Dear Friend,

I am honored and humbled to be your state representative. I plan to work hard to help bolster our Lakeshore community, Southwest Michigan and the entire state.

If you are in need of support or resources or have any questions regarding legislation or state government in general, please feel free to reach out to me at my office via email at JoeyAndrews@house.mi.gov or by calling (517) 373-0827.

Sincerely,

Joey Andrews

State Representative

Michigan’s 38th District

In this issue:

  • Office Hours
  • Capitol Update
  • Policy Update
  • Community Update

Upcoming Office Hours

Friday, March 14, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. — Greenbush Brewing Company, 5885 Sawyer Road, Sawyer, MI 49125

Friday, May 5, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. – David’s Delicatessen & Coffee, 30 N. Whittaker St., New Buffalo, MI 49117

Friday, May 26, from 10-11 a.m. – Uncommon Grounds, 127 Hoffman St., Saugatuck, MI 49453

Capitol Update
Andrews-Energy Committee

During an oversight hearing in the House Energy Committee, state Rep. Joey Andrews questions testimony about recent power outages.

Andrews-Workers' Rights Legislation

State Rep. Joey Andrews introduces legislation to restore workers’ rights.

Policy Update


House Democrats Pass Commonsense Gun Reform

On Wednesday, March 8, the Michigan House of Representatives took action to make communities around the state safer by passing the first of several bills aimed at preventing gun violence. House Bills 4138, 4142 and 4143 establish the requirement for background checks on all gun sales in Michigan. These bills have been signed into law.

Prior Michigan law required background checks for all handgun sales, but long guns, such as rifles and shotguns, were not subject to the requirement. HBs 4138, 4142 and 4143 amend the state’s firearms law, the Michigan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, respectively, to ensure that all firearm sales are subject to a background check.

And just this week, the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bills 4145–4148, which would allow courts to issue extreme risk protection orders, or ERPOs, for individuals deemed at risk of hurting themselves or others after the judge considers testimony, documents and other evidence in support of the request. Once an order is issued, law enforcement could then take temporary possession of the individual’s firearms and temporarily prohibit them from purchasing new firearms while the order remains in effect.

These bills are just the first action House Democrats plan to take to address the public health crisis of gun violence. While no single change in law or regulation will solve the issue of gun violence, House Democrats are committed to taking thoughtful, reasonable steps to keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others.

House Dems Support Protecting Kids, Pass Safe Storage Gun Bills

Continuing their commitment to protecting Michiganders — including children — from senseless acts of gun violence, the Michigan House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday, March 22, to require the safe storage of firearms. The governor also signed these bills into law.

House Bills 4144 and 4139 would require unattended firearms to be safely stored if accessible by a minor and update the sentencing guidelines, respectively, while House Bills 4141 and 4140 would remove sales and use taxes from firearm safety device purchases, such as safes, lock boxes, and trigger and barrel locks, through the end of 2024.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children age 1-17 in the U.S., with American children three times more likely to be shot and killed than die by drowning.

Michigan Democrats are doing the work to keep kids safe by requiring firearms to be stored securely.

Community Update

Village of Stevensville Achieves MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities “Essentials” Status on March 23

For its efforts in establishing a more streamlined development process and overall community development vision, the village of Stevensville achieved the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) Essentials designation under the new RRC 2.0 framework, announced by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Redevelopment Ready Communities is a voluntary initiative that empowers communities to shape their future as they strive to become RRC Certified by building a foundation of planning, zoning and economic development best practices and integrating them into their everyday functions and was launched statewide in 2013. RRC promotes communities to be development ready and competitive in today’s economy by actively engaging stakeholders and proactively planning, making them more attractive for projects that create places where people want to live, work and invest.

To see the entire list of Redevelopment Ready Communities, visit here.

I-196 Business Loop Repairs Start April 3 in South Haven

Fast facts:

  • MDOT is making a $5.1 million investment to repair and repave five miles of I-196 Business Loop (BL) from 15th Avenue to 73rd Street, including the ramps at Exit 20 Phoenix Street.
  • The project includes concrete pavement replacement at the I-196 BL intersection at Blue Star Highway.
  • Work is expected to start Monday, April 3, and the anticipated completion date is Tuesday, June 20.

Early to mid-April:

  • I-196 Exit 20 to eastbound Phoenix Street: Detour to I-196 Exit 18.
  • Eastbound Phoenix Street to northbound I-196: Detour is Phoenix Street to Blue Star Highway to North Shore Drive.
  • Westbound Phoenix Street to northbound I-196: Detour is Phoenix Street to Blue Star Highway to North Shore Drive.

Mid- to late April:

  • Southbound I-196 to I-196 BL: Detour is I-196 Exit 22 North Shore Drive to Blue Star Highway to I-196 BL.
  • Eastbound Phoenix Street to southbound I-196: Blue Star Highway to southbound I-196 BL.

Project status and detour routes will be updated and available on Mi Drive at www.Michigan.gov/Drive.

Recycling Infrastructure and Small Community Education Grant Opportunities Announced for FY 2023

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced its Recycling Infrastructure Grant Program’s Request for Proposals (RFP) and Small Community Education Grants.

Michigan Recycling Infrastructure Grants

A minimum of $3.3 million will be available as matching grants that support Gov.Gretchen Whitmer’s climate priorities by supplementing efforts to grow the statewide recycling rate; ensure diversity, equity and inclusion; and increase access to recycling.

Michigan Recycling Infrastructure Grants specifically target projects that:

  • Increase collection and processing capacity of recyclable materials or food waste.
  • Increase access to recycling or food waste composting infrastructure.
  • Increase participation rates in recycling or food waste composting programs.

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, tribal governments, school districts, universities and colleges, local health departments, regional planning agencies, cities, villages, townships, charter townships, counties, municipal solid waste authorities, and resource recovery authorities located in Michigan. The deadline for Recycling Infrastructure Grant is May 19, 2023.

View the RFP and for questions, contact:

Michigan Small Community Education Grants

This opportunity is to specifically provide access to recycling education resources for small communities with fewer than 10,000 households. Eligible applicants for Michigan Small Community Education Grants are nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, regional planning agencies, cities, villages, townships, charter townships, counties, municipal solid waste authorities or a resource recovery authorities located in Michigan serving fewer than 10,000 households with a curbside and/or drop-off recycling program.

Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, until allotted funds are disbursed. There is NO match requirement for this grant.

For additional information, please visit Recycling (michigan.gov).