Capitol and Community Updates

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
• Legislative 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, April 10, from 10-11 a.m. at Eaton Rapids City Hall, located at 200 S. Main St.
• Friday, April 24, from 10-11 a.m. at Charlotte City Hall, located at 111 E. Lawrence Ave. #1573
• Friday, May 8, from 10-11 a.m. at the Delta Township Building in Public Meeting Room A, located at 7710 W. Saginaw Hwy.
• Friday, May 22, from 10-11 a.m. at Eaton Rapids City Hall, located at 200 S. Main St.

In-District Update:

February Teacher of the Month — Shayna Green
Congratulations to our February Teacher of the Month winner, Shayna Green! Shayna is a 5th grade math and social studies teacher at Hayes Intermediate School in Grand Ledge.

To quote her nominator, “Ms. Green stands out by making learning meaningful, rigorous and student-growth focused. She turns complex concepts into engaging, real-world experiences, helping students see how numbers explain their world and how history and civics shape their role in it. She maintains high expectations and deep care, builds confidence, curiosity and critical thinking in every child — especially those who doubt themselves. She fosters a love of learning, laying a foundation that strengthens not just individual students, but the future of our communities and democracy.”

Congratulations again and thank you for all that you do for the Grand Ledge community!

March Teacher of the Month Nomination Form
March is here, and our office is taking nominations for District 76’s Teacher of the Month program. Follow the link above to nominate a teacher you believe should be recognized as an outstanding teacher in our district!

Certificate Presentation to Kristen Toadvine at Charlotte High School
I recently visited Charlotte Public Schools to present Kristen Toadvine with her January Teacher of the Month award. Kristen was nominated for her patience, understanding, kindness and passion for teaching. Congratulations again, Kristen! Thank you for everything you do to support your students and the community in Charlotte!

Walk Through of the Senior Center in Delta Township Last Week
Last week, I was joined by Delta Township and Waverly School officials as well as some constituents from Savvy Seniors to tour the construction of the new senior center at Colt Elementary in Delta Township. The project is still on time and is set to open this fall.

Read to Potterville Elementary School to Kick Off March is Reading Month

I started off March is Reading Month activities at Potterville Elementary School reading to 330 students.

Spoke at Charlotte Optimist Club Youth Appreciation Event
I spoke at the Charlotte Optimist Club’s Annual Youth Appreciation Event in Charlotte on Monday evening. Over 80 students were recognized from schools in Charlotte, Potterville and Maple Valley. Congratulations to all of the students on your recognitions!

Spoke at Eaton Rapids Teen Space Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
I was excited to speak at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Eaton Rapids Teen Space Center. This new building was a result of my efforts to secure $3 million in the state budget when I was the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

Presented Tribute to Kelley Flynn at Eaton County Central Dispatch
I recently visited Eaton County 9-1-1 to present Eaton County Central Dispatch Director Kelley Flynn with a tribute from the State of Michigan. Kelley was awarded the Michigan Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) 2025 President’s Award.

This award is presented annually to a Michigan APCO member who has made outstanding contributions in the public safety communications profession. Kelley has served as the Michigan APCO Awards Committee Chair for the past five years, leading the planning and coordination of the annual awards dinner and ceremony that recognizes excellence across Michigan’s 9-1-1 community. Kelley also services as co-chair of the Michigan Public Safety Telecommunications Annual Conference.

Thank you, Kelley, for your service and leadership in Eaton County!

Presented Tribute to Constituent Michael Armitage
I recently presented my constituent, Michael Armitage, with a tribute from the State of Michigan at my coffee hour event in Charlotte. Michael serves as the Calhoun County 9-1-1 Michigan Executive Director, and he was recently recognized with the 2025 Michigan APCO Public Safety Communications Center Director of the Year award.

Michael has led Calhoun County’s consolidated 9-1-1 center since 2021. Michael oversees a team of more than 30 professionals who answer over 185,000 calls each year and dispatch services for 10 law enforcement agencies, 20 fire departments and 3 EMS providers.

Congratulations again, Michael, and thank you for your service and commitment to improving public safety!

Presented Retirement Tribute to Connie Sobie

I recently joined Chairman Jim Mott and other Eaton County leaders to honor Connie Sobie. After nearly 38 years of dedicated service, I honored Controller/Administrator Connie Sobie with a state tribute.

I’ve really appreciated the open, bipartisan work we have been able to do to put people over party.

Connie will be missed and we wish her all the best.

Legislative Update:

Sponsored Resolution Declaring Feb. 28, 2026, as Rare Disease Day
I recently introduced and spoke to my resolution declaring Feb. 28, 2026, as Rare Disease Day in the state of Michigan. One in ten Michiganders live with a rare disease, and the resolution honors the individuals and families navigating these conditions who have long advocated for greater representation in medical research, funding to increase diagnosis and access to care and public awareness.

While rare diseases are uncommon, awareness and reliable access to care should not be. Rare Disease Day is a time to recognize the experiences of the thousands of our neighbors in Michigan living with rare conditions everyday. These individuals are underrepresented in medical research and often can’t even get a diagnosis or adequate care. On Feb. 28 and beyond we acknowledge their continued strength, and recommit to ensuring every person can receive the health care they need.

During my speech, I highlighted the stories of individuals like Mighty Max Majewski, a bright four-year-old boy living with an ultra-rare disease called Childhood-Onset, De Novo Spastic Paraplegia Type 4 (SPG4), and his family, who have given him unconditional support. His mother, Liz Majewski, has committed to a life of advocacy at the Lilly and Blair Foundation where she’s helped advance research, elevate the voices of rare disease families and build pathways for collaboration between scientists, clinicians and parents. I honored their stories as I acknowledged a group of families navigating rare diseases who attended the session from the balcony of the House floor.

The story of young Max and his mother, Liz, shows what it means to do everything in your power to ensure a bright future for your child, and for families across our state. It is important to recognize all the parents, family members and loved ones of individuals with rare diseases who are truly the foundation of their care. They deserve to know that their state leaders won’t allow them to continue shouldering the fight for more funding, diagnosis and care alone. This resolution is about honoring, but it is also a call to action.

Thank you to state Rep. Mike Mueller for joining me in this effort.

My Bill Increasing Funding Access for County Fairs, 4-H Orgs Passes House
My bill recently passed the state House that will support county fairs and 4-H organizations through increasing the cap for deposits into the Michigan Agriculture Equine Industry Fund (AEIDF). I sponsored HB 4346, which would gradually increase the annual deposit cap of the AEIDF from $3 million to $15 million by fiscal year 2027-28, using revenue from the internet gaming and operator tax.

I am encouraged by the House’s passage of my bill to increase funding amounts to the AEIDF, and I hope to see this critical progress for county fair programs in Michigan cross the finish line. Michigan is home to a hardworking horse training and racing industry that deserves to see our support to set them up for future economic growth. This package incentivizes that growth and paves the way for further agricultural investments in our homegrown family stables and farms.

I developed the package alongside state Rep. Tom Kunse, whose HB 4367 redistributes the allocation of funds for fair, thoroughbred and research programs. The bills are indicative of my longstanding track record of supporting Future Farmers of America (FFA) and other 4-H programs, joining my most recent effort to expand Eaton County students’ access to the programs with my bill, HB 4665, allowing excused absences for FFA and other 4-H events.

Coming from a farming family myself, it’s always been one of my top priorities to ensure the future of Eaton County’s family farms. That means making sure students have open and supported access to critical agricultural learning programs like FFA and 4-H events, and getting those organizations the funding they need to give back to our state. That’s at the core of this package as well, and what I will continue to work to bring home to protect our family farms.

I joined state Reps. Kunse, Meerman and Snyder to Introduce Bipartisan Package to Modernize Michigan’s Drain Code
Last week, I joined a bipartisan group of legislators to introduce bills to modernize Michigan’s Drain Code.

We must prioritize updating the drain code in order to reduce confusion around what it means to call and petition the drain commissioner; updates would also ensure the process of financing and updating drainage systems is more transparent and fairer to residents. Families and homeowners in Eaton County have already experienced the financially devastating impacts of receiving assessments for the reconstruction work on the Bank Intercounty Drain and all the other many drains in our district. I’ve had numerous calls and conversations with community members asking for help and clarification, and I am serious about ensuring these updates cross the finish line to bring that transparency to them.

Testified Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor & Economic Opportunity
During National FFA Organization Week, we welcomed Eaton RESA superintendent Sean Williams and Doug Pennington, Olivet FFA teacher to join me in testifying at the House Appropriations Committee for investment in FFA, a very important future agriculture leadership program.

Agriculture is our second largest industry in Michigan and I have worked since my first year to learn and appreciate the work in this industry and in Eaton County.

Yvonne Attended Appropriations Subcommittee on Local Government Meeting Regarding the Michigan Native American Boarding School Study
Our district is very fortunate to have outstanding employees who work hard to meet the needs of our constituents. Yvonne grew up in Eaton County and has assisted with many constituent issues over the years.

Yvonne recently attended the Appropriations Subcommittee on Local Government, where testimony was heard regarding the Michigan Native American Boarding School Study. As one of the only Native Americans in the legislature, Yvonne has firsthand knowledge of this history, as her grandfather was taken from his home and placed in a boarding school.

A special thank you to state Rep. Will Snyder for taking the time to review the report thoroughly and ask important questions. We hope there will be additional testimony in the near future.