Singh Named Senator Of The Year

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 12/29/2025) Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), the lead negotiator on the earned sick time and tipped wage package early in the year, was named the MIRS News Senator of the Year Monday, a recognition given annually to the Senator who exhibits high levels of impact, effectiveness and activity in the calendar year.

Senator Sam Singh

Announced on the Dec. 29 MIRS Monday podcast, Singh was recognized for seeing seven sponsored bills signed into law in a year when only 74 were signed in the entire calendar year. Among those was a bill in the tri-care reimbursement program bills, which had been a big priority for the Governor this year.

Although he didn't score a public act with the earned sick time and tipped wage bills, he did make sure vulnerable incumbent Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores)'s bill on the tipped wage made the final list.

Singh also shepherded through the Senate legislation that prohibits drug manufacturers from restricting hospitals' access to discounted pharmaceuticals under the 340B drug pricing program. The controversial bill, SB 94, passed the upper chamber, 33-3.

Later in the year, Singh led through the Senate a consumer protection package designed to restore the Attorney General's pre-1990s authority to investigate and press charges against businesses suspected of deceiving customers. 

The bill is a repeat of one Senate Democrats passed last year, strongly opposed by the business community for opening up civil action by consumers who think shops and services wronged them. 

He later became the lead negotiator on the economic development package by sponsoring SB 472 and SB 473, which allow select companies to keep the state income tax payments remitted by their new employee, and helped craft the brownfield package.

Also, earlier in the year, 31 percent of MIRS subscribers dubbed Singh the chamber's "most effective" member of the Senate, the highest among sitting senators.

For what it's worth, Singh is also the only legislator House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) confesses that he doesn't like to negotiate with and the only Senator he doesn't regularly claim he beats in negotiations.

MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn said Hall's comments could all be "just Jedi mind tricks, but it's worth mentioning."

Singh now joins past recipient Jim Stamas as the only Senator to receive this award twice in a career, having captured the award in 2023.

Past Senator of The Year

2024: Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) 

2023: Sen. Singh

2022: Former Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas (R-Midland)

2021: Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.) 

2020: Stamas 

2019: Pete Lucido (R-Shelby Township) 

2018: Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage)

2017: Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) 

2016: Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek) 

2015: Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) 

2014: Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) 

2013: Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) 

2012: Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) 

2011: Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township)