Capitol and Community Updates

Hi Neighbor,

Last week, the Michigan Legislature passed the final FY 2025-26 General and School Aid budgets. I am excited to share that, after months of pressuring House Republicans to come to the table and negotiate — and refusing to back down from defending critical Medicaid, food assistance and education funding — I voted for a budget that invests in people, looking out for hardworking Michiganders, families, kids and veterans. Read on to learn about my upcoming office hours and to receive more information about the state budget.

I am honored to continue representing and advocating for our community in Lansing. Please feel free to go to my website at RepFitzgerald.com to stay up to date on our work. You can also email at [email protected] or call at (517) 373-0835 to voice your opinion, ask a question or express a concern. My dedicated staff is here to support you and answer any questions you may have.

Respectfully,

John Fitzgerald
Minority Floor Leader

State Representative

House District 83

In this edition:

• Office Hours
• Legislative Update
• Community Update and Resources

Office Hours

I hold office hours twice a month to hear your thoughts, questions and concerns. This is a great opportunity to meet with me in person to discuss the issues that affect our community. I look forward to meeting with you!

When: Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m.

Where: Wyoming City Hall, 115 28th St. SW

Legislative Update

Securing $1 Million for Special Olympics Michigan

It was my honor to testify in the House Labor and Economic Opportunity Committee on Oct. 1 to request $1 million in our state budget to expand Special Olympics Michigan Unified Champion Schools (UCS) to more kids across the state.UCS provides extremely valuable, unifying and welcoming school environments for students with and without intellectual disabilities. Their inclusive sports and leadership programming help students of all learning abilities learn to thrive together, and we know their programming to be an effective tool to reduce bullying. This funding will give students of all learning abilities the opportunity to play sports, build community and gain lifelong friendships and skills.

House Democrats stood our ground to secure investments to build people up. This budget…

• Continues universal school meals so no child goes to class hungry.
• Delivers breathing room to working families, lowering grocery bills by supporting SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks and universal school meals.
• Builds affordable housing and water infrastructure, working to ensure that no veteran, child or any other Michigander has to go without shelter or safe drinking water.
• Invests nearly $2 billion to repair our roads over multiple years.
• Defends state Medicaid funding, helping hospitals keep their doors open and ensuring seniors, kids and our most vulnerable Michiganders have access to health care.
• Invests $95 million in public safety and continues uplifting revenue sharing, so every community can support their unique safety needs.

After introducing the House Dems’ Education Vision in June and a 10-bill legislative package last month to codify critical school meals, school safety and mental health, and transportation funding streams into law, we’re successfully standing up to possible education cuts at the federal level, and the House Republican proposal that moved funding away from universal school meals, literacy support and higher education.

House Democrats delivered a School Aid budget that supports every child’s right to a quality education. This budget…

• Expands the Great Start Readiness Program with removal of income eligibility thresholds.
• Guarantees transportation funding, ensuring busing support for kids in rural areas.
• Provides $200 million for universal school meals.
• Invests $321 million for mental health and school safety grants plus $10 million for community violence intervention programs.
• Includes a 25% increase in funding for at-risk students and English language learners.

While this budget is a hard-fought step in the right direction for Michigan, it is a compromise, and we still have work ahead of us to ensure every Michigander has the support they need to thrive. The reality is that cuts at the federal level have squeezed our funding reserves, and state leaders waiting until the last minute to negotiate unfairly threw our school communities into a period of uncertainty. My work isn’t done — I will continue putting my foot down to defend you, your loved ones and our community.