State Representative
Julie Brixie
Okemos | 73rd House District
Serving 91,543 constituents in Locke Township, Leroy Township, White Oak Township, Stockbridge Township, Bunker Hill Township, Ingham Township, Wheatfield Township, Williamston, south Meridian Township, south East Lansing, Alaiedon Township, Mason, Vevay Township, Leslie, Leslie Township, Onondaga Township, Aurelius Township
juliebrixie@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-0218
Office: N-1092 House Office Building
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Julie Brixie
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Stay Connected with
Julie Brixie
It's not every day you get two hearings at the exact same time!
I managed to testify today on my bill in the BRITE Act package in the committee on Ethics and Oversight, answer questions, book it downstairs to the House Committee on Natural Resources and testify on another bill to make the Recreation Passport an opt-out model.
My BRITE Act bill requires elected officials and candidates to disclose when they are affiliated with dark money accounts. In recent years, we've seen numerous investigations into these accounts that showed bad actors taking bribes, funding lavish trips and/or circumventing donor disclosure laws for ballot proposals.
Our constituents expect us to implement higher standards for ourselves. This is an important first step in shining a bright light on fundraising, restoring trust in our democracy and putting the public back in the forefront of government policy.
My Opt-Out bill modernizes the Recreation Passport model to address the fact that parks useage in Michigan has skyrocketed since the pandemic. I am thrilled more MIchiganders are outdoors enjoying our natural resources - but we need more funds to keep up with increased staffing and maintenance needs.
This bill, along with my colleague, Rep. Mentzer's legislation, creates the opt-out model, updates the allocation formula to distribute more funding to local parks, allows Michiganders to donate extra to our parks when they renew their license and provides free state park access for veterans.
Michigan’s stunning natural resources offer something for everyone, whether it’s winter sports, summer sports, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking - our parks have so much to offer. By investing in them, we attract people to communities across Michigan and encourage them to contribute to local economies.
Both bills were voted out of Committee today!
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The FAFSA is open!
I encourage all high school seniors and those currently pursuing higher education to apply.
When making decisions about your future, you should know exactly what financial assistance is available. It's free to apply and doing so might open up opportunities at public or private colleges and trade schools that would otherwise be out of reach.
We're trying to make college and career training more affordable so that every Michigander can achieve their desired career pathway.
For example, every recent MI high school graduate is eligible for tuition-free community college regardless of their family income. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship offers even more opportunities at community colleges, universities or trade schools - but you won't know what you're eligible for unless you fill out the FAFSA!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was wonderful celebrating the recipients of this year's Okemos Education Foundation Awards, especially when my own kids can attest to their teaching abilities!
Congratulations to Commitment to Excellence Recipients:
Susie Black
Susan Long
Niki Mann
Jody Noble
Karen Sanders
Amanda Whittico
Special Recognition Award Recipient Tina Harmon
Dean Bolton Volunteer Award Recipient Erica Boyan
& Distinguished Alumni Award Tyler Oakley
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
I held a media roundtable yesterday discussing my bipartisan legislation that would close the dark stores tax loophole.
This is an unfair property tax evasion strategy used by big box stores to lower the amount they pay in property taxes. The big box stores argue that the property value of their fully operational stores should be based on sale prices of vacant, shuttered stores.
Using this theory, a big box store like Costco or Menards could be a $20 million dollar brand new investment in a community that is taxed the same as a shuttered Kmart and pays less per square foot in taxes than small mom and pop shops.
But brand new big box stores do not have the same value as vacant stores because retailers place deed restrictions on their stores when they sell them that prevents them being used by any competitors. This creates blight in our communites because these buildings that are only fit to be a big box store sit empty.
Retailers across our state are using this loophole to avoid paying billions of dollars in property taxes that directly support our schools and local communities and the services we rely on everyday.
This is a bipartisan issue impacting every community in our state - and it's only getting worse as new types of businesses begin taking advantage of the loophole. I'm hopeful this legislation will pass before the end of the year.
Legislators hope to end ‘dark stores’ tax loophole in lame duck session • Michigan Advance
michiganadvance.com
It’s an issue that has been discussed for years, with previous attempts at a solution falling short, but lawmakers and local officials are hoping to gain passage in the next few weeks of bipartisan ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
I am so proud to have received the MSU Extension Key Partner Award this year!
I have been a proud supporter of MSU Extension throughout my entire career, but especially these last two while serving as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
We were able to champion a new program that partners scientists with farmers to develop sustainable solutions that ensure they can continue growing their specialty products while our climate changes. This is a win-win for us all that keeps our farmers afloat and keeps local food on our tables.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
This week, I'm proud of the House for voting on some important firearm safety legislation, including Safe Schools Safe Homes, the bills introduced by Rep. Sharon MacDonell and I that require schools to notify parents of the safe storage requirements that went into effect this year.
We know that safely securing firearms to keep them out of the reach of minors is one of the best ways we can prevent accidental gun deaths and other tragedies. Education is also crucial to helping gun owners who are new parents fulfill their responsibility to safely secure firearms. It's up to all of us to protect our communities from preventable tragedies.
We also passed Reps. Tsernoglou and Young's package that prohibits firearms inside of polling locations and absentee counting board locations. These bills ensure voters are free from intimidation while exercising their civic duty.
House Dems Pass Firearm Safety Legislation - housedems.com
housedems.com
Bills encouraging safe storage in homes, prohibiting guns from polling places pass the House State Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) speaks on the House Floor in support0 CommentsComment on Facebook
History is being made right here in Michigan — the Palisades nuclear plant is set to be the first ever reactor to be restarted! Since we set a goal for our state to be carbon neutral by 2040, we've also worked to diversify our energy sources and be a leader in clean energy.
This plant is expected to create 600 new jobs, power 800,000 homes and provide a healthier planet for us all.
www.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2024 – As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agric...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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Julie Brixie IN THE NEWS
Brixie, Mentzer Legislation Increases Funding to State Parks
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 5, 2024 — The House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee passed House Bills 5428, [...]
BRITE Act Sees Movement in Committee
State Reps. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), right, and Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township) testify in the House Ethics and Oversight Committee [...]
Brixie Attends Roundtable on Her Legislation to End Tax Loophole
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 26, 2024 — State Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township) attended a roundtable last week to discuss a [...]
It's not every day you get two hearings at the exact same time!
I managed to testify today on my bill in the BRITE Act package in the committee on Ethics and Oversight, answer questions, book it downstairs to the House Committee on Natural Resources and testify on another bill to make the Recreation Passport an opt-out model.
My BRITE Act bill requires elected officials and candidates to disclose when they are affiliated with dark money accounts. In recent years, we've seen numerous investigations into these accounts that showed bad actors taking bribes, funding lavish trips and/or circumventing donor disclosure laws for ballot proposals.
Our constituents expect us to implement higher standards for ourselves. This is an important first step in shining a bright light on fundraising, restoring trust in our democracy and putting the public back in the forefront of government policy.
My Opt-Out bill modernizes the Recreation Passport model to address the fact that parks useage in Michigan has skyrocketed since the pandemic. I am thrilled more MIchiganders are outdoors enjoying our natural resources - but we need more funds to keep up with increased staffing and maintenance needs.
This bill, along with my colleague, Rep. Mentzer's legislation, creates the opt-out model, updates the allocation formula to distribute more funding to local parks, allows Michiganders to donate extra to our parks when they renew their license and provides free state park access for veterans.
Michigan’s stunning natural resources offer something for everyone, whether it’s winter sports, summer sports, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking - our parks have so much to offer. By investing in them, we attract people to communities across Michigan and encourage them to contribute to local economies.
Both bills were voted out of Committee today! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The FAFSA is open!
I encourage all high school seniors and those currently pursuing higher education to apply.
When making decisions about your future, you should know exactly what financial assistance is available. It's free to apply and doing so might open up opportunities at public or private colleges and trade schools that would otherwise be out of reach.
We're trying to make college and career training more affordable so that every Michigander can achieve their desired career pathway.
For example, every recent MI high school graduate is eligible for tuition-free community college regardless of their family income. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship offers even more opportunities at community colleges, universities or trade schools - but you won't know what you're eligible for unless you fill out the FAFSA! ... See MoreSee Less
Federal Student Aid
studentaid.gov
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Photos from Blondie's Barn's post ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was wonderful celebrating the recipients of this year's Okemos Education Foundation Awards, especially when my own kids can attest to their teaching abilities!
Congratulations to Commitment to Excellence Recipients:
Susie Black
Susan Long
Niki Mann
Jody Noble
Karen Sanders
Amanda Whittico
Special Recognition Award Recipient Tina Harmon
Dean Bolton Volunteer Award Recipient Erica Boyan
& Distinguished Alumni Award Tyler Oakley ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
I held a media roundtable yesterday discussing my bipartisan legislation that would close the dark stores tax loophole.
This is an unfair property tax evasion strategy used by big box stores to lower the amount they pay in property taxes. The big box stores argue that the property value of their fully operational stores should be based on sale prices of vacant, shuttered stores.
Using this theory, a big box store like Costco or Menards could be a $20 million dollar brand new investment in a community that is taxed the same as a shuttered Kmart and pays less per square foot in taxes than small mom and pop shops.
But brand new big box stores do not have the same value as vacant stores because retailers place deed restrictions on their stores when they sell them that prevents them being used by any competitors. This creates blight in our communites because these buildings that are only fit to be a big box store sit empty.
Retailers across our state are using this loophole to avoid paying billions of dollars in property taxes that directly support our schools and local communities and the services we rely on everyday.
This is a bipartisan issue impacting every community in our state - and it's only getting worse as new types of businesses begin taking advantage of the loophole. I'm hopeful this legislation will pass before the end of the year.
... See MoreSee Less
Legislators hope to end ‘dark stores’ tax loophole in lame duck session • Michigan Advance
michiganadvance.com
It’s an issue that has been discussed for years, with previous attempts at a solution falling short, but lawmakers and local officials are hoping to gain passage in the next few weeks of bipartisan ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
I am so proud to have received the MSU Extension Key Partner Award this year!
I have been a proud supporter of MSU Extension throughout my entire career, but especially these last two while serving as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
We were able to champion a new program that partners scientists with farmers to develop sustainable solutions that ensure they can continue growing their specialty products while our climate changes. This is a win-win for us all that keeps our farmers afloat and keeps local food on our tables.
... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
This week, I'm proud of the House for voting on some important firearm safety legislation, including Safe Schools Safe Homes, the bills introduced by Rep. Sharon MacDonell and I that require schools to notify parents of the safe storage requirements that went into effect this year.
We know that safely securing firearms to keep them out of the reach of minors is one of the best ways we can prevent accidental gun deaths and other tragedies. Education is also crucial to helping gun owners who are new parents fulfill their responsibility to safely secure firearms. It's up to all of us to protect our communities from preventable tragedies.
We also passed Reps. Tsernoglou and Young's package that prohibits firearms inside of polling locations and absentee counting board locations. These bills ensure voters are free from intimidation while exercising their civic duty.
... See MoreSee Less
House Dems Pass Firearm Safety Legislation - housedems.com
housedems.com
Bills encouraging safe storage in homes, prohibiting guns from polling places pass the House State Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) speaks on the House Floor in support0 CommentsComment on Facebook
History is being made right here in Michigan — the Palisades nuclear plant is set to be the first ever reactor to be restarted! Since we set a goal for our state to be carbon neutral by 2040, we've also worked to diversify our energy sources and be a leader in clean energy.
This plant is expected to create 600 new jobs, power 800,000 homes and provide a healthier planet for us all.
... See MoreSee Less
Biden-Harris Administration Bringing Back Clean Nuclear Energy, Creating Clean Energy Union Jobs Across The Midwest
www.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2024 – As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agric...0 CommentsComment on Facebook