Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my monthly Capitol and Community Updates e-newsletter! As your state representative in the 103rd Michigan Legislature, it has been a pleasure to provide these regular updates on my legislative work in an effort to be as transparent and informative as possible for constituents like you. In this issue, you will find information on my upcoming office hour, a legislative update, news on funding coming to our district, grant opportunity information, resources for how my office can assist you and more!

Neighbors and friends in House District 103 are encouraged to also sign up for these updates at my website, RepCoffia.com. You can reach my office by phone at 517-373-3817 or by email at [email protected]. Be sure to check out the latest on my social media platforms as well. As this legislative session continues, I welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out if my team and I can ever be of assistance to you!

In Service,

 

Betsy Coffia

State Representative

House District 103

Upcoming Events

Please join me at my upcoming office hour, where I will give a legislative update and answer your questions about the issues facing our state and our community. These events are a great way to find out what policies I’m working on and to share your ideas and concerns with me!

October Office Hour

When: Monday, Oct. 12, from noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Traverse Area District Library

(610 Woodmere Ave., Traverse City, MI 49686)

Legislative Update

Below you will find highlights of recent legislative action. As always, legislation I have sponsored or co-sponsored this term can be found here. Real-time updates on my legislative work can also be found here.

Getting Corporate Money Out of Politics

In July, state Sen. Sean McCann and I introduced bicameral legislation to curb the effects of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. I introduced House Bills 6216–6218 and House Joint Resolution Z, while Sen. McCann introduced Senate Bills 1085–1087 and Senate Joint Resolution L.

The Citizens United decision reversed what were mostly century-old campaign finance restrictions and enabled corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited amounts independently to influence elections. “Fun” fact: As of June, nearly one-third of all corporate political spending on federal elections since Citizens United has occurred in the current 2026 election cycle. Our legislation would use the state’s authority to define the powers of corporations and effectively limit untenable corporate spending in Michigan elections and its undue influence in our politics, returning that power back to the people and protecting our democracy. More information on the legislation is available here.

Expanding FOIA to Legislature & Governor

Last month, state Rep. Erin Byrnes and I introduced Senate-backed legislation to help bring greater transparency to state government. The legislation, House Bills 6299–6300, would require the Michigan Legislature and governor’s office to comply with the state’s existing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) law, providing Michiganders with greater ability to hold their state leaders accountable. More information on the legislation is available here.

Michigan remains one of only two states in the nation that exempt state lawmakers and the governor’s office from being subject to FOIA public records requests. Michigan also currently ranks near the bottom of all states in government integrity. It is long overdue that we expand FOIA to include those of us who are responsible for passing laws that over 10 million people must live by and for overseeing a state budget of over $80 billion in taxpayer funds. Our bills mirror Senate Bills 1 and 2 of 2025, bipartisan legislation that was passed by the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support (33-2) at the beginning of the term, but have languished in the House Government Operations Committee since January 2025.

Data Centers Roundtable w/ Special Guest MI Attorney General & Township Officials

Last month, I co-hosted a roundtable with special guest Michigan Attorney General to learn how rural communities are considering and responding to the state’s recent influx of hyperscale data center proposals. At this roundtable, we were joined by several township officials in Grand Traverse County, including special guests Acme Township Supervisor Doug White, Garfield Township Supervisor Chris Barsheff, Garfield Township Planning Director John Sych, East Bay Township Supervisor Beth Friend and East Bay Township Planning and Zoning Director Claire Karner.

Shutting Down Line 5

On Aug. 26, I joined Indigenous leaders from across the state on the steps of the Michigan Capitol to call for the governor to honor her commitment and finally retire the 73-year-old Line 5 pipeline once and for all. An abridged version of the remarks I gave are as follows:

“This was a promise [the governor] made to the people of Michigan, all 10 million of us, and more importantly, the Great Lakes that need to be here long after each one of us has walked on.

I believe in second chances, and so governor […], you need to understand something: you get a second chance now.

You get a second chance because you failed in July by pressuring [the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy] to approve Enbridge’s request to build a tunnel. What a betrayal of the people of the state of Michigan. What a betrayal! But you get a second chance because the Supreme Court reeled it back in.

My message for [the governor] is this: the flag of our state says ‘Tuebor.’ That is Latin for ‘I defend.’ [governor], your job when you lead this office is to defend the Great Lakes, to honor the treaties, to remember that water is life, and to use your considerable power to shut down Line 5.

Make sure, governor, that your legacy is not one covered in oil and lies. 

Shut down Line 5. Honor the treaties.”

State Rep. Betsy Coffia speaking on the steps of the Michigan Capitol on August 26.

MDOT Letter

In June, I sent a letter to Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Bradley Wieferich urging the timely completion of the Beitner Road Bridge repair project. The spring’s severe weather and flooding significantly impacted our communities, leaving folks displaced from their homes amongst extensive infrastructure damage, including to the Beitner Road Bridge. In May, I joined the Grand Traverse County Road Commission, Drain Commissioner, Sheriff, and my colleagues — state Rep. John Roth and state Sen. John Damoose — to view the flood-damaged areas in Grand Traverse County for myself. I had also been in regular communication with impacted residents who had reached out to my office. 

I want to thank the Grand Traverse County Road Commission for their advocacy for a timely replacement of the Beitner Road Bridge. My team and I were glad to hear that MDOT got the project back on track within two days of the road commission flagging the delay and receiving my letter. The letter is linked here and included below.

Interlochen Investigation

In August, I sent an open letter to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor encouraging her office to accept the Michigan Attorney General’s offer to provide state resources to assist in the ongoing criminal sexual conduct investigation at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. I have made this letter public in the interest of transparency on a matter of grave public concern. The text of the letter is available here.

Expediting Tax Refunds

Dozens of constituents have reached out to my office to report delays in receiving their 2025 tax refunds. In response, my team and I have been in touch with the Michigan Department of Treasury to request updates, identify tax filing and processing issues and resolve individual cases.

If you need assistance with your 2025 tax filing, please reach out to my office at [email protected]. 

Treasury is encouraging taxpayers to continue monitoring their refund status through eServices as well as their Tax Year 2025 Return Processing Updates that outlines the filing season’s progress, common reasons some returns take longer to process, and important guidance for taxpayers checking their refund status. More information can also be found at the Tax Year 2025 Information page.

Additional Updates

Funding Coming to the 103rd District

I am thrilled to announce that our communities, businesses and organizations in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties in the 103rd House District have recently been awarded the following state and federal grant and credit funding:

  • Lakeview Hill Organic Farm – $99,744: MDARD has also awarded this funding through the Underserved, Value-Added, Regional Food Systems and Supply Chain Grant program to increase year-round production of organic produce by constructing new climate-controlled hoophouses. This project will help create one full-time and one part-time job.
  • Grand Traverse Conservation District – $123,600: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded this funding through the Fisheries Habitat Grant program for the Boardman River woody habitat project. The program supports a variety of projects, including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair and resource assessment studies.
  • Catholic Human Services Inc. – $375,000: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has awarded this funding to support community-based programs that help prevent substance use among school-age children. Benzie and Leelanau counties are included in the service area.

Grant Funding Opportunities

Current state and federal grant, loan, scholarship and credit opportunities include:

  • MCBC Research & Education Grant: MDARD’s Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) is seeking proposals for the 2027 research and education grant program to strengthen Michigan’s craft beverage industry. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Oct. 9.
  • Recovery Support Services Grant: MDHHS is offering this grant to Recovery Community Organizations (RCO) or a Recovery Community Centers (RCC) to expand recovery services for individuals seeking long-term recovery from substance use disorders. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Oct. 9.
  • Invasive Species Grant: This grant program — a joint effort of the DNR, MDARD and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) — is a statewide initiative to help prevent, detect and control invasive species in Michigan. Applications are due on Nov. 1.
  • Fuel Transformation Grant: EGLE is offering this grant opportunity aimed at reducing diesel emissions and accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation technologies across the state to help reduce harmful air pollutants and improve public health in communities across Michigan. Eligible applicants include both public and private entities located in Michigan. Applications will be accepted first-come, first-served until all funding has been awarded.
  • Opioid Settlement Matching Initiative: MDHHS is inviting local governments receiving opioid settlement dollars to propose joint projects to address substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, reduce overdose risk, expand treatment access and support long-term recovery. The initiative encourages coordinated investment to strengthen community impact and extend the reach of opioid state and local settlement dollars. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Apply for Home Heating Credit by Sept. 30!

The Home Heating Credit is a way the State of Michigan helps low-income families pay some of their heating expenses if they are a qualified Michigan homeowner or renter. You can complete the Home Heating Credit Claim to see if you qualify for the credit. The deadline for submitting this form is Sept. 30, 2026.

The credit is based on income (total household resources), household size and a comparison between either your standard credit allowance or your actual heating costs. Given that each taxpayer has unique circumstances that determine their eligibility for the credit, the Michigan Department of Treasury encourages you to review the information here and/or contact a tax professional if you have additional questions. 

Apply for State Boards and Commissions

The governor makes appointments to nearly 250 statewide boards and commissions. These appointments are opportunities for Michiganders to engage with their state government on the issues they care about and represent their expertise and communities at the state level.

Vacancies can be viewed online. Each board listed includes the number of total members, number of vacant seats and specifications for each vacancy.

E-News Archives, Publications and Recognitions

My e-news archive is available on my website here.

State publications on various topics — including veteran benefits, senior resources and taxpayer support — are also available here. Physical copies of any of these publications can also be mailed to you by emailing my office with your request!

Do you know someone in the district who is retiring and would like a legislative tribute to celebrate their years of service? Has a local team or group reached a milestone that they would like to be acknowledged with an official certificate for each member? Our office can provide legislative tributes, letters and certificates on a wide range of recognitions for constituents, community support organizations and local small businesses. If you would like to request any of these materials for yourself or others, please fill out this form or email my office at [email protected]. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will work with you to arrange delivery or presentation of the recognition!