📰 E-Newsletter | Aug. 13, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

I’ve just returned from the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Boston. I was fortunate to attend this year’s Summit with my staff in tow.

Every state legislator and staffer is a member of the NCSL, which provides access to policy research and training resources. At this year’s Summit, legislators from across the country gathered to learn, to converse and collaborate, to share and so much more.

🏛️ Quick Recap: NCSL Summit in Boston

• Civility in the face of violence. The Summit’s opening session paid tribute to Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman; she and her husband were assassinated in June as political targets. Another Minnesota legislator and his wife also were shot, but survived. This session transitioned to conversations about division in our country and the cost of political violence, and forging a path forward that begins with civility. Other session topics included housing and health.

• The future of health. As an executive committee member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), I attended sessions about vaccines’ shifting landscapes of coverage and access, and biotech and the future of medicine.

• Protecting the right to read. I served as a panelist for Save Our Stories: Lawmakers on Protecting the Right to Read Freely, a national panel of legislators hosted by Beacon Press. My colleague state Rep. Carol Glanville was also a panelist, and we talked about our “Right to Read” legislation and the challenges leading to the bills’ passage in the House last term and its reintroduction this term. It was encouraging to learn about other states’ legislative successes regarding rights to read and accessible information, and the dedication of others in pushing forward meaningful legislation.

From left to right: Penguin Random House Senior Manager of Public Policy Rosalie Stewart (Moderator), Colorado state Sen. Lisa Cutter, Michigan state Rep. Carol Glanville, and me.

• In solidarity with Texas House Democrats. One of the most powerful moments for me during the Summit was participating in a press conference in support of Texas representatives who left their home state with the intent to stave off the unconstitutional redistricting that would gerrymander district maps to favor Republican candidates and silence the marginalized communities currently represented by Democrats. Standing alongside Michigan Democratic colleagues and national leaders, we raised our voices in support of Texas legislators and to condemn the deliberate and dangerous manipulation of electoral maps designed to entrench political power by silencing voters.


Democratic state legislators from around the country gathered on the front steps of the Massachusetts State House to stand in solidarity with their colleagues from Texas.

• Defending democracy and the right to vote. This is a national issue. This wasn’t just about Texas. It also was about the broader assault on democracy that I see happening throughout our country — the undermining of principles, the erosion of trust in government, the disenfranchisement of voters and the further suppression of already marginalized people. You have my promise — I’m committed to making sure Michigan continues to serve as a model for fair maps and voter protections.

As always, it’s a privilege to serve our House District 10. I appreciate you all and look forward to talking with you soon.

Best regards,

Veronica A. Paiz
State Representative
House District 10