Hello,

I hope you are finding a way to stay warm as we experience all that a Michigan winter has to offer. In this e-news, I will be letting you know about my upcoming community conversation, the expansion of Rx Kids into Detroit and the cellphones in schools bill that recently passed the House. I will also be providing an update on the status of halted work project funding.

Community Conversations

I have many community conversations planned for the upcoming year. Community conversations are chances to meet with me in the district where we can discuss any concerns you may have and talk about what has been happening in Lansing. The first of these is in early February.

  • Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Oak Park Library, 14200 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park, MI 48237

Rx Kids Expansion

Recently elected Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced that within the first 100 days of her administration, Rx Kids will be expanding to the city of Detroit. Rx Kids is a program that currently supports 28 communities across Michigan. This program distributes cash payments to expecting parents to strengthen their financial stability during the early months of their child’s life. This program is already in place in our district in Royal Oak Township and is expected to support one-third of all births in Michigan this year. This expansion would not have been possible without collaboration between state and local leaders, and I am thrilled that this program is now coming to Detroit! 

Cellphone Usage in Schools 

Last week, House Bill 4141 involving cellphone use in schools passed the House with strong bipartisan support. HB 4141 addresses how addictive cellphones are and the negative impact they can have in the classroom. During my time as a teacher, I saw this issue firsthand with students struggling to learn and pay attention. Arguments started online would often spill into altercations during the school day. Michigan’s K-12 public school students will now be prohibited from using their cellphones during class time. There are a few exemptions, including permission to use cellphones during non-instructional time, emergencies and lessons where devices are pertinent to use as directed by the teacher. Local districts are also permitted to pass more strict restrictions than what is outlined in the bill. This bill has now passed the Senate as well and just needs the Governor’s signature to become law. As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I was proud to help work on and improve this legislation, and I hope that it will soon become law. 

Recent Updates on Project Funding Cuts 

Back in December, House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee voted to cut $645 million that had been previously approved to fund dozens of work projects across the state. These cuts led to projects around our state facing uncertainty about whether they would receive funding that was already promised by the state. Two weeks ago, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a formal opinion that this legislative disapproval mechanism was unconstitutional. House Republicans contested this opinion by filing a lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims, which has blocked further spending of the disputed funds for the time being. This court case is ongoing, and no final decisions have been made. There are several local projects in our district that may be impacted, and I am working with the State Budget Office to get more information on the status of these critical projects and programs.