Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to my Capitol and Community Update e-newsletter! Our staff has hit the ground running and has been working hard to open our new office in Lansing. We are experiencing some delays in constituent responses due to system implementation, but know that your thoughts matter to us. If you need an urgent response, call my team at (517) 373-2617.
Please encourage neighbors and friends in House District 56 — Troy, Clawson, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Bloomfield Township — to also sign up for these updates at MacDonell.housedems.com, and to let us know if you have any thoughts on state-level issues or want to meet with me. My office can be reached at (517) 373-2617 or SharonMacDonell@house.mi.gov. Starting Feb. 6, I will also be holding monthly Community Conversation events where you can speak to me directly (see below).
Be sure to also check out the latest happenings in the District and in Lansing on my social media platforms — @repmacdonell on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
In Service,
Sharon MacDonell
State Representative
House District 56
Upcoming Events
Monthly Community Conversations
Please join me for my FIRST in-person office hours, where I will be giving legislative updates and taking your questions about the issues facing our state and our community! They are a great way to find out what policies I’m working on and share your ideas and concerns with me. Please refer to the policy of the venue regarding masks and physical distancing. Our February meetup information is as follows:
When: Monday, Feb. 6, 4:30-6 p.m.
Where: Troy Community Center (3179 Livernois Rd. in Troy)
Legislative Update
The following are highlights from my recent work in the legislature. All of my sponsored and co-sponsored legislation from this term are available at the provided hyperlink. You can also see my press releases page for additional updates.
Newly Introduced Legislation
- House Bill 4018 would designate Jan. 30 of every year as Fred Korematsu Day in the state of Michigan. I introduced the bill on Jan. 17, and it now awaits a hearing in the House Committee on Government Operations.
- House Resolution 13 declared January of 2023 as Local School Board Recognition Month. I introduced the Resolution on Jan. 18 and the House adopted it later that day.
New Co-Sponsored Legislation Highlights
- House Bill 4003, introduced by Rep. Jason Hoskins, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the protected categories in Michigan’s civil rights law.
- House Bill 4006, introduced by Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky, would repeal the 1931 law criminalizing abortion in Michigan.
Committee Assignments
I am proud to announce I have been assigned to five committees. I am especially honored to have been made the majority vice chair of the Committee on Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure. I am also thrilled to serve on the following additional committees:
- Energy, Communications, and Technology
- Families, Children, and Seniors
- Higher Education
- Health Policy Subcommittee on Behavioral Health
First committee hearing for Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure
Legislative Session
The previous Legislature did not meet regularly enough to serve the needs of the people. In contrast, the new Legislature is holding frequent voting sessions this term — three days a week, nearly every week of the year — on top of most of our committees meeting on a weekly basis. Our Legislature’s new leaders have expanded our legislative session for one simple reason: the House of Representatives exists to produce good policy for the people of Michigan. I am proud to support Gov. Whitmer’s agenda and am excited to see smart legislation enacted that helps the working people of House District 56. You can watch sessions live here.
Community Recognitions and Resources
Small Business of the Month AND Teacher of the Month
Each month, I recognize a small business in the community from House District 56, as our small businesses of the month. To nominate a business for this recognition, please fill out this form for Small Business of the Month. I am also excited to recognize a Teacher of the Month! Teachers are the backbone of this nation, and we have the BEST teachers in our District! Please fill out this form to recognize a Teacher of the Month.
Tributes, Letters, and Certificates
Do you know someone in the district who is retiring and would like a legislative tribute to celebrate their years of service? Has a local team or group reached a milestone that they would like to be acknowledged with an official certificate for each member? Our office can provide legislative tributes, letters and certificates on a wide range of recognitions. If you would like to request any of these materials for yourself or others, please email my office at SharonMacDonell@house.mi.gov with as much information as possible on the requested recognition and we will work with you to arrange delivery or presentation of the recognition!