Rheingans Legislation Strengthens Native Ties
Legislation uplifts transparency, partnership with 12 federally recognized tribes LANSING, Mich., Sept. 25, 2024 — State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) brought legislation to the floor today that embodies her continued commitment to strengthen government ties with Michigan’s Native American tribes. The House voted on both House Bill 5600 and House Resolution 296, which designates Sept. 27, 2024, as Michigan Indian Day. HB 5600 creates the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison (OTLL) in the Legislature and seeks to [...]
Legislators Celebrate BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month
Lawmakers observe the unique challenges that affect the mental health of racial and ethnic minorities State Rep. Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe) stands with Reps. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit), Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield Township), Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) as she speaks on the House Floor on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing. LANSING, Mich., July 11, 2024 — In recognition of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness [...]
Rheingans Bill Exempts Fentanyl Test Strips from Drug Paraphernalia Laws
Rheingans Bill Exempts Fentanyl Test Strips from Drug Paraphernalia Laws State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) delivers a floor speech in the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, June 13, 2024. LANSING, Mich., June 13, 2024 — State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) recently released legislation to exempt testing products including, but not limited to, fentanyl test strips, from current drug paraphernalia laws. By exempting test products, they can be more freely sold and used for testing to prevent drug [...]
Rheingans Delivers AED to Local High School
State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), center, speaks about the importance of an automated external defibrillator (AED) with, from left, Coach Lyle Blando, Coach Derek Shell, Athletic Director Tom Johns, Superintendent James E. Graham, District Nurse Gabe Brice, and High School Principal Patrick Dillon on Monday, May 20, 2024, at Napoleon High School. NAPOLEON, Mich., May 20, 2024 — State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) presented a new automated external defibrillator (AED) to Napoleon High School this morning. Rheingans issued the following [...]
Rheingans Hosts Press Conference on Newly Introduced Tribal Legislative Liaison Bill
LANSING, Mich., March 21, 2024 — State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) held a press conference today to speak to her newly introduced legislation, House Bill 5600. This legislation will create the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison (OTLL) in the Legislature. It seeks to better facilitate government-to-government relationships through consultation in the policymaking process between legislators and the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. “I am proud to be introducing this crucial legislation to create the Office of Tribal Legislative Liaison. [...]
House Dems Celebrate March as Social Workers Month
Legislators inspire action, dedication, commitment to Michigan people by leading change LANSING, Mich., March 21, 2024 — Social Worker Month is well underway, and this year’s theme is Empowering Social Workers. This week House Resolution 215 was introduced to commemorate March as Social Workers Month. “Social workers are vital in our society and the work they do, while often unseen, is irreplaceable. They are involved in many different facets of daily life — from helping individuals secure affordable housing to providing support [...]
Rheingans, Fitzgerald Bills to Protect Children Pass the Senate
Legislation clarifies car safety seat standards to help parents keep kids safe LANSING, Mich., March 15, 2024 — The Michigan Senate passed House Bills 4511 and 4512, sponsored by state Reps. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), respectively. The bills clarify car safety seat standards, aligning Michigan statute with federal law and regulations. “Vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death among children,” Fitzgerald said. “This law updates Michigan’s car seat safety standards so that child passengers travel safely and sit properly. [...]
Michigan Dems Celebrate Laws Improving Health and Wellness for Michiganders
Landmark legislation protects health care coverage, lowers costs and promotes wellness LANSING, Mich., Feb. 9, 2024 — For the first time in 40 years, Democrats gained control of the Legislature and the governor’s office last year — with majority, they led a remarkably productive year, passing and signing into law a historic number of bills. A significant number of those laws go into effect on Feb. 13. In order to celebrate with and inform Michiganders, Dems are rolling out the [...]
Rheingans’ Bill to Establish State Grain Becomes Law, Recognizing Native Traditions
From left, Emily Paski, Gov. Whitmer’s tribal liaison; Roger LaBine, elder and rice keeper in the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) pictured after the signing of House Bill 4852 at the Capitol in Lansing on Dec. 5, 2023. LANSING, Mich., Dec. 5, 2023 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held a ceremonial bill signing event at the Capitol today, and House Bill 4852 was among the bills signed. This bill designates manoomin as the state’s official native grain. “It [...]
Legislators Spearhead Bipartisan Patient-Led Care Package Making Mental Health Care More Accessible
Bipartisan legislation benefits patients and providers alike LANSING, Mich., Oct. 5, 2023 — State Reps. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit), Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Township) and Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) hosted a press conference today in support of House Bills 5114-17 to increase Michiganders’ access to vital health care, including both physical and mental health. Physician assistants (PA) are a crucial part of the Michigan health care delivery system. These bills align Michigan PA standards with many other states [...]
Rheingans, Fitzgerald Bills to Protect Children Pass in the House
Legislation clarifies car safety seat standards to help parents keep kids safe LANSING, Mich., Sept. 27, 2023 — On the heels of Child Passenger Safety Week, the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bills 4511 and 4512, sponsored by state Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and state Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), respectively. The bills clarify car safety seat standards, aligning Michigan statute with federal law and regulations. “This legislation takes the necessary steps to ensure Michigan parents have clear, [...]
Rheingans Applauds State Budget’s Reinvestment in Michiganders’ Health
LANSING, Mich., June 29, 2023 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed the state’s fiscal 2023-24 budget yesterday. This is the first budget in 40 years crafted by a Democratic trifecta. It makes the largest investment in education in the state’s history, including free breakfast and lunch for every public school student and affordable pre-K, as well as substantial investments in workforce recruitment and retention, water infrastructure, and public safety. The legislators worked in a bipartisan fashion to deliver a [...]
Legislation to Implement Proposal 2 Passes the House
LANSING, Mich., June 14, 2023 — Legislation to implement Proposal 2 passed the House today. The landmark expansion of voting rights overwhelmingly supported by voters in November 2022 would ensure that ballot drop boxes are accessible to voters, voters could choose to receive an absent voter ballot before each election, and absent voter ballot applications and ballots have prepaid postage affixed on them, among other measures. “One of our most sacred responsibilities as legislators is to ensure that we have [...]
National Popular Vote Bill Clears First Michigan Committee
State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) testifies in support of her bill for Michigan to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact in Lansing on June 6, 2023. LANSING, Mich. June 6, 2023 – A bill that would add Michigan to a growing list of states supporting the National Popular Vote for president won approval from the Michigan House Elections Committee today. State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), sponsor of House Bill 4156, released the following [...]
Rheingans Introduces Legislation to Help Michiganders Save on Prescriptions
State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) speaks at a press conference introducing her bill to help patients save on medication at the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing on June 6, 2023. LANSING, Mich., June 6, 2023 — State Rep. Carrie A. Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) introduced legislation today to ensure that all payments made by or on behalf of insured patients will go toward their deductible and out-of-pocket costs. “The copay assistance funds that drug manufacturers and [...]
Rheingans, Fitzgerald Announce Upcoming Safer Seats, Safer Kids Bills
LANSING, Mich., May 4, 2023 — State Reps. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) held a press conference today to unveil new legislation, House Bills 4511 and 4512, to clarify child safety seat guidelines and bring them into alignment with federal and industry standards. The representatives were joined by guests Dr. Jonathan Gold of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Dr. Andrew Adair, president of the MI Osteopathic Association; and Lewis Moquin, certified child passenger [...]
In Honor of Earth Day, Legislators to Introduce Bills to Establish Statewide Septic Code, Help Protect Michigan Water
LANSING, Mich., April 21, 2023 — State Reps. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) and Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) and Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) announced their intent to introduce legislation next week to create a statewide septic code, which would help protect water quality across the state. Background: Michigan is the only state in the nation without uniform standards governing how onsite sewage treatment systems are designed, built, installed and maintained. Additionally, according to the Department [...]
Michigan Legislators Introduce National Popular Vote Bills
State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) addresses reporters at a press conference introducing National Popular Vote bills at the Anderson House Office Building on March 1, 2023. LANSING, Mich. March 1, 2023 – The presidential candidate who gets the most votes nationwide would become president under National Popular Vote bills introduced Wednesday in the Michigan House and Senate. “I was elected to the Michigan House because I won the most votes — and the same should be true [...]
Rheingans on Whitmer’s State of the State Address
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 25, 2023 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the State of the State address tonight before a joint session of the Legislature at the Capitol in Lansing. In the speech, the governor discussed her legislative agenda for the new term, which includes bolstering the economy, increasing public safety, lowering costs for families, protecting fundamental rights, supporting Michigan workers, investing in early childhood education, and attracting talent to Michigan. State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) issued the following statement [...]
State Rep. Rheingans Co-Sponsors Repeal of Right-to-Work as Her First Bill on Opening Day of the 102nd Legislature
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 11, 2023 — State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) was sworn in today as a member of the 102nd Legislature and immediately co-sponsored her first bill repealing the so-called “right-to-work” law. Rep. Rheingans signed on to co-sponsor all six of the first bills introduced in the 102nd Legislature, which highlighted shared priorities across the Democratic caucuses to put Michigan families first. The bills include the repeal of the unfair and unpopular “retirement tax”; an increase of the [...]