Dear Neighbor,

The last few months have felt like a whirlwind of activity. I have been attending a multitude of events throughout the community while also working hard in Lansing on important legislation to help veterans’ mental health and lower the price of insulin for Michiganders. There is never a dull moment as a state legislator! Yet a year and a half into office, I love this role so much and, more than anything, enjoy getting to know constituents and the many Michiganders helping to make our state a better place to live. It is truly an honor to serve.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

After returning from our in-district work period, it was business as usual at the Capitol! The Governor signed into law multiple bills to enshrine surrogacy rights, one of which I sponsored. House Bill 4062, my legislation to prevent landlords from discriminating against residents based on their source of income, received a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. As a member of the Education and Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure committees, respectively, we heard testimony on bills that would ensure school safety and another package that would better protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and those in wheelchairs on the roads. I’m also working on legislation to protect police animals, and the groundwork has been laid to have our first hearing on my package of veterans’ mental health bills!

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

To see ALL the events I have attended, take a look at my Facebook, but here are some particularly special highlights:

I attended a fantastic event supporting early learning and literacy. Lots of kids came to the kick off of the first StoryWalk in Livingston, thanks to the state-funded literacy grant that brought $72,000 to the county. Housed in a park behind the Oceola Township building in Howell, the StoryWalk allows children to follow a story, page-by-page, on placards throughout the park and participate in activities. It was attended by families, township members, community members, and Great Start Livingston. But the highlight was doing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” with the kids before they hit the walk!

I celebrated Earth Day in Hamburg Township by participating in a community cleanup followed by a great event in Brighton hosted by the Crossroads Group Sierra Club! Nothing makes me happier than attending a bipartisan environmental event. We all share our love for this awe-inspiring planet and need to protect it from more destruction.

I hosted two community events in April. The first was a constituent services resource fair in Northfield Township with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state Sen. Sue Shink’s team, along with state employees from Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of State’s office, the Department of Health and Human Services and many others. Lots of people showed up to get information and learn more about resources available to them. The second was a small business identity theft town hall with Attorney General Dana Nessel earlier in April, where we discussed with constituents the different types of business ID theft that can occur. We had over 20 residents attend and had a great conversation!

In March, I celebrated “March is Reading Month” with a group of kindergarteners from Hutchings Elementary School. Best morning ever! I have been an avid reader my whole life, so “March is Reading Month” is a huge treat for me. I love books. I love children, and I love schools. I read a great Michigan book that really held their attention!

The Hamburg Township Historical Museum has become a frequent stop for me on the weekends, as it is constantly hosting fun and interesting events. I got to meet with some of the ladies who created a women’s unit of the Hamburg Fire Department in 1973, when they had few volunteers. The wonderful Hamburg Township Historical Museum hosted a recognition ceremony and asked me to speak, which was such a privilege! A few weeks prior, I visited the Museum to see the many treasures they have, including an exhibit on former Michigan Gov. Edwin Winans who was from Hamburg.

Along with my fellow Livingston County legislators, I celebrated the retirement of Judge Michael Hatty. Judge Hatty and I became close friends very quickly when we first met two years ago. It turns out he went to law school with my cousin and knew my great-uncle who was a circuit court judge in Ann Arbor. I had the honor of attending Judge Hatty‘s drug treatment court and seeing his compassion and fairness in action.

In February, I attended the Livingston County Community Connect 2024 event. I went last year, but the difference is, after a year in office, I now know so many of the wonderful volunteers and nonprofit directors who were there. This annual free event, held in February, connects people with needed information, resources and free services in a family-friendly, convenient environment. Guests are provided access to free health screenings, legal consultation, employment services featuring local job opportunities, food, clothing, books, personal care items, haircuts and much more.

I was able to attend the Livingston County Transportation Coalition’s third annual Livingston County Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day breakfast and community recognition at Cleary University. As a member of the House Transportation Committee and a strong advocate for public transit, I know how important it is that we expand this critical community resource. Many of our friends and neighbors depend on reliable and accessible public transportation to get to work, medical appointments, school and more.

I learned what still needs to be done to implement the rest of the Livingston County Transportation Master Plan. The improvements will help people who depend on public transportation to get to work, health care, shopping and recreation. The event honored Rosa Parks’ birthday and her role in standing up for equity in public transit.

In January, I attended the Washtenaw Association of School Boards (WASB) Legislative Breakfast to discuss with superintendents and legislators initiatives such as Talent Together, a no-cost teacher certification program for aspiring Michigan educators. Additionally, I was excited to learn about the Bessie Hoffman Regional Career Exploration Center, a pioneering project to revolutionize the career exploration journey for students across the region. Thank you, WASB, for educating us!

As I have mentioned before, I love attending the bi-monthly Dexter Forum meetings. It is a bipartisan meeting where people share thoughts and information on local, state and national issues and events. I try to attend as often as possible, and January’s meeting was followed by the launch of Dexter’s Bicentennial at the Ice Fest, the first of many celebrations in the upcoming year. The ice sculptures on display were extraordinary in the center of town.

HOT TOPIC

Over the last few weeks, my office has seen an increase in communications from constituents regarding the current conditions of our local roads and calls for them to be prioritized. I firmly believe that providing a well-maintained infrastructure is essential for the well-being of Michiganders and ensuring a vibrant future for our communities. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that all of our roadways, whether paved or gravel, are in conditions that render them safe and viable.

It is currently estimated to cost $9 billion per year to maintain our road system, and every year, it is underfunded by around $4 billion. Road construction and maintenance are funded through many different avenues, including federal, state and local dollars. These funds are raised through the federal fuel tax, state fuel tax, license and registration fees and sometimes federal grants. Additionally, cities and counties have the opportunity to raise additional funds through millages if the communities choose to do so.

Throughout this term, the House Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee, of which I am a member, has been reviewing many different proposals on how to raise funding for our roads to ensure we can meet the state goal of having 90% of our state roads in good or fair condition, which has not been met since 2008. Some of the ideas we have heard from experts suggest raising the motor fuel tax, raising the sales tax on fuel, building tolls (which costs money), or instituting a fee for vehicle miles traveled. I have heard from many people who oppose or support these ideas and am continuing to have conversations with my constituents and colleagues at the local, state and federal levels to find creative and sustainable solutions to increase funding for the repair and maintenance of our local roads.

As always, it was great to meet and talk with many of you during the first four months of 2024, and I look forward to continuing those meaningful conversations in the weeks and months to come.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Conlin

State Representative

House District 48