Policy Issues

A glass jar of raw milk sat on the testimony table alongside Oreo cookies Thursday morning as Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) kicked off a Government Operations Committee hearing on legislation that would allow a direct farm-to-consumer producer or designated agent to sell raw milk.

The Republican-led House is prepared to do “big things” in 2026 despite it being an election year, said House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) during Wednesday’s first press conference of the year.

The Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) blasted Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Mike Rogers for his perceived position on healthcare Tuesday, framing it as supportive of the insurance premium hikes that thousands of Americans are encountering early this year.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Swanson said law enforcement “is better than" what he saw in video footage from Minnesota, where a federal immigration agent shot a protester to death.

Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Jocelyn Benson Thursday proposed a $5,000 caregiver tax credit as part of a health care reform agenda that she sees as a top campaign priority in 2026. The sitting Secretary of State noted that Michigan is dealing with a growing aged population that some have called a “senior tsunami.”

Michigan power companies would be required under law to restore power to 95% of their customers after a major storm or face escalating fines, management oversight changes or rejected cost recovery proposals under a proposal released Wednesday from Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard.

The law the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee used to deny $645 million in carryover funding from the prior fiscal year through the "work project" process is unconstitutional, Attorney General Dana Nessel opined Wednesday.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) has vowed to push some form of property tax relief in the new year, but two political observers in this town have a different take on his chances for success.

Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), a Republican candidate for governor, wants an audit of state subsidies provided to childcare providers. His request follows reports in Minnesota of significant fraud schemes, where Somali residents have been accused of fraudulently collecting government funding intended for child nutrition, housing services and autism programming.

It's officially 2026! We're electing a new governor, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State and attorney general.

The House and Senate leadership closed the door on 2025 on Thursday with big dreams for 2026, but none that seem to overlap.

In the first “deal” House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) said he'd made with Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) this session, the House and Senate passed around 25 bills cracking down on bots during high-volume ticket sales, creating a voluntary high school hunter safety education class and updating standards on the machines used in mammograms.

House Republicans, led by Rep. James DeSana (R-Carleton), launched on Thursday a Department of Government Efficient (DOGE)-like task force that's been charged with recommending sniffing out public assistance fraud and efficiencies within state government.

The House Health Policy Committee on Wednesday advanced a hospital price transparency bill and several health measures before turning to testimony on a mental health code rewrite designed to respond to individuals before “tragedy strikes.”

Someone experiencing suicidal thoughts could have their names put on a temporary or indefinite do-not-sell list for firearms, under legislation by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor).

The Senate Tuesday night passed a bill significantly expanding Michigan's brownfield redevelopment program, which would award developers with $3.5 billion in total tax capture off from payrolls and other costs. Folks around the Capitol see this as greasing the wheels on a massive redevelopment of Detroit's Renaissance Center, a planned aquarium in Kent County, a Macomb County mall, and other large projects in Traverse City and Muskegon.

Distributing human milk that is improperly pasteurized, adulterated or contaminated would be formally outlawed under new legislation by Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor).

In the new legislative year, House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) is planning to introduce a property tax cut proposal that gives Michigan voters two choices on how to replace the lost dollars for local governments and schools.

Residents with employer-provided health insurance will see the "additional financial pressure" of more folks going uninsured due to federal Medicaid reforms and the looming expiration of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, says one benefits consultant.

Lue Yang – a Hmong refugee and St. Johns married father of six – who was detained and threatened with deportation by federal immigration officials for a 30-year-old expunged home invasion conviction on his record, was released to his family Wednesday afternoon.