Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my monthly Capitol and Community Updates e-newsletter! As your state representative in the 102nd Michigan Legislature, I am happy to provide these regular updates on my legislative work, including my support for legislation that uplifts our veteran, tribal and disability communities. In this issue, you will also find information on my upcoming events, grant opportunities, and resources for how my office can assist you!

Neighbors and friends in House District 103 are encouraged to also sign up for these updates at my website, RepCoffia.com. You can reach my office by phone at (517) 373-3817 or by email at BetsyCoffia@house.mi.gov. Be sure to check out the latest on my social media platforms as well. As this legislative session continues, I welcome your continued feedback and encourage you to reach out if my team and I can ever be of assistance to you!

In Service,

Betsy Coffia

State Representative

House District 103

Please join me for my upcoming office hours, where I will give a legislative update and answer your questions about the issues facing our state and our community. These events are a great way to find out what policies I’m working on and to share your ideas and concerns with me!

My 2024 in-person office hours occur monthly in one of the three counties of the 103rd House District — Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau — on a rotating basis, with a virtual session later in the day. My upcoming December in-person office hour will be in Leelanau County!

December meeting information:

In-Person Office Hour

When: Monday, Dec. 9, from noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Leelanau County Government Center

(8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682)

Virtual Office Hour

When: Monday, Dec. 9, from 4-5 p.m.

Where: Zoom (Register here)

Will your child be 4 years old by Dec. 1? Now is the time to sign up for FREE high-quality pre-K.

Thanks to a historic investment in the state budget that I was proud to vote for, we’ve expanded access to free, high-quality pre-K in Michigan! More Michigan 4-year-olds can now qualify for free pre-K education, prioritizing those who need it most. The Great Start Readiness Program gives your child a bright start and gives our state a brighter future.

Research shows attending a quality pre-K program has a positive impact on a child’s life by preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond.

We all know the serious need families face for quality early childhood opportunities in Northern Michigan. So, this was a no-brainer to support as your state representative, both from an early childhood education standpoint and because expanded pre-K will save Michigan families as much as $10,000 per year.

Michigan’s pre-K program is ranked first in the nation for quality. Enrolling your child in pre-K gives them the opportunity to learn early math, science and reading skills in a safe, nurturing environment with caring adults.

For more information and to find a pre-K program near you, go to MiPreKforAll.org today!

This has been the most productive legislative term in years, if not in decades. The Legislature passed nearly 475 bills that have been signed into law so far, the vast majority with bipartisan support. It is my great honor to put the people of Michigan first by delivering on our promises, and I am ready to keep the momentum moving forward as this legislative term continues.

State Rep. Betsy Coffia, center, hosts Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, far right, for a visit to the Grand Traverse County Department of Veterans Affairs.

I am the proud granddaughter of two honorably discharged U.S. military veterans — my late grandfathers, Ralph Weimer and Bob Coffia, served in World War II and the Korean Conflict, respectively. The most recent bill I introduced this term, House Bill 5819, would allow honorably discharged peacetime veterans also qualify for emergency grants from the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF).

Since 1946, the MVTF has helped wartime veterans overcome unexpected expenses — including utility bills, home repairs, and mortgage assistance — and get back on their feet financially.

During my time serving on the Leelanau Grand Traverse Veterans Administrative Committee as a Grand Traverse County Commissioner, local veterans told me that while honorably discharged peacetime veterans make up a significant number of the veterans seeking assistance at our local veterans affairs office, the current law excludes them from accessing MVTF resources.

Also during my time on the Grand Traverse County Commission, I voted with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to unanimously call on the state Legislature to change the law to expand the emergency grants to honorably discharged peacetime veterans.

Now as your state representative, I was proud to sponsor HB 5819, which would allow all honorably discharged veterans to access the MVTF’s resources. Coming off of Veterans Day this month, I am eager to see this bill move through the legislative process to further support our veterans and acknowledge the sacrifice that they have made for our country.

Senate Bill 788, sponsored by state Sen. Sylvia Santana, has been signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. SB 788, which passed with bipartisan support, provides women veterans an opportunity to display their service to our country by creating a “woman veteran” special license plate. This bill recognizes the more than 46,000 brave Michigan women veterans who served our nation in uniform, defending our freedoms abroad and here at home, and these special license plates give these brave service women the opportunity to share their stories and build community through their shared experience as women veterans.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also signed state Rep. Mike McFall’s House Bill 5127, which expands the eligibility of the disabled veteran registration plate to partially disabled veterans. Specifically, it would expand eligibility to veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more. The plate also provides veterans with free access to Michigan state parks. In this year’s budget, we granted all veterans free access to Michigan’s state park system.

Together, Senate Bills 176, 330 and 364 ensure spouses of disabled veterans can maintain property tax exemptions, even after their spouse passes away. These bills were sponsored by two Democrats, state Sens. Santana and Mary Cavanagh, and one Republican, our state Sen. John Damoose. Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much to keep our state and nation safe. Losing a partner can rock a family’s financial stability, but we can ease the burden for spouses of disabled veterans by ensuring they can still qualify for property tax exemptions, keeping a roof over their heads and more money in their pockets. The governor has signed this bipartisan legislation into law.

House Bill 4199 gives eligible service members the ability to transfer their tuition assistance benefits to spouses and children. for tuition assistance to spouses and dependents of National Guard members and increases the funding cap from $10 million to $15 million. The Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program provides financial assistance for service members attending any public or private college, university, vocational school, technical school or trade school located in Michigan. Tuition assistance helps with recruiting, retention and the overall quality of life for Guard members and their families. Sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer Conlin, the chair of the House Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee, this legislation earned strong bipartisan support. This bill lowers the cost of higher education for spouses and children of Michigan National Guard Members to better support our service members and their families. Since the program’s inception, over 6,000 guard members have benefited, and since Gov. Whitmer signed this new legislation into law, thousands of eligible spouses and dependents will have the same opportunity to earn a tuition-free degree or professional certificate.

State Rep. Betsy Coffia, left, along with her legislative team and Heath Lowry of the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, at a ceremonial bill signing with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for House Bill 4516.

My bill, House Bill 4516, was signed into law by Gov. Whitmer. Michigan law previously omitted sovereign tribal nations from receiving state domestic and sexual violence treatment and shelter funding. This was despite the fact that tribal services are often the only sexual and domestic violence services available in rural areas, and that they serve both Native and non-Native survivors alike. My bill rectifies this and was drafted in partnership with survivors and tribal advocates to solidify the provision of these services. I am honored that this legislation is also supported by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians — a sovereign nation whose seat of government is located within the borders of the 103rd House District. The bill earned strong bipartisan support, passing two committees and the Senate unanimously, and passing the House 103-4. Read more about HB 4516 here. My speech on the House floor can also be viewed here.

Bipartisan legislation to expand access to the Guardianship Assistance Program and recognize the authority of tribal courts was signed into law by Gov. Whitmer. Senate Bills 137 and 138 were sponsored by state Sens. John Damoose and Jeff Irwin, respectively. The Guardianship Assistance Program provides financial support for families that offer permanent guardianship for children. A guardianship setting is often preferred to foster care because it maintains the familial relationship. Previously, the state could only recognize orders from a state court to provide support for a child to be placed with a guardian. Orders from a tribal court were not eligible, a problem that has caused children to be separated from their families and communities. I was proud to vote for these bipartisan bills in the Families, Children and Seniors Committee and on the House floor to address these issues. Now that this legislation has been signed into law, we have set the stage for a significantly more equitable system for everyone who chooses to step up into a guardianship role.

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I voted yes on House Bill 4852, which designates manoomin (Michigan wild rice) as this state’s official native grain. Purposeful erasure of Michigan’s native Anishinaabe agricultural practices and culture, as well as water pollution, have led to a depletion of manoomin, which is a vital part of the ancestral heritage for Native Americans in Michigan. HB 4852, which I co-sponsored, was introduced by state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, and the bill earned strong bipartisan support as it passed the committee and both legislative chambers. I want to highlight that our neighbor, Republican state Rep. John Roth of Interlochen, was the first to call for a vote on the bill in the Agriculture Committee. This bipartisan bill has now been signed into law by Gov. Whitmer!

This past September, I was proud to join my House colleagues in voting yes on House Bill 5600, which would create the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison within the Legislative Council. The bill seeks to better facilitate formal consultation in the policymaking process between legislators and the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan, including Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The tribes have been urging the Legislature to take this action for many years. The fiscal year 2025 enacted budget also includes $500,000 to formally establish the office. Many state departments already have a tribal liaison, but the Legislature currently does not. I proudly cast my vote in support of this legislation that will give constituents in the GTB — citizens of a sovereign nation — more access to our state’s lawmaking processes when it comes to legislation that impacts them. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now being considered by the Senate.

In the House Higher Education Committee, we heard testimony on House Bills 4853 and 4854. These bills would ensure Indigenous students’ ability to wear traditional attire to school and at graduation. These bills would make all students more aware of Native culture and traditions while making our Native students more visible and comfortable at school. The history of Native children having their culture ripped away from them is not a thing of the past, as Indigenous activist, Traverse City Area Public School Board member and Traverse City area attorney Holly T. Bird testified to the committee. The last Native American boarding schools, which have a dark history of abuse and death, closed only 30 years ago. I hope to see these bills become law so our children learn about and celebrate Native culture, while also recognizing what has been lost. I am eager for these bills to be taken up and voted out of the House.

• Coffia, House Dems Affordable Housing Legislation Approved by Senate Committee
• Coffia Celebrates Grandview Parkway Project Completion at Traverse City Ribbon Cutting
• Coffia, MDARD Director Host Cherry Farmer Roundtable in Traverse City
• Coffia Applauds Relief for Northwestern Michigan Sweet Cherry Farmers
• Coffia Celebrates Signing of School Safety and Mental Health Bill into Law
• Coffia Delivers AED to Suttons Suttons Bay High School
• Campaign Finance Reform Bill Passes House
• BRITE Act Bills See Movement in Committee
• MDARD Director Tim Boring Thanks USDA for Disaster Declaration Helping Michigan’s Sweet Cherry Farmers in Eleven Counties

As always, legislation I have sponsored or co-sponsored can be found here. Real-time updates on my legislative work can also be found here.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is offering a public input opportunity for Michigan’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. This program funds projects to enhance the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture). The input received will be considered when developing final program priorities for 2025.

Last year, funding priorities included:

• Market enhancement to promote specialty crops
  • Market Expansion, Availability, and Access to Specialty Crops
  • Farm to Institution
• Research and development relevant to specialty crops
  • Plant Health and Pest Management
  • Farm Sustainability
• Training and education addressing local, regional and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers
  • Enhancing Food Safety
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Workforce/Labor

All interested parties may go to .michigan.gov/mdardgrants for more information on Michigan’s Specialty Crop Block Grants. All public comments must be sent via email to mda-grants@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. on Nov. 27.

Current federal and state grant opportunities include:

• Universal FAFSA Challenge Grant: The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is administering the Universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Challenge Grant to increase FAFSA completion among Michigan high school seniors by expanding access to comprehensive supports in local schools and communities. The application will be available until Dec. 1.
• Rural Development Grant: The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is administering a competitive grant program to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure benefiting rural communities in Michigan. Any additional communications concerning this request for proposal should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Proposals must be received online through the MiAgGrants system no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 5.
• MIWISH Grant: Eligible small businesses in Michigan can now apply for a Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) matching grant up to $5,000 to purchase equipment and associated training they need to improve the safety and health of their employees. The new grant cycle began on Oct. 1, and grants will be awarded until funds are exhausted. Employers that received MIWISH grants in the 2024 fiscal year may apply for additional funding after Jan. 1, 2025, if funds are still available.
• MI Neighborhood Grant: This grant opportunity through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority is a blend of state and federal funding in response to regional action plans and is in strategic alignment with the Statewide Housing Plan. This grant is open to developers, nonprofits and units of local government who seek to create housing activity components. Applications will be accepted as long as funding is available.
• Wastewater Infrastructure Fund Grant Program: This grant from MDARD aims to help the state’s food and agriculture businesses comply with Michigan’s environmental regulations. Applications will be accepted continually until funding is exhausted.

Gov. Whitmer makes appointments to nearly 250 statewide boards and commissions. These appointments are opportunities for Michiganders to engage with their state government on the issues they care about and represent their expertise and communities at the state level. Vacancies can be viewed online. Each board listed includes the number of total members, number of vacant seats and specifications for each vacancy.

Vacancy highlights:

• Michigan Cherry Committee
• Rural Development Fund Board
• Michigan Craft Beverage Council

My e-news archive is available on my website here.

State publications on various topics are also available here. Physical copies of any of these publications can also be mailed to you by emailing my office with your request!

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 for constituents and local small businesses. If you would like to request any of these materials for yourself or others, please fill out this form or email my office at BetsyCoffia@house.mi.gov. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will work with you to arrange delivery or presentation of the recognition!