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 AngelaWitwer@house.mi.gov.

Sincerely,

Angela Witwer

State Representative, 76th House District

 

In This Issue:

  •       Weekly Wrap-Ups
  •       Legislative Update

 

A blue and red graphic that reads "Weekly Wrap-Up with Witwer" next to a cartoon coffee mug. Along the bottom of the graphic, it reads "State Representative Angela Witwer."

 

Weekly Wrap-Up with Witwer:
Please keep an eye out on my Facebook page for Weekly Wrap-ups. 

  • Friday, Dec. 6, from 10-11 a.m. at the Delta Township Administration Building in Public Meeting Room A, located at 7710 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI 48917
  • Friday, Dec. 13, from 10-11 a.m. at the Charlotte Community Library, located at 226 Bostwick St. S., Charlotte, MI 48813

 

Legislative Update:

Below are the bills that we voted on in session this week:

  • House Bill 4928 (Rep. Shannon): Currently, drivers who fail to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus that has stopped and is displaying two alternately flashing red lights are responsible for a civil infraction for which they must pay a civil fine of at least $100, but not more than $500. 
    • The bill would increase the civil fine to at least $250, but not more than $500. These amounts would also apply to camera-based violations.

 

 

  • House Bill 4027 (Rep. Zorn): This bill would amend the Revised School Code to create a Purple Star Program and provide for its processes and qualification criteria. Purple Star Schools are public or charter schools committed to supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children through specialized programs.

 

  • House Bill 4682 (Rep. Slagh): This bill would amend the section of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act that addresses circumstances when a person is prohibited from entering or remaining on another person’s property to engage in a recreational activity or trapping without the property owner’s consent or authorized signature.

 

 

 

  • House Bill 5304 (Rep. Bruck): This bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to modify provisions that address lane usage by certain trucks and semitrailers. The code currently requires the driver of a truck with a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds, a truck tractor, or a combination of a vehicle and trailer or semitrailer, to drive only in either of the two lanes farthest to the right, except for a reasonable distance when making a left turn or where a special hazard exists that requires the use of an alternative lane for safety reasons. The bill would instead prohibit the driver of such a vehicle from driving in the lane farthest to the left on a freeway with three or more lanes for travel in the same direction, except for a reasonable distance under any of the following circumstances:
    • When making a left turn (e.g., using a freeway exit located on the left).
    • Where a special hazard exists that requires the use of an alternative lane for safety reasons.
    • If otherwise posted because of a closure to traffic for construction or repair.

 

 

  • House Bill 5783 (Rep. Morse) and Senate Bill 1001 (Rep. Bayer): House Bill 5783 would amend the Michigan Education Savings Program to change the definition of qualified higher education expenses so that any reference to that term in the act includes both of the following:
    • Expenses for fees, books, supplies and equipment required for participation of a designated beneficiary in an apprenticeship program as provided in section 529(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code.1
    • Amounts paid as principal or interest on any qualified education loan as provided in section 529(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Senate Bill 1001 would amend the Michigan Education Trust Act to change when an advance tuition payment contract may be authorized for termination and then refunded. These contracts allow purchasers to secure, at a predetermined rate paid by the purchaser, a specified number of college credits at a public college or university in Michigan for the qualified beneficiary.

 

A green and red graphic reading "PreK for All" in front of a blue outline of Michigan. Pictures of young students learning at PreK are spread along the border of the graphic. Along the bottom the graphic reads "Now here in Michigan!"

 

Pre-K for All is Now Here in Michigan!

Big news for little learners! Thanks to a historic investment in the fiscal year 2025 state budget, access to free, high-quality pre-K has expanded in Michigan! Starting in the fall of 2024, all Michigan 4-year-olds can qualify for free pre-K. 

Attending a quality pre-K program has a positive impact on a child’s life by preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond. Michigan’s pre-K program, the Great Start Readiness Program, is ranked first in the nation for quality.

Find a program near you at MiPreKforAll.org 

Michigan made school meals free for all. Students ate it up

Our youngest Michiganders deserve to be set up for success. As chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m proud of our work to fund the universal meal program in the last two state budgets to ensure our students don’t have to learn on an empty stomach.


My Sponsored Legislation Signed Into Law This Term:

HB 4001

This bill repeals the retirement tax that has impacted our Michigan retirees living on a fixed income. Now, half a million households with public pensions, private pensions, IRAs and 401ks with an employer match will all benefit from this law and save about $1,000 a year.

However, this bill does more than repeal the retirement tax. It also quintuples the Michigan working families tax credit match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 30%, up from 6%. It will lift 25,000 working families out of poverty and deliver an average combined tax refund of $3,150 to 700,000 families, directly impacting nearly 1 million kids — almost half the kids in Michigan.

HB 4016

This bill was a supplemental appropriations bill that made historic investments in hospitals and health care workers, supported home energy solutions, protected our environment, funded affordable housing and attracted investments in manufacturing.

HB 4082
This bill renames a portion of a Michigan Highway, I-96 in Ionia County beginning at mile marker 76 and extending east to mile marker 77, in memory of Barry Lyn Hause, a road construction worker who tragically lost his life while on the job after being struck by a vehicle.

This newly designated Barry Lyn Hause Memorial Highway stands as a lasting memorial and serves as a reminder to us all to drive safely and to respect the sacrifices made by road construction workers like Barry.

HB 4197
This bill helps prevent the financial exploitation of seniors and other vulnerable adults by allowing broker-dealers and investment advisors to place temporary holds on disbursements of funds or securities when there is reason to believe that financial exploitation of a customer has occurred.

HB 4337

This bill renames a portion of M-50 in Eaton County, currently named the “Ensign Francis Flaherty Memorial Highway,” to be named the “Ensign Francis Flaherty Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Highway.”

HB 4437
This bill was the omnibus appropriations bill. As the chair of House Appropriations, it was an honor to lead the House in listening to our communities to include their priorities. Our district had big wins — wins it has never seen before. These wins include funding for local roads, sewer infrastructure for continued developments, police support, a new senior center, education support, a new city hall, teen center and much more.