Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to my e-newsletter! I’m honored and humbled to serve as our community’s voice at the Capitol in Lansing. As we continue into the term, rest assured that the challenges families in our community and state are facing are at the top of my legislative priorities. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0837 or email at AmosONeal@house.mi.gov if we can help.
Sincerely,
Amos O’Neal
State Representative, 94th House District
In this issue:
- Events
- Community Conversation – April 20
- Town Hall – Good Time Credits Legislation
- Saginaw to Host Memorial Cup
- Regional Housing Kickoff – April 3
- Legislation
- HB 4308 – Sickle Cell Fundraising License Plates
- HB 4274 – Revenue Sharing Trust Funds
- HB 4138, 4142 and 4143 – Gun Legislation Sent to Gov. Whitmer
Community Conversation
On April 20 at 6 p.m., we will host another Community Conversation On Facebook Live! I will first give a brief legislative update. After that, Antonio Jackson from Jumble Firewood will join me as my special guest to talk about issues relevant to small businesses and recently released individuals re-entering society.
We hope to save some time for Q&A, so come with questions! You can join us on Facebook Live by clicking here or searching @StateRepAmosONeal.
I hope to see you there!
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Town Hall – Good Time Credits Legislation
I am planning to introduce a package of bills in April that would provide a system of credits to be earned by incarcerated individuals who demonstrate behavioral change in measurable ways. This will incentivize rehabilitation for those who make an effort to improve themselves and re-enter society as transformed people.
Michigan is one of only six states in our country that does not offer our incarcerated citizens a good time policy. Out of all 50 states, the largest part of our state budget is spent on corrections. It is long past time we do more to help this problem.
Shortly after its introduction, we are planning a town hall to discuss the bills and answer any questions. Please save the date for April 24 and join us for this conversation!
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Saginaw to Host Memorial Cup
I am thrilled with the recent announcement that the Saginaw Spirit hockey team will host the Canadian Hockey League’s 2024 Memorial Cup tournament at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw.
The tournament will take place from May 22 to June 3, 2024. This is the first time in its104-year history that the Memorial Cup will be hosted in Midwest America. It is an honor for Saginaw to host this prestigious sporting event, andI am excited for our city and the sense of community spirit this tournament will cultivate. During this event, we will uphold the traditions of our Canadian neighbors’ most treasured sport. I am eagerly wishing the Saginaw Spirit hockey team the best of luck and look forward to Saginaw’s commitment and enthusiasm for putting on a wonderful and well-planned series of championship games. I can’t wait to watch the teams play.
Regional Housing Kickoff April 3
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority will soon kick off its regional housing partnership, where you can learn about the role our region can play in the implementation of Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan. Affordable housing is such a huge issue that needs tackling at all levels of government, and I am excited to see an opportunity for the Great Lakes Bay Region.
While there are many opportunities around the state, the closest event for our community will be on Monday, April 3, in Bay City. This will be a chance for everyone to participate in a facilitated work session to start laying the groundwork for the formation of a formal Regional Housing Partnership, and learn how this collaborative process can support the advancement of the plan.
These partnership meetings align with Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 2022-10, which called for the formation of a Statewide Housing Partnership to facilitate a coordinated, data-driven, outcome-oriented approach to housing to help create policies and programs that enable Michigan residents to secure affordable housing.
Register online at cedamichigan.org, and please share this information with anyone that you think should attend! We need more voices in our community and now is our chance to be heard.
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HB 4308 – Sickle Cell Fundraising License Plates
Recently, I was honored to continue the work of a legislator before me when I sponsored and introduced a bill to create a fundraising license plate recognizing sickle cell disease education and treatment.
Thousands of Michigan’s children would benefit, not only from the revenue generated, but also from the highly visible show of public support the license plate would create.
HB 4274 – Revenue Sharing Trust Funds
Another amazing bipartisan package that I was honored to work on with my colleague Rep. Mark Tisdel was also introduced this month. This package would Establish a “Revenue Sharing Trust Fund” in the Department of Treasury beginning in October.
State revenue sharing began in the 1930s when Michigan started taxing enterprises that held licenses for alcoholic beverages. At that time, the state returned 85% of liquor license tax collections to the municipalities of origin. As time passed, however, Michigan’s revenue-sharing base changed.
These two bills aim to preserve resources used to fund revenue sharing. Through the concept of a “Revenue Sharing Trust Fund,” our locals can dedicate general sales tax revenue into a restricted fund to distribute those resources to cities, villages, townships and counties.
HB 4138, 4142 and 4143 – Gun Safety Legislation Sent to Governor
The bills that we have been working so hard on recently that deal with safe storage of firearms and universal background checks on gun purchases have finally been sent to Gov. Whitmer’s desk for a signature into law.
The bills kept the House and Senate very busy these last few weeks, and I am so proud of what our state legislators have passed. Unsecured guns pose clear safety risks, particularly to children. Yet more than half of all gun owners store at least one gun without any locks or other safe storage measures. Safe storage laws, like House Bills 4144 and 4139, are incredibly effective tools to curb gun deaths and injuries among children and teens. The time for action is now.