Funding for community violence intervention programs, Gun Violence Prevention Town Hall, and more

Funding for community violence intervention programs, Gun Violence Prevention Town Hall, and more

Dear Neighbor,

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

Please join me Monday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a 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:

I recently co-sponsored legislation (House Bills 5586–5587) to create a statewide Community Violence Intervention Grant Program and establish the Office of Community Violence Intervention Services within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Community violence intervention (CVI) uses evidence-based strategies and tailored community-centered initiatives. CVI focuses on individuals who are most at-risk of experiencing or continuing violence in our communities, and it takes into account the many social, economic and institutional factors that perpetuate violence.

The CVI program Advance Peace came to Lansing in 2022. Since then, this public-health program has grown while demonstrating results: gun violence injuries and deaths have decreased in our community. The Community Violence Intervention Grant Program would help support programs like Advance Peace across our state.

The Lansing State Journal recently published an op-ed I wrote regarding rising utility costs, and what Democrats in Michigan are doing to fight back. Rising costs not only affect monthly expenses; they also impact quality of life, forcing many to make difficult choices. Affordable and reliable energy is a necessity, and addressing these rising costs is critical to ensuring that Michiganders can have a good quality of life.

Legislation (House Bill 5580) was re-introduced last week to prevent insurance providers from inquiring about the breed of a dog on an insured or potentially insured property. Insurance providers in Michigan currently are allowed to ask a potential customer about their dog’s breed, and will often use that information to increase premiums or deny coverage. This is the second term I’ve co-sponsored this legislation to protect pet owners from these discriminatory practices.

Last week, I co-sponsored legislation (House Bills 5590–5593) to make Michigan the first state in the country to require licensure, inspections, and accreditation of free-standing health and wellness centers, medical spas, and other facilities that use hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are highly combustible and require regular maintenance and equipment inspections. Despite this, free-standing facilities offering this service are not regulated or subject to any oversight.

Last year, a five-year old boy died in a fire that occurred inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in Troy. This legislation would create oversight for these free-standing facilities, ensuring that proper safety precautions are being followed and preventable tragedies do not occur.

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,

Kara Hope
State Representative
House District 74

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.

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 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.