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Dear Neighbor, I am honored to serve as the state representative for the 29th House District and proud to be a strong advocate in Lansing for our community. Please encourage your friends and family to stay connected and subscribe to this e-newsletter. It will keep you up to date on legislation and policies coming from the Capitol, as well as my coffee hours and other virtual and in-person community events. In Service, State Rep. Brenda Carter, 29th House District In this Issue:
Oxford: A Time for Healing My heart breaks for everyone affected by the mass shooting at Oxford High School. As a former school board member, I know that schools are the foundation of our community. It’s time for us to come together to express our condolences, ensure all of our students feel safe during this difficult time, and rebuild that foundation. Insurance Sunset Information I recently introduced House Bill 5626 to extend the amnesty period of penalty-free auto insurance for uninsured drivers until Jan. 1, 2023. The amnesty period was part of Michigan’s auto no-fault insurance reform. We are not out of the pandemic yet, and many people are still struggling to make ends meet. During these difficult times, it is now more important than ever to keep new policyholders from entering high-risk pools or being charged high penalties and premiums. Extending the amnesty period shows the people of this state that we in Lansing see them, hear them and will always look out for their best interests. Virtual Meetings Sunset State Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and I introduced legislation to protect the public’s health and ensure local governments can continue operating safely as Michigan faces another deadly wave of the coronavirus, which is being compounded by the recent arrival of the omicron variant in the state. Senate Bill 705 and House Bill 5608 would allow local governments to continue to conduct virtual meetings until March 31, 2022. The Michigan Legislature has amended the Open Meetings Act (OMA) multiple times during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow virtual meetings. However, on Dec. 31, the allowance of virtual meetings for a statewide or local state of emergency or state of disaster will end, and local governments will be required to meet in person beginning Jan. 1, 2022. Tribute Information We all know there are individuals and organizations that deserve special recognition for the tremendous work they do to serve our communities and our state. If you know of an individual or organization that has truly gone above and beyond for their neighbors, you may fill out the form at this link to request an official state tribute so that we may all show our full appreciation for their efforts. *Fun Fact* Blue-bordered tributes originate in the House, and red-bordered tributes originate in the Senate! Community Issue Survey I want to hear from you! What issues matter most to you and your family? I ask that you please fill out this survey. The survey will be open from Dec. 29 – Jan. 28. Once the survey period has ended, I will publish an anonymous graph indicating which topics were selected. Your responses will help me be a better, more effective representative in Lansing. |
