State Rep. Natalie Price seated alongside her colleague as she testifies in the Regulatory Reform Committee
Dear Neighbor,
I hope that you are staying safe and dry through these spring showers! I’m looking forward to more sunshine in the coming days, as I continue to shine a light on the real issues facing our communities. Whether you are getting involved in your community or taking the time to learn more about local issues, this May brings along new opportunities to connect and reconnect with our neighbors.
I’m also excited to share information on events and updates with you in this latest edition of my newsletter. Also included in this issue are a few resources I hope you find helpful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0823 or email at NataliePrice@house.mi.gov for questions about this or any other state-level issue. You can follow me on Facebook to get regular legislative updates, too. I look forward to hearing from you!
In Service,
Natalie Price
State Representative
6th House District
In this issue:
- District Events
- Birmingham Community Conversation — Thursday, May 22
- Virtual Town Hall — Friday, June 13
- Legislative and District Updates
- State Updates and Resources
- Important Dates
District Events
Community Conversation
Last month, I was joined by my constituents in Huntington Woods for a lively Community Conversation. We had a small group discussion on a variety of state and federal issues impacting Michiganders. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who attended to take part in an important discussion about our community.
My next community conversation will be on Thursday, May 22, in the Rotary/Donor Combined Room at Baldwin Public Library at 5:30 p.m. This community conversation will be a little different from past events as there will be a panel and community discussion regarding the noise on Woodward Avenue. I will be joined by special guests Lori Swanson, the Oakland Transportation Service manager for MDOT, and police chiefs from Berkley and Birmingham.
My office receives a substantial volume of correspondence regarding vehicle noise from throughout my district, we have even heard similar stories from individuals as far away as the U.P. I am always listening and working towards solutions for our communities, and this month my guests will help share information and resources to address the concerns many of our community members are having.
Additionally, my staff has created this Google form to collect your stories about the noise on Woodward Avenue. This will help my office keep track of the information we have received from all of you, and emphasize the real impact this issue has on our communities. If you are planning to attend this event in-person, please indicate your interest here. Space is limited so registration is encouraged. If you are unsure about your ability to participate in-person but you would like to view the discussion, you can register to attend the event virtually over Zoom. I hope that you and your neighbors will join me for this important forum.
Can’t make it to the next in-person event? No problem. My office has created a schedule of upcoming community conversations stretching as far as September. These dates, attached below, will help you plan in advance and save the date for my upcoming community events.
Virtual Town Halls
Like the in-person community conversations, these monthly events will give you the opportunity to connect with my office and catch up on the latest updates from Lansing. The next virtual town hall is scheduled for Friday, June 13, at 11 a.m. over Facebook Live. Virtual town halls take place on the second Friday of every month at 11 a.m. and are saved to my Facebook page for future access. More information about the event will be available through my official social media pages as the date approaches.
Legislative and District Updates
Fighting for Our Values
I am proud to represent the communities of the 6th House District in Lansing. This unique responsibility includes standing up for all of our neighbors regardless of who they are or what they look like. In recent weeks, some of my colleagues in the House have used the privilege of their platform to preach ideologies that go against the very fabric of our societies. Hate in any form does not belong in our homes, schools and certainly not in the halls of government. While my Democratic colleagues and I continue to work on issues affecting all of you at home, it is also crucial that we take opportunities to uplift marginalized communities — not stigmatize groups because of their differences. It is my hope that we will continue to maintain and strengthen the hard-won freedoms that were established by those who came before us, and actively work against systems of hate and oppression.
I will continue to do my part to cut through the noise and speak up for policies that can have real positive impacts on our communities. I also encourage you, as an engaged member of your community, to speak up when you can and push back against divisive narratives. There is still much more work that has to be done to ensure that Michigan remains a great place to live and work. I am eager to continue the work — real work — that our communities desperately need.
Since April, I have been proud to work for you on the following legislative actions:
- I co-sponsored state Rep. Morgan Foreman’s House Bill 4299, which would repeal a 2016 Public Act that restricts municipalities from initiating local bans on plastic containers. This legislation would repeal this act and enable local governments to make necessary decisions to address local plastic pollution.
- I joined my colleagues in co-sponsoring state Rep. Mai Xiong’s HB 4370, which will create a tax credit for textbook purchases made by students. Many students have had to carefully manage tuition and housing costs along with high textbook fees that are required for their education. This new credit will help students put some of their hard earned money back in their pockets.
- I am proud to lend my support to state Rep. Carrie Rheingans’ HB 4407 which will create the MI Care Act. This state-based single-payer healthcare system would ensure that Michiganders have access to affordable care regardless of individual wealth. Michiganders should be able to go to the doctor without worrying about high costs and a complex system of fees, and it is vital to public health that these necessary services remain as affordable as possible.
- This month I co-sponsored state Rep. Phil Skaggs HB 4441, a bill to secure youth employment protections. Many Michigan teenagers are eager to begin their first jobs to get work experience and money for themselves. However, it is important that Michigan teens are protected from unfair employment practices that take advantage of their youth.
- Over the last several months I have been working with healthcare workers, community members and my colleagues to develop legislation to protect hospital workers from violence. Despite their valiant efforts to aid in the healing process of patients and their family members, hospital workers have experienced increasing amounts of violence within the workplace. This legislation will introduce important measures that will deter would-be assailants from harming hospital workers as they work in their professional roles.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all the issues my office is working on. Stay tuned for updates as we continue working on critical legislation.
State Updates & Resources
Michigan Pre-K is Top in the Nation
Michigan’s Great Start Readiness program has met all 10 quality benchmarks set by the National Institute for Early Education Research for the 8th year in a row. This milestone achievement, recognized by the Governor and MiLEAP, exemplifies the strides made by the state to address access to early childhood education. Only five states, including Michigan, have earned this distinction highlighting the example our state has set for early childhood education throughout the country. Click here to learn more.
Enrollment is now open for the 2025-26 school year for children who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1. Visit MIPreKforAll.Org for registration information.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
Since the moment the first Europeans set foot on the land we now call the United States, indigenous people have been persecuted on their own ancestral land. Even today indigenous women experience gender-based violence at devastating rates. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day is part of a broader effort to recognize these disproportionate rates of violence and actively support Michigan’s Indigenous populations. Although the State of Michigan formally recognized May 5 as MMIP Awareness Day, it is essential that indigenous voices are uplifted every day of the year.
To learn more about MMIP and learn more about Michigan’s indigenous populations, click here.
MIOSHA 50th Anniversary
The MI Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is celebrating 50 years of service to Michigan Workers. All Michiganders have the right to safe workplaces that prioritize their health and wellness, but that has not always been the case in the United States. Federal Departments like OSHA, and MIOSHA at the state-level, have been instrumental in securing worker safety. Ensuring that while the state’s economy advances, the workers who power the engine of progress are adequately looked after. To learn more about MIOSHA and find resources for your workplace click here.
Important Dates
Women’s Health Month — May 1-31
Mental Health Awareness Month — May 1-31
Birmingham Community Conversation — Thursday, May 22
Memorial Day — Monday, May 26
Virtual Town Hall — Friday, June 13