Dear Neighbor,

Here is some information I hope you will find helpful, including updates and news from your state government.

Governor Signs Bills to Repeal So-called “Right-to-Work,” Restore Prevailing Wage

Gov. Whitmer recently signed House Bills 4004 and 4007, which repeal the so-called “right-to-work” laws and restore the prevailing wage. “Right-to-work” was enacted in 2012 — it allowed workers to take advantage of a union-negotiated contract and union benefits without paying their fair share. Repealing this law will strengthen unions and help working families in our state. It does not require union membership — it merely requires that non-member employees pay their share of the costs of the contract from which they benefit.

Restoring the prevailing wage law will guarantee union-scale wages and benefits on all government-funded construction projects, including schools. This law was repealed in 2018. In 2021, Gov. Whitmer restored prevailing wage rules for state-funded projects. This new legislation will restore this wage for local government projects.

Revamped Third Grade Reading Law Signed

Last month, Gov. Whitmer signed Senate Bill 12, which eliminates the automatic retention requirement for children who are not reading at a third-grade level by the end of that grade. The stated intention of the original 2016 law was to help students who are struggling to read. However, it was immediately criticized by education experts who pointed out the negative psychological and social effects of being “held back.”  Amending this law ensures that the decision to retain a student is made by their parents and teachers, and the student’s personal developmental needs are carefully considered.

Upcoming Events 

Coffee & Conversation at the South Lansing Library

Join me for a Coffee & Conversation event on Monday, April 17, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the South Lansing Library, 3500 S. Cedar St. in Lansing. Send an email to karahope@house.mi.gov with any questions or topics you would like covered. See you there!

Expungement Fair at Cooley Law School

My special guest, state Sen. Sarah Anthony, and I will host an expungement fair on April 28 from noon to 5 p.m., at Cooley Law School with Attorney General Dana Nessel, Safe and Just Michigan, and Legal Services of South Central Michigan. Ingham County residents who want their records expunged need to fill out the pre-screening registration form, which will be available April 11 through April 21. My office will send out the link on April 11.

Under Michigan’s “Clean Slate” expungement laws, individuals with up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors can have their records expunged. Note that this month, Michigan’s automatic expungement mandate goes into effect, which will allow for certain convictions to be expunged without an application. Find out more about Michigan’s new expungement laws here.

Sincerely,

Kara Hope

State Representative