Hello from Lansing,
We have had a very busy two weeks in the Legislature. Last week, House session was canceled due to an ice storm, but we came back to work this week ready to pass some very meaningful legislation that I am very excited to share with you all.
As always, you can contact my team through email at CarrieRheingans@house.mi.gov or through phone at 517-373-8835 with any questions, comments or concerns.
In Service,
Carrie Rheingans
State Representative
District 47
National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Introduction
This week, I introduced a bill that, if signed into law, would have Michigan join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Act. This bill uses the power that the U.S. Constitution gives to states to determine how to award our Electoral College votes and would change our state’s Electoral College votes to align with the person who wins the most popular votes nationwide. I had to win the most popular votes in my district to be elected, and I believe that presidents should win the most popular votes in their district, which is the entire United States.
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My partners on this bill are state Sen. Stephanie Chang and organizations such as the League of Women Voters, Mothering Justice, Common Cause, the ACLU of Michigan and Voters Not Politicians. This interstate compact currently has 190 total electoral college votes pledged to it. If the compact acquired 270 electoral votes or more — the number necessary to win the presidency — its provisions would take effect in states that have signed on. Currently, fifteen states and Washington, D.C. have joined the compact, and I’m working to make Michigan the 16th state!
My bill, House Bill 4156, was referred to the House Elections Committee. I strongly suggest signing up for committee email notifications from the Legislature to stay up to date on the status of my bill! You can sign up through the legislature’s website.
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Firearm Safety Legislation
This week, my colleagues introduced an 11-bill firearm safety package that the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony for on Wednesday, March 1.
The package — consisting of House Bills 4138, 4139, 4140, 4141, 4142, 4143, 4144, 4145, 4146, 4147, and 4148 — would implement background checks for the purchasing of a firearm, make it a misdemeanor to improperly and insecurely store a firearm in homes with a minor, create extreme risk protection orders, and change sentencing guidelines around firearm-related penalties.
The Judiciary Committee has not yet voted on this bill package, but I plan on voting yes on every one of these bills when they come before me on the House floor. As a mother of a young daughter and a former educator, one of my main priorities as your state representative is to ensure our communities, our students and our schools are safe from firearm-related crimes. These bills will add teeth to Michigan’s gun safety measures to ensure that guns don’t end up in the wrong hands.
Again, I suggest signing up for committee email notifications through the legislature’s website to stay up to date on the status of this important legislation.
The Repeal of Michigan’s 1931 Abortion Law
On Thursday, March 2, I cast two votes in favor of repealing Michigan’s 92-year-old criminalization of abortion. You can view my speech in favor of these bills on my twitter page.
House Bill 4006, introduced by state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, repeals section 14 of the Michigan Penal Code, which penalizes the administration of abortion with a felony.
House Bill 4032, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Young, amends the sentencing guidelines in the Code of Criminal Procedure to eliminate the guidelines for a violation of felony abortion.
These bills are the culmination of decades — almost a century — of work to decriminalize people’s health care decisions. Even though these bills were unenforceable in Michigan after the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022, which enshrined rights to an abortion and other reproductive health care into Michigan’s state constitution, repealing these laws would finally remove this stain of criminalization from our laws.
Each bill was passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday. They head to the Senate, where we expect swift passage and presentation to the governor.
To each of you who reached out to people in power to share your support for people’s health care decisions, this moment is for you. You made this happen, and I was so proud to play a role in passing this legislation.
Supplemental Budget Passed
On Wednesday, March 1, the Senate passed House Bill 4016, a supplemental spending bill that included about $1.3 billion in funding for major projects in Michigan. Included in the bill was:
- $212 million for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- This money is used to fund the Home Energy Rebate program.
- $241 million for the Department of Health and Human Services
- Money used to fund a new community violence intervention office and grants for related efforts; health-care worker recruitment, retention, and training; nursing home workforce grants; and water affordability.
- $568 million for the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
- Money used for community center grants, a student aviation center, disaster recovery, and career and technical education.
A full breakdown of the funding through this legislation can be found in the House Fiscal Agency’s analysis of the bill. I voted yes on this legislation because of the increase in funding for health care-related programs that will make a huge impact in communities across the state.
Retirement Tax, Working Families Tax Credit Passed
On Wednesday, March 1, the Senate voted to phase out the retirement tax and increase the working families tax credit for lower- and middle-income families.
When this bill is signed into law, beginning in the 2024 tax year, tax filers will begin to see reductions in pension and retirement taxes.
Additionally, eligible Michigan families will be receiving a boost of the state’s working families tax credit, to reach 30% of the federal credit, which will save hundreds of thousands of families thousands of dollars per year. This increase is retroactive, meaning for the 2024 tax year, eligible filers can begin receiving credit.
You can read more information on what this bill does through the Senate Fiscal Agency’s analysis.
March is Reading Month
March is reading month in Michigan! As my staff is finalizing our reading schedule, please reach out to them to request a reading at schools or other community locations. You can reach my team through CarrieRheingans@house.mi.gov or through (517) 373-8835.
Next Constituent Coffee Hour
Please join me for a constituent happy hour next Friday, March 10, from 4-5 p.m. at the Over the Edge Sports Bar located at 230 E. Main St. in Manchester.
My team and I are always looking for the next best place to host our coffee and happy hours. If you would like to make a suggestion, reach out to any of my official social media pages to share your thoughts!