MLC Insider Intelligence: August 28, 2026
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Weekly Recap: The House held session and committee hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Art of Good: For over 12 years, MLC Partner Brendan Ringlever held various leadership roles within the legislature, including Legislative Director for then-Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema. In that role, he ran the day-to-day agenda in the Senate and served as the liaison to the Governor and the Speaker of the House’s offices.
Lessons Learned: Juggling caucus priorities and member issues, coupled with the interests of the lobby corps, helped him understand the balancing act required to move issues from concept to a final vote. While you always want the end product to be exactly what you’re hoping for, understanding that you can’t let perfect get in the way of good is important.
Experience: Carrying the experience from the highest level of government into lobbying has allowed Brendan to be a strong and confident advocate to help guide our firm’s clients.
House Approves Citizen-Initiated Law: The Michigan House voted to approve a proposal to put restrictions on campaign donations by public-backed utilities and large corporations. Named the Michiganders for Money out of Politics, the citizen-initiated law would ban political contributions from regulated utilities and corporations that hold or seek state or local contracts over $250,000 from funding political campaigns.
Next Steps: If the Michigan Senate votes to approve, it would become law, but if they don’t take action, it will be placed on this November’s general election ballot for Michigan voters. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) has publicly stated the chamber won’t hold a vote. Thus, it will be placed on the ballot this fall.
Future Changes: If a citizen-initiated law is approved by the legislature, it could be amended with a simple majority vote. However, if approved by Michigan voters, it would require a two-thirds vote by both chambers of the legislature to amend it.
Healthcare Reforms Introduced: Bipartisan legislation was announced in the House this week that is designed to increase investments in primary care, expand access, and build the healthcare workforce Michigan communities need. Currently in Michigan, 75 of the state’s 83 counties and nearly one in three people lack regular access to primary care.
The Problem: Less than 6% of the state’s healthcare spending is toward primary care. As a result, primary care faces growing pressure due to significant pay gaps between primary care and specialty medicine, high medical school debt, limited residency opportunities, an aging workforce, and an aging population with increasing healthcare needs.
Proposed Reforms: It would make a 12% investment target for state-contract health plans, establish a State Commission on Primary Care Access, Improvement, and Transformation to track investment, workforce trends, and access gaps, and create an Office of Primary Care Transformation within the Department of Health and Human Services to track investment, provide technical assistance, and support grants and pilot programs. Additionally, the proposal provides tax credits to primary care preceptors who train and mentor future healthcare providers, and creates grants for Michigan medical schools to introduce middle and high school students to healthcare careers, among other reforms.
House Forms Select Committee: The Michigan House of Representatives voted to create the Select Committee on Rules and Procedures of the Bureau of Elections and the Board of State Canvassers. It comes in response to a recent decision that an initiative had not collected enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The committee will review the circumstances surrounding the review and decision.
Background: A citizen’s initiative to require individuals voting in Michiganelections to prove they are United States citizens turned in 709,841 signatures to be placed on the general election ballot. After review, the Bureau of Elections determined that the group backing it did not obtain the required 446,198 valid signatures from registered Michigan voters. As a result, the Board of State Canvassers tied 2-2 on a vote to accept their findings. A tie means it will not be placed on the ballot.
Committee Members: The committee is comprised of seven members, five of those from the Republican Party and two from the Democratic Party. Representative Mike Harris (R-Waterford) will serve as chair, Representative Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford) as majority vice chair, and Representative Denise Mentzer (D-Mt. Clemens) as minority vice chair.
Governor Announces Appointment: Governor Whitmer announced the reappointment of Frank Tecumseh to the Michigan Travel Commission. He is the chief executive officer of FireKeepers Casino Hotel and is reappointed as an individual with experience in the travel, tourism, and recreation industry for a term commencing August 21, 2026, and expiring August 20, 2030. The appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Travel Commission: The Travel Commission was established to promote, maintain, and develop the orderly growth of the Michigan travel project. It assists the Michigan Travel Bureau with the development of a comprehensive long-range master plan, annually assesses the activities and accomplishments of the Bureau, and works to the maximum extent practicable with those private associations, nonprofit corporations, organizations, or other private entities that promote tourism in Michigan.
Spotlight On Representative Jay DeBoyer: Representative Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) is serving his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives. He serves as an associate speaker pro tempore for the current 2025-2026 term. Prior to his election to the House, he spent 12 years as clerk and register of deeds for St. Clair County. Additionally, Representative DeBoyer served as Clay Township’s trustee and supervisor. He’s been a small business owner since 1994, specializing in engineered lumber. In August 2026, Congressman John James, and Republican candidate for governor, selected him as his running mate as Lt. Governor.
District: The 63rd House District includes southern St. Clair County and northern Macomb County.
Committees
Oversight, chair
Judiciary
Economic Competitiveness
Next Week: The Michigan Democratic Party will host its nominating convention on Saturday, August 29, to nominate candidates for the general election, including lieutenant governor. The House schedule session for Tuesday, while the Senate has not scheduled session for the week.
Leading up to the November 5 general election, we are highlighting races generally considered swing seats.
General Election Overview: 29th Michigan House District: Republican Representative Jim DeSana has represented this district for two terms and is running for another term. The Democratic candidate has a slight advantage in this race with a 52.1% base.
District Overview: The district includes portions of Monroe and Wayne Counties.
Democratic Candidate:
Darian Counts – Editor-in-chief of Detroit Live Magazine, musician, and business owner.
Republican Candidate:
Representative Jim DeSana – State representative, runs a family farm, worked as a sales representative, and an NCAA baseball umpire.
General Election Overview: 31st Michigan House District: Democratic Representative Reggie Miller has served two terms in this seat and, while eligible to run again, chose not to seek a third.
On paper, this open seat is a lean Democratic district with a 53.9% base. However, both the House Democrats and House Republicans believe they have each secured a top-tier candidate and are very confident in their candidate’s work ethic and relationship with the district. This will be a race to watch and will play a pivotal role in which party wins the majority.
District Overview: The district includes portions of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties.
Democratic Candidate:
Shannon Dare Wayne – Milan Mayor Pro Tem, former Milan City Councilwoman, adjunct professor at Lawrence Technological University, worked at Ford Motor Company for almost 30 years.
Republican Candidate:
Laura Perry – Business owner, worked in the private and public sectors, including the City of Toledo and healthcare staffing.
General Election Overview: 44th Michigan House District: After narrowly beating former Representative Jim Haadsma in the 2024 election, Republican Representative Steve Frisbie is serving his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives. This November will be the sequel, with first-term Representative Frisbie facing former Representative Haadsma once again.
This is a near 50-50 district and will be one of the most competitive state house seats in Michigan. The path to majority for either the Republicans or Democrats will likely hinge on the outcome of this seat. There will be significant investments made in this district through both campaign expenditures and manpower on the ground.
District Overview: The district includes Battle Creek, Springfield, Albion, and Bedford, Pennfield, Convis, Lee, Clarence, and Sheridan Townships.
Democratic Candidate:
Jim Haadsma – Former state representative, attorney, former member of the Calhoun County Board
Republican Candidate:
Representative Steve Frisbie – State representative, paramedic, volunteer firefighter, former Calhoun County Commissioner, and instructor at Kellogg Community College.
General Election Overview: 46th Michigan House District: Republican Representative Kathy Schmaltz has proven to be a strong candidate, consistently outperforming the political base of this district. She has successfully won twice and is now seeking a third term in the House. The Democratic Party holds a slight advantage, with a 51.8% base. This is another key race in the battle for the majority. Democrats are optimistic they have the right candidate to knock off the two-term incumbent, while Republicans are confident in Representative Schmaltz and the work she has accomplished for this district while serving in the State House.
District Overview: The district includes Jackson, Blackman, and Leoni Townships, and portions of Grass Lake and Summit Townships, Chelsea, and Sylvan Township.
Democratic Candidate:
Jan Maino – Mental health therapist.
Republican Candidate:
Representative Kathy Schmaltz – State representative, former news anchor, writer, and associate news director of a local station.