Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to 2026.
As we head back into session in Lansing, my team and I are setting up our legislative roadmap for the year ahead. We know the destination: a Michigan where working families can afford to live and get ahead, where powerful interests play by the same rules as everyone else and where government earns back your trust by doing its job openly and honestly.
I’m entering this year with a clear agenda, focused on three key issues that Michiganders are asking for action on: Affordability, Consumer Protection and Good Governance.
This is the work we’re prioritizing right out of the gate, and I want to share it with you directly, so you know exactly where we stand — and where we’re going.
- Affordability: Taking on the costs that are hitting your wallet the hardest — health care, housing, education, energy and so much more.
- Consumer Protection: Cracking down on corporate tricks, from personal finance to environmental impacts.
- Good Governance: Keeping our government accountable and accessible, so your leaders respond to your needs and so you can access critical services.
Affordability
Across the United States, and especially in our community, we’re hearing about one big issue: affordability. Young people are struggling to make it on their own; seniors on fixed incomes are being squeezed as the cost-of-living climbs; small businesses are facing uncertainty as everyday goods get more expensive month after month.
Costs are rising faster than paychecks, and the pressure families are feeling is real.
That’s why I’m focused on an affordability agenda that takes on these costs head-on, from every angle:
- Housing: Every person needs housing to live a healthy, productive life. Instead, some homes are hoarded by corporate investors who contribute to a crisis of affordability and availability. We have to make sure Michiganders have a fair shot at buying or renting a home. This is in addition to building more housing across Michigan.
- Groceries & Energy: Beef prices are up almost 15% since last year. Coffee is up almost 30%. Bananas are up nearly 7%. There’s a lot at play, including federal policy issues, but the state can play an important role in keeping your essential bills manageable — especially with energy, by holding utilities accountable.
- Health Care: Our health care system is broken, and costs continue to go up. This month, tens of millions of Americans will see their premiums skyrocket — with average premiums for subsidized individuals on the ACA marketplace increasing by an estimated 114%. We have to do more to continue lowering the cost of prescription drugs and expanding access to health care people can actually afford. No one should have to choose between skipping a dose and paying the bills.
- Education: Education should be a ladder up, not a lifetime debt burden. For decades, Michigan has underinvested in our public schools, colleges and universities. We’ve made real progress in recent years, but there is more work to do to close gaps and make sure every student has a fair shot at success, whether that path leads to college or the trades.
This isn’t about fixing just one piece of the puzzle. These costs are connected, and families feel them all at once. My goal is to bring costs down across the board so Michigan families can get ahead, not just get by.
Consumer Protection
When we talk about consumer protection, we mean it in the broadest sense. At its core, this is about fairness. Right now, it feels like the rules are written to protect big corporations while regular people are left to “read the fine print,” fight for a refund or deal with the consequences when companies cut corners. That imbalance is wrong, and it’s exactly what consumer protection is meant to fix.
This year, I’m continuing to push for real accountability. That means cracking down on the “death by a thousand cuts” fees that quietly drain household budgets, subscriptions designed to be nearly impossible to cancel, and pricing schemes that drive up your grocery bill without warning or explanation.
But protection isn’t just about receipts; it’s about safety. It means holding companies accountable when they pollute our air and water or put communities at risk to boost profits. When companies break public trust, whether by tacking junk fees onto rent or straining the electrical grid, there must be real, enforceable consequences. Families shouldn’t have to sacrifice their health or their hard-earned money because a company chose profit over responsibility.
Good Governance
Protecting consumers and making Michigan more affordable matter, but none of it works if people don’t trust their government to deliver. That trust isn’t automatic. It has to be earned through transparency, accountability, and clear rules that apply to everyone.
That’s why I’m continuing to push for stronger ethics laws in Lansing. That includes clear standards for how lawmakers request funding for local projects and greater public access to records from both the Legislature and the executive branch. If government is doing its job, it shouldn’t be afraid of public scrutiny.
This is about “good governance” — a fancy sounding term that’s a really simple concept: I work for you, not special interests.
We need to close the loopholes that give well-connected insiders the loudest voice, whether that influence comes from utilities or big campaign donors. When decisions are made, they should be based on what’s best for the people we serve, not who has the most money or access. My goal is a government that’s boringly reliable, transparent by default, and focused on results, not one that feels rigged by insiders.
I Want to Hear From You
These are big challenges, and real progress takes work. But it’s always better when it’s guided by your experiences and your voice.
Have costs jumped for your family recently? Run into a problem with state government? Have an idea for how we can make government more transparent and accountable?
If so, please reply and let me and my team know. Your stories help shape our work and keep us focused on the problems that actually matter to people back home.
Let’s get to work.
Jason Morgan
State Representative
Michigan’s 23rd House District
Want to know when our next community event will be scheduled? Follow my Facebook page for the latest updates and events!