Capitol and Community Updates

Hello Friends,

Welcome to the early-July issue of my e-news. This will be my last e-news until after Aug. 4 due to a mass communication blackout period for members of the Michigan House of Representatives. My team and I want to take a moment to wish you a safe and fun summer!

This month, we celebrated Juneteenth to honor the ancestors of Black communities whose incredible sacrifices paved the way for freedom. It was a meaningful moment to reflect and enjoy the community.

On the legislative front, my colleagues and I are hard at work in Lansing to pass a responsible, balanced Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for Michigan by the July 1 deadline. Stay tuned in to my social media — more details on the FY27 budget are coming up soon.

As always, if my office can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us via email at [email protected].

Wishing you a safe and exciting summer this year!

Warm regards,

Ranjeev Puri

Democratic Leader

24th House District

In this Issue:

• Upcoming Time with Ranjeev
• Legislative Updates
• What We’ve Been Up To
• Resources
• Community Events

Members of the Michigan House of Representatives are prohibited from using state resources for mass communication from July 6 through Aug. 4. During this restricted period our office will not be sending out e-newsletters. However, our constituent services remain strong and you can reach us at [email protected] or call my office at (517) 373-0113 if you have any questions.

Community Conversations

Due to the mass communication blackout period mentioned above, and a slower agenda due to summer recess, we will resume coffee hours later in the summer. Stay tuned for more information in August!

FY27 State Budget

My colleagues and I are all-hands-on-deck to get this budget passed by the July 1 deadline. Recently, the House Speaker has announced that a framework for an agreement of the FY27 state budget is signed as negotiations with the governor and Senate majority leader still continue. My top priority remains delivering for Michigan families, from lowering the cost of living to investing in the local infrastructure our communities depend on every day.

Tri-Share Child Care Benefit Program

The MI Tri-Share Child Care program administered by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) splits the cost of licensed child care equally between Michigan employers, employees and the state. This supports employer recruitment and retention by reducing childcare costs by two-thirds for eligible employees while increasing access to quality care for children.

That being said, there is pending legislation from the House (HBs 6034, 6035 and 6043) that would codify and support continued growth of Tri-Share Child Care Benefit Program, so that parents can be assured that their children are safe. My office will be closely monitoring the progress of these bills, as my priority is for families to have safe and affordable care for their children.

The House Passes Bills that Mandate Literacy Training for Teachers

Last week, the House passed HBs 5697 and 5646 to strengthen literacy education across Michigan. These bills would require state-funded science of reading training for K-5 teachers who teach reading, and mandate that faculty at educator preparation programs also receive this training. The science of reading is an evidence-based approach that prioritizes phonics and is  strongly supported by researchers in neuroscience and linguistics. This is an exciting step toward building a stronger foundation for literacy in future generations of Michigan students.

Learning Experience Opening

This month, I had the great honor to participate in cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of The Learning Experience in Canton! The Learning Experience offers quality preschool and daycare programs for ages 6 weeks to 6-years-old. Early childhood education is so important, and the passion and dedication behind this program truly shows. I am excited to see the wonderful impact The Learning Experience of Canton will have on our community!

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month

On June 4, the governor signed a proclamation declaring June as “Gun Violence Awareness Month” in Michigan along with Executive Order 2026-13, which re-establishes the Michigan Gun Violence Task Force under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This task force will work to identify the root causes of gun violence and help Michiganders feel safe in their communities.

I also had the opportunity to attend Gun Sense University 2026 in Washington, D.C., where I had the privilege of learning from survivors and advocates from across the country. The experience deepened my commitment to ending gun violence and creating safer communities for all.

Scouts Visit the Capitol

On June 9, hundreds of scouts from across Michigan gathered at the State Capitol, and I had the wonderful opportunity to welcome some of them onto the House floor for a Q&A session. Scouting builds incredible life skills — including leadership, teamwork and civic responsibility — and it was truly inspiring to see so many young people engaged and curious about how their government works.

EMGAGE Legislative Day at the Capitol

On June 18, I had the honor of speaking with students and staff from EMGAGE, an organization dedicated to empowering Muslim youth to engage in civic dialogue. Many of the students hail from Canton, and I felt a deep sense of pride seeing young people from our community show up, speak up and represent a broader community of Black and Brown Michiganders. Joined by my fellow colleagues, state Reps. Donavan McKinney and Alabas Farhat, we had a meaningful conversation about representation in government and our responsibilities as legislators. I look forward to continuing this important dialogue with EMGAGE in the future.

Canton Pride Outside

On June 25, I celebrated Pride OUTside at the Heritage Park Amphitheater in Canton, a wonderful way to kick off the Thursday Night LIVE Concert Series and celebrate LGBTQ+ pride with our community! This year also marks 11 years since marriage equality became law, a milestone that reminds us how far we have come and why we must continue to work toward equity for everyone. The event was free and welcoming to all, featuring family-friendly activities, local vendors and community resources. It was a powerful and uplifting evening centered on visibility, inclusion and unity.

Business of the Month

Congratulations to Sugar’D, our Business of the Month! Sugar’D is more than just a bakery, it is a place where creativity and artistry truly flourish. From their fun cake decorating events open to anyone, to the stunning custom cakes crafted by owner Sarah Debs. We are so glad to have them in our community, and we wish Sarah and the entire Sugar’D team continued success.

Midweek Munchies

Wednesdays, June 24-Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Summit on the Park (east parking lot near the Splash Playground)

Why make lunch when you can come out to the Summit each Wednesday this summer and sample yummy munchies from various food trucks? The Midweek Munchies program features a different truck each week and is open to everyone.

Jazz in the Park 

Wednesday, July 15, 6-8 p.m. at Preservation Park

This July, the Village Arts Factory invites you to kick back, relax and soak in the sounds of summer at Jazz in the Park — a lively Wednesday-evening concert series set in beautiful Preservation Park. Enjoy live jazz performances in an open-air park setting. While the music sets the mood, families can explore a themed, hands-on art activity for kids each week — making this a perfect outing for music lovers of all ages. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab a bite to eat, let the kids get creative and enjoy an evening where art, music and community come together under the summer sky.

Canton Ignites the Night 

Thursday, July 9, 6:30-10:45 p.m. at Heritage Park

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in Heritage Park with live music and entertainment, food trucks, beverages, culminating in a community fireworks show!

Family Movie and Camp Out 

Friday, July 17, 6-10 p.m. at Heritage Park (near the Amphitheater)

Plenty of fun activities will be available starting at 6 p.m. before the showing of Zootopia 2 at dusk. Online pre-registration is encouraged at the Canton Parks, Recreation & Community Services website. Set-up begins on Friday at 5 p.m. Tents and RVs are both welcome. Participants will also get to use metal fire rings for the full camping experience.

Protect Yourself from Heat-Related Illness

Summer is well underway, bringing extreme temperatures along with it. When it’s very hot, there’s an increased risk of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can worsen and cause heat stroke or even death.

To stay healthy during these record high temperatures, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Drink more fluids and avoid liquids with large amounts of sugar or alcohol.
• Limit outdoor activities to when it’s coolest in the morning and evening.
• Spend time indoors with air conditioning.
• Check to make sure your air conditioner filters are clean, and the unit is working properly.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored loose-fitting clothing.
• Wear sunscreen, as sunburn affects the body’s ability to cool down.
• Check on your neighbors and relatives.
• Never leave children or pets unattended in cars, even with the windows cracked.

Dive into Summer, Not Danger — Water Safety Tips

With summer on the horizon and Michigan’s Great Lakes, rivers and backyard pools soon ready for use, water safety is more important than ever!

Whether you’re heading to the beach or relaxing by the pool, keep these key water safety tips in mind:

• Ensure at least one adult is CPR-certified, especially in households with pools or near open water. Babysitters and caregivers should also maintain up-to-date CPR certification.
• Designate a “Water Watcher” during group gatherings, like pool parties — someone who remains alert and undistracted while friends, family or children are swimming.
• Keep a phone nearby, ideally a landline with your physical address to quickly call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Cell phones may not automatically relay your location.
• Equip your pool with essential rescue tools, such as a reaching pole, throwable floatation device, CPR instructions, a breath mask and a fully stocked first aid kit.
• If a child goes missing, check the water first. If you can’t locate them quickly, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Stay safe, stay prepared and enjoy everything Michigan’s waters have to offer this summer!

Severe Weather Resources & Tips

In response to recent severe weather across the state, our first responders and officials are working hard to ensure there is a swift delivery of resources to the affected areas. We applaud this effort and our dedicated first responders who have been working tirelessly around the clock. To ensure you’re prepared for future severe weather events, please review the following safety tips:

General Storm Safety Tips:

• Prepare a kit of emergency supplies for your family and pets.
• Create a family emergency plan.
• For college students, create a campus emergency plan.
• For guides and checklists, visit Plan Ahead (michigan.gov).

Tornado Safety Tips:

• Sign up for The Emergency Alert System or your community’s warning system.
• Identify a place to take shelter.
• Look for danger signs, such as a dark or greenish sky, large hail, a dark, low-lying cloud and a loud roar that sounds like a freight train.
• Ensure all doors and windows are shut.
• Be careful when exiting the building after the storm.
• For more information, visit Tornadoes (michigan.gov).

Thunderstorms & Lightning Safety Tips:

• To prepare, cut down or trim trees that may be in danger of falling on your home.
• Consider purchasing surge protectors or a lightning protection system to protect your home, appliances and electronic devices.
• When thunder roars, go indoors! Move into a building or car with a roof.
• Avoid running water and using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet.
• Do not drive through flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
• For more information, visit Thunderstorms & Lightning (michigan.gov).

To Report Downed Power Lines:

• DTE: outage.dteenergy.com/report-down-line
• Consumers Energy: consumersenergy.com/outages-and-safety/report-an-issue
• Visit the Michigan Prepares website to find a variety of resources on this topic, including guidance on How to Create Your Emergency Plan. You can also stay informed when severe weather strikes by signing up for emergency alerts from your county or city.

Our office is always here to answer any questions, concerns, or listen to any thoughts you have on any particular issue. The best way to reach us is by email at [email protected]. We also hope you will join us for upcoming coffee hours so that we can meet and I can hear what is on your mind.