12/31/2022
Thank you my Jackson community (Michigan’s 64th House District) for the faith you have placed in electing me to serve YOU over the last six years.
The input, insight and ideas you’ve shared with me have made me a better legislator. Here are some highlights:
SPONSORED PUBLIC ACTS
1. PA 84 of 2017 – adds clarity for Animal Shelter Adoptions
2. PA 219 of 2017 - removing dental prosthetic expenses
3. PA 8 of 2018 – streamlines the process for county treasurers to fund the care and preservation of cemetery lots
4. PA 234 of 2018 – simplifies process to obtain professional trades instructors’ teaching certificates
5. PA 277 of 2018 – requires additional safety instruction for driver’s ed training pertaining to bicycles, motorcycles, and other vulnerable roadway users
6. PA 301 of 2018 – eliminates unnecessary MDARD reporting pertaining to the Grade A Milk Law
7. PA 356 of 2018 – designates a portion of highway I-94 in Jackson County as the “Corrections Officers Jack Budd and Josephine McCallum Memorial Highway”
8. PA 622 & 623 of 2018 - incorporates updated standards for manufacturing practices, hazard analysis, and risk-based preventive controls into the Milk Manufacturing Law
9. PA 65 of 2020 - allow widows and widowers to claim retirement tax deductions that would have applied to their late spouses if they were still alive
10. PA 164 of 2020 - addresses asset management plans for local road agencies and encourages collaboration among state and local officials
11. PA 209 of 2020 - waives fee for stillborn death certificates
12. PA 293 of 2020 – designates a portion of highway M-60 in Jackson County as the “Sergeant Matthew R. Soper Memorial Highway”
13. PA 103 of 2021 - allow the spouses of state employees to operate a medical ma*****na business while maintaining reasonable exceptions to prevent conflicts of interest
14. PA 30 of 2022 - allow the sale of Michigan live bait outside of the state
15. PA 126 of 2022 – removes fee for certificate of free sale for food processors
16. PA 156 of 2022 - reduces the property tax burden for Michigan families on their homes built by nonprofit housing organizations
17. PA 217 of 2022 - allows retired Correction Officers to return to work without negatively impacting their retirement benefits
ISSUES CHAMPIONED
HB 5634 of 2018 and HB 5100 of 2019 – update automobile window tint laws
HB 5551 of 2020 - lessen penalties for snowmobiles with improper placement of stickers
HB 4243 of 2021 - revise penalties for the illegal manufacture, creation, delivery, or possession with the intent to distribute schedule 1 and 2 narcotics (fentanyl)
HB 4823 of 2021 - revitalize the Michigan horse racing industry
HB 4851 of 2021 - increase legal penalties to professionals that misuse their authority – i.e. Larry Nassar
HB 4875 of 2021 - examine and address issues pertaining to aggregate mining
HB 4876 of 2021 - add additional measure to ensure transparency at the voting polls
HB 5611 & 5612 of 2021 – remove state taxes on baby diapers and adult incontinence products
HB 5671 of 2022 – Expand and update cottage food law to help small businesses
HB 5804 of 2022 - expand telehealth for veterinarian care
HB 5859 of 2022 - create a learning loss recovery grant to enable parents the ability to secure tutoring services for their children that had fallen behind during covid
HBs 6184-6214 of 2022 - address the lack of accountability and transparency of our existing state emergency powers in a 31-bill package
*Requested Audit (Report published March, 2022) from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General with the following objectives:
• Assess the sufficiency of the Bureau of Elections to maintain the integrity of the Qualified Voter File (QVF) and Electronic Poll Book (EPB)
• Assess the sufficiency of the Bureau of Elections post-election audit procedures
• Assess the sufficiency of the Bureau of Elections efforts to establish and provide training to county, city and township officials responsible for conducting elections
*Conversations regarding Michigan’s “3rd grade reading law” and teacher evaluations
*Addressed challenges in Michigan’s water withdrawal policy and lack of a statewide geological survey
**Assisted over 2,500 constituents in Unemployment Insurance Agency cases
Another highlight has been my ability to be a voice for Michigan’s agricultural industry. Farmers are hardworking individuals; I was excited to educate the general public on the uniqueness and importance of Michigan’s commodities. Creating 23 “Grown in Michigan with Julie Alexander” (GIMJA) videos allowed me to travel the state, meet many interesting individuals and educate the public on Michigan’s robust agricultural industry. This series has reached over 200,000 views.
As this chapter of my professional career comes to a close, I wanted to let you know that I am eternally grateful for the faith you placed in me and the opportunity to serve our Jackson community and our great state of Michigan.
I encourage you to connect with your new Representative, as we move into a new term in 2023. You will be able to find your new Representative by using the “Find Your State Representative" tool linked below:
https://www.house.mi.gov/
Blessings to you and yours in 2023 and our great state of Michigan.
