement contracts—legal agreements—and they’re now finding themselves
in financial jeopardy. Others were counting on funds to purchase vital
infrastructure—tractors, irrigation, fencing—that will determine whether they
can stay in operation this year. Many were just beginning to see a shift in
long‑standing disparities, only to now face the prospect of losing
everything. These losses do not just affect individual farmers; they ripple
across families, communities, and future generations, reinforcing the very
inequities we have been fighting to repair.
I’m sharing Mr. Buzzard’s words today to make
sure that you hear the voice of those too afraid of governmental retribution to
speak up, and so that you know the harm that the Republican Musk/Trump
administration is causing that will be magnified by Michigan Republican-proposed
budget cuts. I want you to know the treatment of black farmers in this country
and this state is not race neutral, it’s discrimination. Our hardworking
Michiganders—our farmers, our teachers, and our healthcare professionals—cannot
afford for us to sit by and allow a wannabe king and his court jester, Elon
Musk, to cut federal funding to life‑changing programs, all in the name
of tax breaks for the richest of rich Americans who don’t need one more
penny. I urge you—all of us—to stand up, speak out, and fight for our farmers;
fight for our residents who are responsible for the success of our great state;
fight for the American Dream and our core principles of freedom and respect.
Senator McCann’s statement is as follows:
We often say around and about Kalamazoo, when
you’re an alumnus of Western Michigan University, that it’s a great day to be a
Bronco. It’s been really great days to be a Bronco lately. I just want to
congratulate heartily our hometown Western Michigan University hockey team for
winning the national championship across the country. And you know, it’s been a
riveting season to watch. It’s been the community bursting with pride around
this team and the coaches, and especially this special fan base that we have
called the Lawson Lunatics. They’re the secret weapon. And if you watched any
of the games in St. Louis, you knew that we brought the home team basically to
Saint Louis to cheer them on. So congratulations, Broncos, Western Michigan
University hockey. We’re already seeing many of the players of this team get
signed by the pros, and so I know that certainly I’m proud and the state of
Michigan is proud of this great team.
Announcements of Printing and
Enrollment
The Secretary announced that the following House bills were received in the Senate and filed on Tuesday, April 15:
House Bill Nos. 4013 4179
The Secretary announced that the following bills were printed and filed on Tuesday, April 15, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
Senate Bill Nos. 201 202 203 204
Scheduled Meetings
Appropriations –
Subcommittees –
Corrections & Judiciary – Thursday, April 17, 1:30 p.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373‑2768
EGLE – Thursday,
April 17, 3:00 p.m., Room 403, 4th Floor, Capitol Building (517) 373‑2768
Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety – Thursday, April 17, 12:30 p.m., Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373‑5312
Economic and Community Development – Thursday, April 17, 12:30 p.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373-1721
Labor – Thursday, April 17, 8:30 a.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building (517) 373‑5314
Regulatory Affairs – Wednesday, April 23, 3:30 p.m., Room 403, 4th Floor, Capitol Building (517) 373‑1721
Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 11:44 a.m.
The President pro tempore, Senator Moss, declared the Senate adjourned until Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
DANIEL OBERLIN
Secretary of the Senate