Defending free speech, protecting domestic violence survivors, and more

E-newsletter | Jan. 9, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

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

My legislation to allow a court to dismiss what are known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) unanimously passed the Michigan Senate and has been signed by the governor as Public Act 52 of 2025.

SLAPP suits are retaliatory lawsuits intended to silence, intimidate or punish an individual who speaks out on an issue of public interest. These lawsuits have been used against environmentalists, scientists, citizen activists and sexual assault survivors. Michigan will now join the other 38 states that have enacted anti-SLAPP laws, ensuring that Michiganders can exercise their First Amendment rights without fear of being sued and buried in legal expenses.

The Michigan Attorney General issued an opinion this week that the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee’s decision to claw back $645 million in previously approved community work projects was unconstitutional. Following this opinion, the State Budget Office told state department heads to continue funding work projects. The Republican Speaker of the House has stated he intends to pursue litigation to challenge this decision. 

House Democrats have been fighting to restore this funding since these unprecedented cuts were made last month. In my opinion, stripping away previous approved funds undermined the stability of nonprofits, local governments, and school districts, who built their own budgets based on funding promised to them from the state.

Photo: Sponsors of House Bills 5421-5423 from left to right: State Reps. Jimmie Wilson, Jr, Kara Hope, and Morgan Foreman.

Last month, I sponsored a bill to create employee protections for domestic violence survivors and their families. My bill (HB 5422) would allow employees to access their accrued earned sick time if they or a family member have experienced a violent crime. My colleagues state Reps. Jimmie Wilson, Jr. and Morgan Foreman’s legislation would  prohibit employers from discriminating against employees who have experienced domestic violence and ensure domestic violence survivors would be able to use unemployment benefits if they are experiencing domestic violence or stalking.

The newly renovated Delhi Township Fire Station includes private firefighter sleeping quarters, an updated ventilation system, and a separate storage area to protect expensive gear. I helped the township get $7.5 million in state funding for these upgrades, which will reduce emergency response times and improve working conditions for Delhi’s firefighters. Learn more about these upgrades by watching a video tour here.

Michigan’s chief medical executive has issued a standing recommendation urging medical providers to no longer follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s vaccine schedule. Instead, they are urged to follow the vaccination schedule published by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This comes after the CDC altered their childhood and adolescent immunization schedules, including no longer recommending hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns. Public health officials from across the country have criticized the CDC’s decision. Since the hepatitis B vaccine started being recommended for all newborns in 1991, the number of annual infections among infants and children fell 99 per cent.

For City of Lansing residents: The city is offering curbside collection of natural holiday trees now through the week of Jan. 12. To have your tree picked up, place it at the curbside on your scheduled CART collection day. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half, and each segment must be less than four feet in length. All bags, decorations, and other materials must be removed. More information is available here.

For Delhi Township residents: The Delhi Township Recycle Center will accept undecorated, tinsel-free trees until Jan. 31. The recycle center is at 1418 Grovenburg Road in Holt.

The City of Lansing has opened applications for their annual tree planting program. Interested residents can receive one tree per household that can be planted in city boulevards or private yards within Lansing city limits. The city’s Forestry Division will deliver the trees, and selected applicants are responsible for planting and maintaining them. The deadline to apply is Jan. 30. More information can be found here.

The Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan has launched Mi Caregiver Connection to help caregivers get connected to support, including a network of 16 Area Agencies on Aging. Resources available include respite care for caregivers, home safety assessments, in-home care, caregiver support groups, education workshops and training, caregiver case management, legal advice, and assistive technology. Find out more at micaregiverconnection.com.

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 by the House Business Office.

Sincerely,

Kara Hope
State Representative
House District 74