Dear Neighbor,

Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including news and resources from your state government.

Civil Rights Virtual Town Hall Available to Watch Online

Thank you to everyone who attended my State of Civil Rights Virtual Town Hall. Special guest Lily Eggers from the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan presented on the current state of voting rights, immigration rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. If you were not able to attend, please email my office to request a recording of the event.

Upcoming Event: Coffee & Conversation in the District

Join me for my next Coffee & Conversation on Monday, Feb. 23, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the South Lansing Library, 3500 S. Cedar St., in Lansing. You can register for the event and share any questions or topics you would like covered here. See you then!

Upcoming Event: Gun Violence Prevention Town Hall

Please join me Monday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for my Gun Violence Prevention Town Hall at the Ingham County Human Services Building, Conference Room A, 5303 S. Cedar St., Lansing. I will be joined by special guest Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, who will present on the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force’s 2025 report and recommendations. We’ll also hear from local gun violence prevention activists, experts, and community leaders. Community members are welcome to share their questions and concerns during this event. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP:

Free Tax Assistance Available at Lansing Libraries
United Way of South Central Michigan’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will have mobile tax prep units at Capital Area District Library branches in Lansing starting this month through mid-April. Households earning up to $69,000 can get free tax preparation services from trained, IRS-certified tax preparers. Register for an appointment here.
Follow my official Facebook account for the most up-to-date information. E-news contains a lot of good information, but it takes several days – up to a week – to get it approved and sent.

Sincerely,

Rep Kara Hope's Signature
Kara Hope
State Representative
House District 74
In Case You Missed It . . . 

Get Your Electronic Tax Refunds, Contact MI Open Account for Assistance

Starting this tax season, the IRS will no longer send paper checks to taxpayers for their federal tax refunds. Refunds instead will be issued by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods. Having an account with a financial institution is necessary to receive your refund. To prepare for this, taxpayers should establish a relationship with a bank or credit union now if they have not already done so. The Michigan Open Account Coalition offers certified low or no-cost account options at nearly 40 financial institutions. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/DIFSOpenAccount.