Dear Neighbor,

Hi, I’m Jason, and I have the privilege of serving as your state representative for Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland counties. Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including some updates and news from your state government.

I am so excited to share what we’ve been up to the last couple of weeks in Lansing. It’s been jam-packed with exciting progress and, most importantly, getting stuff done!

 

Expanding Renters’ Rights

I’m thrilled to announce that House Bills 4062–63 and Senate Bills 205-207, aimed at ending housing income discrimination, have successfully passed out of the House! This legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer Conlin, state Sen. Jeff Irwin, state Sen. Mary Cavanagh, state Sen. Rosemary Bayer and me, ensures that all individuals, regardless of their income source, receive equal housing opportunities. By expanding the Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act and amending the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, we are taking significant steps to protect veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and those receiving various forms of assistance from biased treatment in real estate transactions.

As we eagerly await a Senate vote, I want to thank all of our constituents and the more than 40 organizations that helped support and advocate for this legislation. We are now closer than ever to making this vital protection law, ensuring fair housing access for all Michiganders.

Protecting Free, Fair and Safe Elections

My colleagues and I are working hard to protect the will of voters. I sponsored House Bill 5573, which is part of a package of election bills that just passed the House. Together, these bills ensure that no political actor can make an unlawful claim to power.

Here’s how they work:

  • Misleading recall petitions rob voters of their right to make free and informed decisions about who represents them. By increasing the amount of petition review time, House Bill 5550 ensures Michiganders see only factual and understandable petitions.
  • A safe election means all votes are counted and verified before an elected official takes office. House Bills 5699-5702 give election workers enough time to certify the results and protect against unlawful claims to office, safeguarding our elections.
  • Ballot proposals must be legal. House Bills 5571-76 modernize the signature verification process for petitions and protect against fraudulent signatures.

 

 

Recognizing Merchant Mariners

Last week, my House Bill 4723 overwhelmingly passed the House and is now on the way to the governor’s desk! This legislation adds a Merchant Marine license plate option for individuals who were or are currently a member of the United States Merchant Marines.

 

 

While Michigan has honored every branch of our military services, there is currently no plate to honor our Merchant Mariners, who have been an important part of Michigan’s economy and military aid since the original French fur traders and now into the modern day with Great Lakes cargo vessels.

 

Passing A Historic Budget

Michigan Democrats are making investments to create stable families, hometowns and schools you can depend on. With a focus on community revitalization, public safety, housing and education, this locally focused budget puts people over politics — it’s getting the work done to make Michigan a place where people want to live, work and raise a family. Michigan is a hometown state, so we’re ensuring yours is strong.

Here are a couple highlights from the FY 24-25 budget:

    • $100 million toward local-level housing programs across the state that can be tailored to specific needs.
    • Tens of millions in increased funds for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
    • $1 million in state aid to community libraries.
    • $1.8 million in grants to community-based organizations that provide training and programming on new extreme risk protection orders and safe storage laws.
  • And more!

Yours in service,

State Representative Jason Morgan

Michigan’s 23rd House District