Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter!

Included in this issue are important updates, along with a few resources, I hope you find helpful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0844 or email at NataliePrice@house.mi.gov for questions about this or any other state-level issue. Feel free to also follow me on Facebook to get regular updates as well.

In Service,

Natalie Price
State Representative
5th House District

In this issue:

  • Upcoming Events
    • Community Conversation — July 17
  • Legislative Update
    • Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses
  • State Updates & Resources
    • MDHHS Medicaid Redeterminations
    • Skip Waits on the Phone for Tax Refund Statuses
    • Students, Families Encouraged to Apply for Michigan Achievement Scholarship
    • Treasury: Applicants Wanted for Home Heating Credit
  • Other News
    • Detroit launches Dead, Dangerous, and Diseased Tree Program
  • Important Dates

Upcoming Events

July 17 — Community Conversation
Please mark your calendars for Monday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. My office will be hosting a community conversation at the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham. I will be joined by special guests state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and state Rep. Sharon MacDonell. We will be giving a legislative update as well as answering questions from the community. Feel free to attend and talk to us about any issues or concerns you may have.

Legislative Updates

Price Introduces Bill to Extend Property Tax Relief for Disabled Vets, Surviving Spouses

LANSING, Mich., June 7, 2023 — State Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley) introduced legislation to give more disabled veterans access to property tax relief. House Bill 4724 would allow veterans rated as 100% disabled, or a surviving spouse if the veteran is deceased, to claim an income credit against their full property taxes if they rent or lease their homestead. Currently, only veterans and spouses who own their home can make this claim.

“The needs of our disabled veterans don’t change whether they own or rent their home. Whatever their living situation, all 100% disabled veterans deserve this relief,” Price said. “This was an oversight in the original legislation, and I’m proud to introduce a bill to fix it.”

On Veterans Day of 2013, Public Act 161 was signed into law after it passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously. It allowed veterans who the federal Department of Veterans Affairs rated as 100% disabled to claim a full exemption of their annual property taxes. HB 4724 will use the same formula that renters currently use to calculate their percentage of property tax for the purposes of claiming the Homestead Property Tax Credit to determine the full amount of their income tax exemption.

“The way this legislation is crafted means that the beneficiaries of property taxes — local governments and schools — will not lose any revenue with the expansion of this truly deserved tax relief,” Price said. “This is a win-win for the veterans who were injured in the course of their service and the communities they call home. I look forward to working hard to see this bill signed into law.”

State Updates & Resources

MDHHS Medicaid Redeterminations
Recent federal changes could affect health care coverage for those on Medicaid.

During the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), many changes were made to the Medicaid program’s eligibility, administration, and policies to ease rules for providers and prevent Medicaid beneficiaries from losing health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, Michigan will restart Medicaid eligibility renewals in June and amend certain waived policies that were in place during the pandemic.

To find out more information and to check your eligibility, please visit: Medicaid Benefit Changes (michigan.gov)

Skip Waits on the Phone for Tax Refund Statuses

Tax refunds should be going out or have already gone out to Michigan residents who filed their taxes. Most taxpayers do not need to wait in long call lines to check their statuses. By using information from your tax returns, you can look up your refund status quickly and easily online at eServices.

Unlike Treasury’s call lines, eServices is ready 24/7 and is always at your fingertips. It can save a huge amount of time. With this important resource, taxpayers can also write directly to the Department with questions, change their addresses, and so much more.

If you are having trouble receiving your tax returns, feel free to reach out to my office and we will assist you as best as we can.

Students, Families Encouraged to Apply for Michigan Achievement Scholarship
State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks is encouraging Michigan students and their families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so they have the opportunity for assistance available from the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or certificate of completion or who have achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after will be eligible for more financial aid from the state of Michigan:

  • Up to $2,000 if they attend an eligible training provider in Michigan, per year, up to two years.
  • Up to $2,750 if they attend a Michigan community college, per year, up to three years.
  • Up to $4,000 if they attend a Michigan private college or university, per year, up to five years.
  • Up to $5,500 if they attend a Michigan public university, per year, up to five years.

Completion of the FAFSA is required to be considered for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. To get started with the FAFSA, go to FAFSA.gov.

Additional information about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship is available at Michigan.gov/MIStudentAid.

Treasury: Applicants Wanted for Home Heating Credit

Michiganders who need help with their energy bills can now apply for the Home Heating Credit, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury (Treasury).

Low-income, deaf, disabled or blind persons, disabled veterans, and senior citizens may qualify for the Home Heating Credit. Applicants are not required to file a Michigan individual income tax return to receive the credit.

Individuals can apply for the Home Heating Credit electronically through the e-File system.

Forms and instructional materials are available on the internet at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax or by calling (517) 636-4486. Forms are also available at many libraries, Northern Michigan post offices, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) offices across the state.

All applications for the credit must be received by Sept. 30, 2023.

Over the last five years, around 257,500 claimants each year have received the Home Heating Credit, with an average credit of $209.

Additional information can be found on the Home Heating Credit website. For more information about resources available for heating assistance, go to Michigan.gov/HeatingAssistance.

Other News

Detroit Launches Dead, Dangerous, and Diseased Tree Program; New Initiative to Help Residents Clean up Trees in Neighborhoods across the City

The City of Detroit announced the launch of the Dead, Dangerous, and Diseased Tree program, which will allow residents to report trees on their private property they feel need to be trimmed or removed. If the trees qualify, they will be trimmed or removed, with no charge to the resident.

While the City has always been responsible for maintaining the trees between the sidewalk and streets, some residents require financial help to handle the dead, damaged, or diseased trees on their private property. Officials say the safety of residents was the city’s first consideration when creating the new program.

How will the program work:

If a resident believes they have a dead, dangerous, or diseased tree on their private property, they can call (313) 224-4444 or go to the Department of Neighborhoods website and submit a request. After the request is processed, a tree inspector will evaluate the tree to see if it is indeed dead, dangerous, or diseased. If it qualifies, the city will schedule a contractor to come out and do the trimming or removal.

Important Dates

June:

  • June 18 — Father’s Day
  • June 19 — Juneteenth
  • LGBTQ+ Pride Month
  • Gun Violence Awareness Month
  • Immigrant Heritage Month
  • Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

July: 

  • July 17 — Community Conversation with Rep. Price