Hello Friends,
As the newly elected representative for House District 15, I am proud to serve you all here in Lansing. My time may be shorter than most state legislators, but I will be making the most of it while I am in this position. I have already introduced House Bill 6228, which you can read more about below. Additionally, I have co-sponsored several bills and resolutions that were introduced by my colleagues. I am hoping to introduce several more bills, on which my staff is currently conducting research. In the meantime, I plan to be active in the community this summer as the Legislature moves into an in-district work period. With school out, there are many events and activities for families to do throughout the district. You can find information for several listed in the Community Events section below. Finally, I have included information for several resources that I believe will be helpful for this month and beyond.
If you want to stay involved and up to date on what’s happening in Lansing and the district, there are a few different options available to you. You can visit the House website to view our weekly session meetings or any committee meetings you might be interested in. You can also stay updated by visiting my website.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out. You can email me at any time at JeffPepper@house.mi.gov or call my office at (517) 373-0847.
Best,
Jeffrey Pepper
Legislative Updates
My Introduced Legislation:
House Bill 6228: Bipartisan-supported legislation that bans the sale, possession and use of 3D “ghost guns” in the state of Michigan.
Co-Sponsored Legislation:
House Resolution 298: A resolution to urge Congress to pass legislation to recognize the critical role of direct support professionals.
House Resolution 307: A resolution to support access to contraception for all individuals in the state of Michigan.
House Bills 6146–47: Requires paid fall prevention training for nursing staff.
Passed the House, awaiting Senate vote
House Bill 6042: Allows for school districts to submit critical incident mapping data to local law enforcement as part of its school safety procedures.
House Bill 6020: Creates a student mental health apprenticeship retention and training (SMART) internship grant program. Grants would be available to certain individuals enrolled in graduate-level mental health professional programs interning in public schools.
Awaiting Governor’s Signature:
House Bill 5890: Amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to provide the needed flexibility to enable more municipalities to apply for funds to implement much-needed infrastructure developments and stormwater and sewage system updates.
- Signed into law
Ballot Proposal:
Mere minutes after being sworn into office, the first legislation I voted on was House Joint Resolution R, which seeks to modify term limits for state legislators. While this joint resolution shortens the total serving time from 14 to 12 years, it expands the time in which a legislator can serve in each chamber. Legislators can now serve up to six two-year terms in the House and three four-year terms in the Senate. You can expect to vote on this issue in November.
Signed by the Governor:
Public Acts 83-85 of 2022: Create an Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund and Opioid Advisory Commission
Public Acts 77-78 of 2022: Raise the limits on awards granted through the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund
Helpful Resources
Cooling Centers
The city of Dearborn’s Department of Public Health has provided residents with a series of resources and recommendations amid the extreme heat over the past month, including a list of cooling centers that are currently available. There are five cooling center locations across the city and all locations are open during regular business hours. The locations are:
- The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.
- Bryant Library, 22100 Michigan Ave.
- Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave.
- Esper Library, 12929 W. Warren Ave.
- Dearborn Police Department, 16909 Michigan Ave.
Dearborn Park Amenities
There are many amenities offered at parks throughout the city, including spray parks, tracks, basketball courts, play equipment, picnic areas and more. The graphic below shows the amenities listed for each park:
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Outdoor Pool Hours
Outdoor pools throughout the city are open for the summer and are a great place for families to cool off during the heat.
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Veterans seeking assistance or just needing to talk are welcome to the VRC. The center is available every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the 3rd Floor Meeting Room (M33) of the Henry Ford Centennial Library.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, a representative from Disabled American Veterans will be available.
On Thursdays, a representative from the Vietnam Veterans of America will be available.
On Fridays, a representative from the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be available.
Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, fill in the following Google Form.
Services for Seniors
Dearborn’s Senior Services Center is located within the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. Senior Services organizes daily activities for Dearborn seniors, as well as day trips, group activities and extended trips. They also oversee several support groups and social services for seniors and caregivers. More information on Senior Services can be found on the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center website: https://dearbornfordcenter.com/seniors
Library Hours and Events
Your local library is a wonderful resource for community engagement, continuing education and participating in activities for all ages. A list of events taking place at the Dearborn Public Libraries in the month of July can be found by visiting the website.
The main Henry Ford Centennial Library is located at 16301 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn and can be reached by phone at (313) 943-2330. It is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Friday through Saturday.
The Bryant Branch Library is located at 22100 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn and can be reached by phone at (313) 943-4091. It is open 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Esper Branch Library is located at 12929 West Warren in Dearborn and can be reached by phone at (313) 943-4096. It has the same hours as the Bryant Branch Library.
Coffee Hours Events
This month, we will not be having any Coffee Hour events. However, our office is still available if you have any questions, comments or ideas to share. You can usually reach someone in our office Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. We are also more than happy to share resources via email or through the mail.
Community Events
Kids Day
Enjoy family-friendly activities, including lively music, an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, balloon sculptures, face painting or airbrush tattoos, comedy, magicians, jugglers, clowns, and more.
Located at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn)
On Friday, July 8, from 2-7 p.m.
Movie Night: Ford v. Ferrari
Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to enjoy Downtown Dearborn’s free Summer Movie Series. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and settle in for a fun night. Movies begin after dusk, with the movie to start as soon as the night sky allows.
Located at City Hall Park (13621 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn)
On Friday, July 15, from approximately 8:30-11 p.m.
Friday Nites Music: Infinity & Beyond – A Journey Tribute Band
Take in the sights of summertime fun and enjoy popular musical entertainment, cuisine from local restaurants, games, kids’ activities and more. The event is open to the public, and there is free parking available in public lots and decks.
Located at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn)
On Friday, July 22, from 5-10 p.m.
Movie Night: Encanto
Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to enjoy Downtown Dearborn’s free Summer Movie Series. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and settle in for a fun night. Movies begin after dusk, with the movie to start as soon as the night sky allows.
Located at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn)
On Friday, July 29, from approximately 8:30-11 p.m.
Farmers and Artisans Market
Carefully selected vendors sell only seasonal, local, Michigan-produced farm products and goods, and feature a wide variety, including fresh flowers & produce, artisan baked goods, cheeses and meats, soaps, woodworking, pottery, and much more.
Located at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn)
Every Friday from 2-7 p.m.
Tunes at Noon
Enjoy free lunchtime concerts every Tuesday from noon until 1 p.m. Guests can bring their lunch or carry-out to listen to a wide selection of acoustic performers. The specific performers, locations and dates are listed below:
Larry Arbour at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn) on July 5
Suzi Marsh at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn) on July 12
Lexi Jones at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn) on July 19
Dearborn School of Music at Muirhead Plaza (22100 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn) on July 19
AJ Lynn at Wagner Park (22060 W. Village Drive in Dearborn) on July 26
Darian Berro and the Empty Bottles at Commandant’s Quarters (21950 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn) on July 26
Larry Arbour at Pocket Park (22054 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn) on July 26
I hope this information has been helpful to you. If there is anything further I can do, please reach out.
All the best,
Jeffrey Pepper