Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I am most effective at my job when acting on your direct input. I encourage you to reach out to me and my staff with any questions, comments or concerns you may have regarding our community or state and with any policy ideas.
Please do not hesitate to reach out by phone at (517) 373-0822 or send an email to [email protected].
Sincerely,
Angela Witwer
State Representative, 76th House District
In This Issue:
- Weekly Wrap-Ups
- In-District Update
- Legslative Update
Weekly Wrap-Up with Witwer:
Please keep an eye out on my Facebook page for upcoming Weekly Wrap-Ups scheduled in the coming months.
- Friday, July 11, from 10-11 a.m. at Foster Coffee Company, located at 120 W. Hamlin St. in Eaton Rapids.
In-District Update:
Another Successful Healthy Aging Fair Event!
Earlier this month, we hosted our annual Healthy Aging Fair at the Lansing Mall. I provided a legislative update and highlighted the plans for the construction of the new Delta Township senior center that is set to begin later this year. We also had informative presentations from MSU Federal Credit Union and Silvur Insurance.
A huge thank you again to all of the local organizations who set up booths and provided information and resources to members of the community. Also, thank you to everyone who attended this year’s event — we had such an amazing turnout! We hope to see you all again soon!
June Teacher of the Month Winner — Ivy Morey
Congratulations to our June Teacher of the Month winner, Ivy Morey! Ivy is a 4th grade teacher at Winans Elementary.
To quote her nominator, “Ms. Morey is a teacher that brings her full heart and soul to her classroom every day. I volunteer in the school regularly and I watch kids absolutely light up when they see her, even those outside of her own classroom. She meets kids where they are, celebrates their individuality and has an infectious enthusiasm for learning. It has been amazing to see the growth in her students throughout this school year. On the last day of school, many of her students left in tears because they weren’t ready to say goodbye — even kids that have been reluctant learners in the past.”
IONETIX Corporation’s $25.75M Investment in Delta Township
Recently, the governor announced that IONETIX Corporation is investing almost $26 million into an expansion of its Delta Township facility, bringing 53 new high-skill jobs to the Lansing region. IONETIX Corporation is a fast-growing cyclotron company that produces a key ingredient used in cancer-saving therapeutic drugs. The new jobs created through this expansion project will have starting wages of $25 per hour plus benefits, a wage above the regional median wage of $23.68 per hour. I am beyond proud and excited to see Delta Township become home to IONETIX’s mission to accelerate the global effort to cure cancer.
Road Update: M-99 and M-50 from Clinton Road to Durfee Road Resurfacing
MDOT is implementing daily closures on M-99 and M-50 from Clinton Road to Durfee Road for resurfacing in Eaton and Jackson counties. This investment supports 51 jobs and requires daily single-lane closures in both directions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project is expected to end Friday, Aug. 1.
Received Capital Area Housing Partnership’s 2025 Housing Advocate of the Year Award
I received the 2025 Housing Advocate of the Year form the Capital Area Housing Partnership for my efforts to help secure the final piece of funding needed to break ground on the transformation of the historic Walter French School.
Presented Tribute to Dowding Industries for their 60th Anniversary We presented a tribute to Dowding Industries in Eaton Rapids recognizing them for their 60th anniversary.
Presented Certificate for April Small Business of the Month to Darb’s Patio
While in Eaton Rapids, we also stopped by Darb’s Patio to present the April Small Business of the Month award.
Tour of Eaton Clothing & Furniture Center
I went out to Charlotte and joined members of the board of directors and volunteers for a tour of Eaton Clothing & Furniture Center. What a wonderful asset to the community.
Job Shadow at the Capitol
Last week, Evan Schaefer, a high school student from Olivet, job shadowed me and my office in Lansing. He has an interest in state government, so he was able to watch one of my committee meetings, sit in on legislative meetings and attend session with me to meet other state representatives from across Michigan. Evan has plans to attend one of the military academies after he graduates from Olivet. Thanks for joining us, Evan!
Tribute Presentation to Kelly Blake
Last week, I presented Kelly Blake with a tribute on the House floor during session, recognizing her for her 37 years of service to the Waverly community. Kelly has served as the Waverly Community Schools Superintendent for the last eight years and has been a great leader in the area. Thank you, Kelly, for all that you have done throughout your career, and may you and your family enjoy this next chapter!
Participated in Roundtable Discussion with University of Michigan Health Sparrow
Earlier last week, I joined a roundtable discussion with leadership at the University of Michigan Health Sparrow to discuss our legislative priorities and to get an update on their projects in the community.
Legislative Update:
Introduced Resolution Recognizing June 1-7, 2025, as CPR and AED Awareness Week
The House recently adopted my resolution, House Resolution 121, to declare June 1-7, 2025, as CPR and AED Awareness Week in the state of Michigan. The resolution honors the memory of Everson Guild, a 14-year-old who tragically lost his life in 2017 due to sudden cardiac arrest during a routine football practice at Grand Ledge High School. I was joined by Everson’s parents, Laura and Chris Guild, on the House floor as well as his whole family in the House gallery.
Last year, the Legislature passed Public Acts 36 and 37 of 2024, requiring all Michigan schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans and offer training and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) within one to three minutes of a cardiac emergency.
CPR and AED Awareness Week is about ensuring communities understand that sudden cardiac arrest does not discriminate by age or fitness. More than 300 children and young adults lose their lives to sudden cardiac arrest in Michigan every year. CPR training and AEDs are crucial resources that save lives and which all athletes, parents and coaches need access to. I’m proud to see this legislature reaffirm our commitment to keeping school sporting and other community events safe. The way we honor lives lost is through action — that is what we will continue to do.
Thank you again to the Guild family for joining me at the Capitol for the passage of this resolution.
Committees:
- Health Policy Committee met last week to take up bills regarding how driver license suspensions are handled after a driver suffers an epileptic seizure, to reinstate Michigan’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, and to allow the examination and evaluation of contact lens renewals to occur via telemedicine. We also heard testimony on bills regarding speech-language pathologists receiving Medicaid reimbursement for audiological rehabilitation and speech-language therapy services as well as entering Michigan into the Licensed Professional Counselors Compact.
- Regulatory Reform Committee met last week to take up bills allowing a county’s legislative body, by resolution, to submit by ballot a question on permitting certain alcohol sales; amending the definition of “food service establishment” to exclude certain rental halls; and allowing the owner of a motor vehicle repair facility to operate an auxiliary facility under the same registration as the primary facility under certain circumstances.
- Rules Committee met last week to take up bills allowing law enforcement officers to use oral fluid testing as evidence of impairment during roadside testing, reducing the penalty amount by the maximum rate against an employer for failing to report a workplace injury or death under certain circumstances in a timely manner, and providing police powers to the Great Lakes Water Authority.
Session:
Last week in session, the House took up:
- House Bill 4396, which would allow individuals or organizations to request juvenile records from the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) or an individual court for research purposes. Currently, records kept under the act may not be accessed or used by any person or entity (including court staff and law enforcement officials) for any purpose other than deciding whether to divert a minor. Under the bill, upon submission of a records request, SCAO and the interested parties would be required to agree to a negotiated data use agreement designed to safeguard or redact personally identifying information contained in any released juvenile records. The bill would also allow SCAO to charge a requesting individual or organization to cover costs incurred from processing these research requests, as well as exempt data and records provided under the agreements from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
- House Bill 4426, which would eliminate the current requirement that an individual be at least 21 years old to transport hazardous materials in an amount that requires the vehicle to be marked or placarded under federal regulations, in a commercial motor vehicle in Michigan. Under the bill, an individual 18 or over could, with the proper training and endorsements, operate a commercial vehicle transporting hazardous materials. This would apply only to hazmat transportation entirely within Michigan.
- House Bill 4403, which would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to approve alternating proprietorship operations for distillers and mixed spirit manufacturers in accordance with federal regulation.
- House Bill 4417, which would amend the Public Health Code to require that if the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services distributes an opioid antagonist at no cost in Michigan, it must also provide opioid antagonists directly to a life support agency for the purpose of equipping a life support vehicle. The opioid antagonists would have to be provided at no cost upon the request of the life support agency.