LANSING, Mich., Dec. 20, 2024 — State Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) celebrated her final bill passing into law today to address the staffing crisis in Michigan’s prisons. House Bill 4667 allows corrections officers to opt into the State Police Retirement System pension plan, promising Michigan’s corrections officers a secure retirement. Hill also advocated for the passage of House Bill 5912, which would have eliminated certification requirements that have prevented new corrections officers from entering the field. Combined, these bills are the culmination of Hill’s dedication to solving the ongoing labor crisis in Michigan’s prison facilities.

“After touring the prisons in my district and talking with the hard working men and women who staff these facilities, it is clear that legislative action to provide new incentives for recruitment and retention is long overdue,” Hill said. “It has always been clear that our corrections officers deserve long-term stability and secure retirement. I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for standing with working people across the U.P. and Michigan and for taking concrete action to end this staffing crisis.”

Hill, first elected in 2022, has been a tireless advocate for pension reform, ending sexual extortion, cracking down on human trafficking and supporting corrections workers. Throughout her tenure, she championed bills to support public retirees, ending the corrections staffing shortage in the U.P. and supporting better working conditions for nurses.

“I’m incredibly proud to see some of these important bills cross the finish line,” Hill continued. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the U.P. and fight for the issues that matter most to them. While my time in the Legislature is coming to a close, I am confident that protecting public pensions will leave a lasting impact on Michigan’s future.”

Although Hill did not win reelection this year, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve her community.

“To the people of the Central U.P., I thank you for trusting me to be your voice in Lansing these past two years,” Hill finished. “I may no longer hold this position in office, but I will never stop working for our community, protecting our unique way of life and fighting for the common values we all share.”

###