State Representative
Stephen Wooden
81st House District
Serving 91,516 constituents in Grand Rapids, Ada Township, Grand Rapids Township and Plainfield Township
[email protected]
(517) 373-1790
Office: S 1185 House Office Building
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Stephen Wooden
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Stay Connected with
Stephen Wooden
Smart stair reform is now the law of the land! Yesterday, Governor Whitmer signed several key bills to help combat the housing crisis, including legislation to:
🏗️ Establish a Housing Opportunity Tax Credit to finance new affordable housing
🏘 Limit Wall Street ownership of single-family homes
🏢 Our smart stair reform package to make small-scale apartment buildings doable
Special thanks to Parker Fairbairn - State Representative for working with me on this key package, State Senator Jeff Irwin for his support in the senate, and all the amazing staff who worked with us along the way. Even in today's politics, we were able to bring both sides together to ease the housing crisis. There's so much more to do, but this is another great step!
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
“We remain focused on strengthening your pocketbook while Donald Trump and the Republicans are obsessed with weakening your right to vote."
State Representative Matt Koleszar, State Representative Mai Xiong and I are committed to protecting your right to vote from whoever threatens it. Read our joint response to President Trump's address here:
housedems.com
Wooden, Xiong, Koleszar Respond to Trump’s Address Threatening Election Interference MI House Election Integrity Committee Democrats Stand for Free, Fair Elections “Tonight the President of the...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hoping folks are staying inside as best they can today.⚠️ Grand Rapids - the air is BAD today. City staff in multiple departments are working to keep residents safe. Here's what you need to know:
- There is a Statewide Air Quality Alert for Thursday, July 16, 2026, due to wildfire smoke from Canada.
- GRFD and Kent County Sheriff's Department are aware of the smoke - it is not from a local fire. Please reserve 911 emergency lines for local fires or other emergencies requiring an immediate response.
- MOST City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation programming, including pools, fitness classes, day camps, youth sports, and more, are closed out of caution. Please visit their page and be on the lookout for direct communications for more details.
- Be cautious while driving; the smoke is reducing visibility in some areas.
PROTECT YOURSELF:
- As much as you're able, avoid being outside for any period of time.
- Limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially if you have asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions.
- Watch for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in your eyes, nose, or throat.
- Keep windows and doors closed when possible.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Run your central air conditioning with a MERV-13 or higher filter if available.
- Avoid outdoor burning and limit the use of residential wood-burning devices.
🌐 Stay up to date on air quality:
- Michigan.gov/MiAir
- AirNow.gov
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy 250th, USA! Here’s to another 250th of daring boldly and further protecting our union.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
I am excited to share that one of the crucial pieces of legislation the House and Senate worked all night to pass included the final versions of HB 5570 & 5571, our smart stair reform package. Both bills have passed both chambers and they are now on their way to the Governor.
The final version may be different from what was originally proposed. The two-bill package now permits single-stair construction up to four stories statewide and no longer permits six stories in select areas, but compromise is not a dirty word. As a result, thousands of new residences across our state will now be feasible. Vacant lots that were too small to build on will see new investment. I am immensely proud of the work we have done here, and thankful to Parker Fairbairn - State Representative for working with me on this package.
Onward!
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
We’re expecting a long few nights in Lansing as the budget deal is finalized, but I am ready to stick it out to get a budget that supports schools, roads and affordable healthcare.
And I’ve got my story books ready for FaceTime!
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Scorching temps today! Don’t wait for heat exhaustion to hit.
• Take breaks
• Avoid strenuous outdoor work
• Find a nearby cooling center at 211.org or call 211
Your health matters.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
There's a reason data centers are about as popular as Nickelback right now. People have seen the horror stories of bad actors leading to higher electric bills, water scarcity and noise pollution. If data centers are going to be built in Michigan, they need to benefit everyday Michiganders, not just the corporations who'll profit from them. That's why I joined several of my colleagues in introducing a package of bills to rein in data centers with common-sense guardrails.
These guardrails include:
🔌 Ratepayer protections
💧 Water use limits
🔊 Noise studies before construction
🔍 Transparency requirements
🏘 Community benefits agreements
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
More housing for working and everyday Michiganders, less housing bought up by Wall Street.
Today was a good day. 🏘️
13 CommentsComment on Facebook
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Stephen Wooden IN THE NEWS
Wooden, Xiong, Koleszar Respond to Trump’s Address Threatening Election Interference
Wooden, Xiong, Koleszar Respond to Trump’s Address Threatening Election Interference MI House Election Integrity Committee Democrats Stand for Free, Fair [...]
Andrews, Fellow Democrats Introduce Comprehensive Legislative Package Putting Guardrails on Data Centers
State Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) speaks at the Data Center Guardrail press conference, alongside fellow House Democrats. LANSING, Mich., [...]
Tsernoglou, Wooden Denounce President Trump’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Executive Order Attempting to Federalize Mail-In-Ballot’s
LANSING, Mich., April 1, 2026 — Today, state Reps. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) and Stephen Wooden (D-Grand Rapids) issued the [...]
Smart stair reform is now the law of the land! Yesterday, Governor Whitmer signed several key bills to help combat the housing crisis, including legislation to:
🏗️ Establish a Housing Opportunity Tax Credit to finance new affordable housing
🏘 Limit Wall Street ownership of single-family homes
🏢 Our smart stair reform package to make small-scale apartment buildings doable
Special thanks to Parker Fairbairn - State Representative for working with me on this key package, State Senator Jeff Irwin for his support in the senate, and all the amazing staff who worked with us along the way. Even in today's politics, we were able to bring both sides together to ease the housing crisis. There's so much more to do, but this is another great step! ... See MoreSee Less
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
“We remain focused on strengthening your pocketbook while Donald Trump and the Republicans are obsessed with weakening your right to vote."
State Representative Matt Koleszar, State Representative Mai Xiong and I are committed to protecting your right to vote from whoever threatens it. Read our joint response to President Trump's address here: ... See MoreSee Less
Wooden, Xiong, Koleszar Respond to Trump’s Address Threatening Election Interference - Michigan House Democrats
housedems.com
Wooden, Xiong, Koleszar Respond to Trump’s Address Threatening Election Interference MI House Election Integrity Committee Democrats Stand for Free, Fair Elections “Tonight the President of the...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hoping folks are staying inside as best they can today.⚠️ Grand Rapids - the air is BAD today. City staff in multiple departments are working to keep residents safe. Here's what you need to know:
- There is a Statewide Air Quality Alert for Thursday, July 16, 2026, due to wildfire smoke from Canada.
- GRFD and Kent County Sheriff's Department are aware of the smoke - it is not from a local fire. Please reserve 911 emergency lines for local fires or other emergencies requiring an immediate response.
- MOST City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation programming, including pools, fitness classes, day camps, youth sports, and more, are closed out of caution. Please visit their page and be on the lookout for direct communications for more details.
- Be cautious while driving; the smoke is reducing visibility in some areas.
PROTECT YOURSELF:
- As much as you're able, avoid being outside for any period of time.
- Limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially if you have asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions.
- Watch for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in your eyes, nose, or throat.
- Keep windows and doors closed when possible.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Run your central air conditioning with a MERV-13 or higher filter if available.
- Avoid outdoor burning and limit the use of residential wood-burning devices.
🌐 Stay up to date on air quality:
- Michigan.gov/MiAir
- AirNow.gov ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy 250th, USA! Here’s to another 250th of daring boldly and further protecting our union. ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
I am excited to share that one of the crucial pieces of legislation the House and Senate worked all night to pass included the final versions of HB 5570 & 5571, our smart stair reform package. Both bills have passed both chambers and they are now on their way to the Governor.
The final version may be different from what was originally proposed. The two-bill package now permits single-stair construction up to four stories statewide and no longer permits six stories in select areas, but compromise is not a dirty word. As a result, thousands of new residences across our state will now be feasible. Vacant lots that were too small to build on will see new investment. I am immensely proud of the work we have done here, and thankful to Parker Fairbairn - State Representative for working with me on this package.
Onward! ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
We’re expecting a long few nights in Lansing as the budget deal is finalized, but I am ready to stick it out to get a budget that supports schools, roads and affordable healthcare.
And I’ve got my story books ready for FaceTime! ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Scorching temps today! Don’t wait for heat exhaustion to hit.
• Take breaks
• Avoid strenuous outdoor work
• Find a nearby cooling center at 211.org or call 211
Your health matters. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
There's a reason data centers are about as popular as Nickelback right now. People have seen the horror stories of bad actors leading to higher electric bills, water scarcity and noise pollution. If data centers are going to be built in Michigan, they need to benefit everyday Michiganders, not just the corporations who'll profit from them. That's why I joined several of my colleagues in introducing a package of bills to rein in data centers with common-sense guardrails.
These guardrails include:
🔌 Ratepayer protections
💧 Water use limits
🔊 Noise studies before construction
🔍 Transparency requirements
🏘 Community benefits agreements ... See MoreSee Less
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
More housing for working and everyday Michiganders, less housing bought up by Wall Street.
Today was a good day. 🏘️ ... See MoreSee Less
13 CommentsComment on Facebook