Dear Neighbor,
Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including news and resources from your state government.
Hope Hosts First 2025 Coffee and Conversation
I held my first Coffee and Conversation event of the year last Monday at the Sam Corey Senior Center. Thanks to everyone who attended!
I’ll be holding my next Coffee and Conversation event on Monday, March 10, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the South Lansing Library, 3500 S. Cedar St., in Lansing. You can register for the event and share any questions or topics you would like covered here. See you then!
Bills to Expand Access to Birth Control Signed Into Law
Legislation to make birth control more accessible was recently signed into law. My bill, House Bill 5436, would allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense all forms of self-administered hormonal contraceptives, including the pill, ring and patch. House Bill 5435, requires insurance companies to cover pharmacist-prescribed birth control like other prescriptions, making birth control more affordable. I have been working on legislation to allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control since 2021, and I’m proud to see this finally become law.
Jordan D’s Law Enacted Making Sextortion Illegal in Michigan
“Jordan D’s Law” (House Bills 5887 and 5888) recently became law. The new law punishes those who coerce individuals into sending explicit images to extort them for money or other acts under the threat of exposure to friends, family or the public. I sponsored House Bill 5888, which adds these penalties to Michigan’s sentencing guidelines.
While working on this legislation, I had the privilege of meeting Jordan DeMay’s family. Jordan was a popular athlete in his senior year at a Marquette high school when he was allegedly extorted by adult men on another continent. Seventeen-year-old Jordan believed he was chatting with a girl his age when he sent an intimate photo of himself. The men then attempted to extort Jordan for money he did not have; when he couldn’t produce the money, the men threatened to release the photo. Jordan then tragically died by suicide. Since 2021, the FBI has seen a tenfold increase in “sextortion” cases, though it is believed that the humiliating nature of this crime has resulted in significant underreporting.
Democrats Urge Passed Bills to Go to Governor
The fate of the 9 bills — including House Bill 4900 of 2023, my bill to protect public assistance from garnishment — that are being withheld from the governor remains to be determined. It is vital that these bills are sent to the governor for the sake of our legislative process, as outlined in the Michigan Constitution.
Sincerely,
Kara Hope
State Representative
In Case You Missed It…
DNR Plans to Hire Over 1,300 Seasonal Employees
The DNR is hiring over 1,300 seasonal employees. This includes summer park workers, seasonal park rangers, seasonal park interpreters, and nature educators. Find out more information and apply at www.Michigan.gov/DNRjobs.
State of the State Scheduled for Feb. 26, Student Art Contest Announced for SOTS Program
The governor will deliver her annual State of the State address at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The State of the State program’s cover will again feature student art. Students (K-12) are encouraged to submit a design on the theme, “Think Michigan.” Visit michigan.gov/artcontest for more information. Submissions must be received by Friday, Feb. 14.