Gun dealer licensing bills, savings accounts for Michiganders with disabilities, and more

Gun dealer licensing bills, savings accounts for Michiganders with disabilities, and more

E-Newsletter | May 5, 2026 | Rep. Kara Hope

Dear Neighbor,

Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including news and resources from your state government.

The Senate version (SBs 853 and 854) of my legislation to create a state-level gun dealer license in Michigan was recently heard in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee. Gun dealers in Michigan would be required to get this license to sell firearms. I introduced this legislation (HB 5065) in the House last year, and I testified in support during last week’s committee.

Gun sellers in Michigan are required to be licensed at the federal level. However, the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has historically lacked the resources or staff to perform inspections. Only 9% of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) are inspected during the course of an average year. Some sellers have not been inspected in over 10 years.

The gaps at the federal level leave an unacceptable public safety risk for our communities. Other state legislatures have recognized the danger created by lax federal oversight and enforcement, and in response, they have created their own licensing systems for retail gun sellers. These state licenses have proved effective in reducing gun thefts.

Under my proposed legislation, license holders would be required to:

• Perform background checks on all employees as a condition of their employment.
• Complete annual training covering their security obligations, reporting obligations, and best practices to avoid straw purchases. Employees must also complete the training.
• Report any lost or stolen guns or sales they suspect are straw purchases to law enforcement within 24 hours.
• Increase security measures, including requiring an alarm system and a video surveillance system; guns and ammunition must be secured.
• Renew their license every year. If a dealer does not renew their license, they must reapply.

Stolen guns are far more likely to go on to be used in other crimes. This legislation will help keep firearms out of the hands of bad actors while holding gun dealers accountable.

The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday on whether the Michigan House of Representatives is required to send nine outstanding bills passed last term to the governor. This is in response to the Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives’ December appeal of an October Court of Appeals ruling that the nine bills passed last term, but never sent to the governor, must be formally presented to her. The October decision affirmed a February 2025 Court of Claims ruling that the House must present the bills to the governor; however, the court of claim did not order that the bills be presented.

The nine withheld bills would benefit Michigan’s working families. They include bills to lower healthcare costs for public employees; add corrections officers and other state employees to the Michigan State Police’s pension system; and protect certain assets — including the Earned Income Tax Credit — from garnishment. I sponsored the garnishment legislation to keep families in debt from facing extraordinary hardship (House Bill 4900 of 2024). HB 4900 takes on even greater urgency as Michiganders face greater uncertainty with rising costs and changes to SNAP benefit eligibility.

The Michigan Supreme Court will issue a decision in the coming months. A recording of the arguments can be viewed here.

I recently co-sponsored legislation (House Bills 5922 and 5923) to allow disabled Michiganders to name a beneficiary to their MiAble Disability Savings Program account. MiAble allows Michiganders with disabilities to save for disability-related expenses while staying below the income and asset limits for Medicaid-funded supports and services. Beneficiaries and their families invest their own money into these accounts.

Currently, when a MiABLE beneficiary dies, any leftover funds in the beneficiary’s account must be used to reimburse the state for the Medicaid expenditures. These bills would remove that requirement, giving MiAble account holders the option of naming a successor beneficiary.

The Greater Lansing Food Bank’s mobile food pantry will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 549 E. Mt. Hope, in Lansing on Wednesday, May 13, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This event is open to the public and identification is not required. The distribution may end early if food runs out. Organizers ask that participants do not line up more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. For more information, call the Greater Lansing Food Bank at (517) 853-7800.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Potter Park Zoo is offering free admission this Sunday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The zoo is located at 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., in Lansing. Find more information to plan a visit at potterparkzoo.org.

Follow my official Facebook account for the most up-to-date information. E-news contains a lot of good information, but it takes several days – up to a week – to get it approved and sent.

Sincerely,

Kara Hope
State Representative
House District 74

You can receive help getting identification, food, shelter, mental health care, and rehabilitation services every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Lansing Library, 3500 S Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48910. This service is available through a partnership between the Capital Area District Library and Advent House to offer drop-in basic needs assistance. A member of Advent House’s Street Outreach team will be available to assist. More information is available here.