Hello from Lansing,
Happy budget season! The Legislature has returned from our two-week in-district work period, and we are hard at work finalizing department budgets, on top of passing more commonsense firearm safety legislation that will keep our communities safe.
As always, you can contact my team through email at CarrieRheingans@house.mi.gov or by phone at (517) 373-8835 with any questions, comments or concerns.
In Service,
Carrie Rheingans
State Representative
District 47
First 100 Days of the Legislature
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Tuesday, April 11, marked the official first 100 calendar days of the term. I have been so proud of my team as they continue to work hard for the constituents of the 47th District. I have learned a lot in my first four months in office, and I know I have a lot left to learn. The honor of serving as your state representative is the privilege of a lifetime.
Firearm Safety Legislation Passes the House
On Thursday, April 13, the Michigan House of Representatives passed the third of three firearm safety packages —House Bills 4145, 4146, 4147, 4148, and SB 83 — which will further protect our communities from firearm violence. The bills enact extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), which act similarly to restraining orders for firearms.
These bills empower families, loved ones, roommates, healthcare providers and law enforcement officers to file an ERPO if they believe someone poses an imminent danger to themselves or to their community. Anyone who has an ERPO filed against them has the chance to contest the order in court.
The goal of this legislation is to empower people to speak up to keep their loved ones and communities safe. One of the main reasons I support this legislation is that I want families to be able to proactively protect their loved ones struggling with mental health issues. According to the 2022 Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission report, there were 1,389 suicides in 2020 with 1,099 being from men, and 53% of those used guns to harm themselves. ERPOs will give families an additional tool to keep guns out of the hands of those who would use them to harm themselves or others.
I co-sponsored each of these bills.
Background Checks, Safe Storage of Firearms Signed into Law
On Thursday, April 13, Gov. Whitmer signed the first two of three firearm safety packages, comprising Senate Bills 79, 80, 81, and 82 and House Bills 4138 and 4142, into law. The bills established universal background checks for all firearm purchases and implemented safe storage requirements for firearms in homes with children.
Every gun-related death is preventable, and ensuring that prospective gun owners pass a background check when purchasing a firearm and then store their firearms safely and securely, especially in homes with children, are concrete steps that protect our communities from further violence. I co-sponsored each of these bills.
Testimony on House Bill 4125
On Wednesday, April 12, I testified in the House Judiciary Committee in favor of my bill, HB 4125, which is part of a bicameral, bipartisan package to address sexual assault in school and university settings.
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I believe we must use our power to protect students from assaults and their traumatic effects. The House portion of the package is HB 4120, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4124 and 4125, and the Senate portion is SB 66–74.
We expect that this package will be voted on later this spring. |
Next Constituent Contact Meeting
I will be hosting a constituent happy hour on Friday, April 21, from 4 – 5:30 p.m. at HOMES Brewery Campus (112 Jackson Plaza, Ann Arbor, MI 48103), with special guest, State Sen. Sue Shink!
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!
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