MLC Insider Intelligence: February 20, 2026
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Weekly Recap: The House and Senate held session on Wednesday and Thursday.
Beyond the Bio – Meet Brendan Ringlever
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I liked business and numbers and thought I’d be a CPA, seriously!
What are your favorite activities to unwind from work?
Running, cooking, and watching my kids play sports.
If you were to give a TED Talk, what would it be on and why?
The importance of being yourself and being empathetic.
Who are three people, living or past, that you would most want to have dinner with?
George Washington, Jimmy Buffett, and Chris Farley
What skills are most important in your role?
Timing/knowing when to insert yourself, having a sense of urgency, and understanding how leaders need to balance priorities and make decisions.
How do you describe your job to someone outside of the industry?
I help people navigate and get what they need from government.
What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
How to balance personal life and work life. Our jobs, much like others, are 24/7.
What is one thing about MLC that makes us great?
We have a cohesive team of professionals – the best in business.
Dive Deeper in our rapid fire Q&A video!
Bipartisan Housing Proposal Announced: Representatives Krisitan Grant (D-Grand Rapids) and Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Twp.) announced the Housing Readiness Package, which aims to address Michigan’s housing shortage and high costs. The two lawmakers have been working on the proposal since last term and feel it’s a strong proposal to help address the housing crisis in Michigan.
Key Points: The legislation would enact a series of changes to address the growing problems. It would allow duplexes in single-family residential zones in or adjacent to metropolitan areas, prohibit minimum parking space requirements of more than one space per dwelling, and update the procedure for protesting zoning changes to ensure broad community input by expanding the petition area radius and setting a 60% signature threshold. Additionally, the legislation defines setback requirements in metropolitan areas, caps minimum dwelling size requirements at 500 square feet, and prohibits minimum lot size requirements of more than 2,500 square feet, among other reforms.
Importance: The issues facing potential homebuyers today have been growing for years. In 2005, there were approximately 54,000 new units on the market, while in 2024 that number was 15,000. Furthermore, three decades ago, a person could buy a house for approximately two-to-three times the annual income. Today, a comparably sized house costs approximately six times the annual income.
Governor Announces Strategic Plan: Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the release of Michigan’s Defense and Aerospace Strategic Plan, a five-year roadmap aimed at growing the defense and aerospace sectors. As competition intensifies in this arena, the plan seeks to position the state to lead in defense, aerospace, maritime, and space innovation.
Key Points: The plan was developed by the Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation, which is housed within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It serves as a living document, combining a clear mission and vision with adaptable appendices to guide Michigan’s efforts over the next five years as technology, national priorities, and global conditions evolve. The plan emphasizes close coordination with the Michigan National Guard and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Strategic Plan: The plan is organized around three integrated lines of effort. First, it seeks to foster business growth within defense and aerospace by strengthening the pipeline of high-impact projects, supporting dual-use technologies, and expanding attraction, retention, and expansion efforts. Second, it seeks to amplify the state’s unique advantages by leveraging the skilled workforce, world-class universities, robust manufacturing base, and defense assets. Lastly, the plan aims to set conditions to advance innovation, including accelerating applied research, expanding testing and evaluation capabilities, attracting innovation-driven enterprises, and ensuring Michigan remains a leader in next-generation technology.
Attorney General Seeks Court Order: Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with a coalition of states, filed a motion asking the District Court of Massachusetts to enforce its order prohibiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from terminating funding to disaster preparedness. Michigan stands to lose millions in funds to help prepare the state for future natural disasters.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC): For 30 years, the program has provided communities with resources to proactively fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. It focuses on mitigation and community resilience ahead of disasters in order to save lives, reduce injury, protect property, and save money that would have otherwise been spent post-disaster. Over the past four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects to receive roughly $4.5 billion in BRIC funding nationwide. In recent years, Michigan had 24 projects selected for BRIC funding, totaling more than $29 million.
Background: In July 2025, Michigan and a coalition of states filed a lawsuit to prevent FEMA from terminating its BRIC program. Later that year, in December, the coalition won its case, and the court declared the termination of this congressionally mandated program unlawful. The court ordered FEMA to promptly take all steps necessary to reverse the termination. Over two months have passed, and according to the latest filing, the federal government has offered no indication they’ve complied with the court order.
Spotlight on Senator Sarah Anthony: Senator Anthony (D-Lansing) is serving her first term in the Michigan Senate. She made history in 2023 as the first Black woman to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for crafting the state budget and overseeing spending throughout state government. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives. Throughout her 20-year career in public service, she has made history multiple times, serving as mid-Michigan’s first African American woman to be elected to the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. Additionally, before her election to the legislature, Senator Anthony was the youngest Black woman to serve on a County Commission in the United States. Before entering public office, she was the deputy and interim executive director with the Michigan College Access Network. Senator Anthony has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and earned a master’s degree from Western Michigan University.
District: Senator Anthony represents the 21st Michigan Senate District, which includes parts of Lansing, Lansing Township, and all of Eaton County, Alaiedon Township, Aurelius Township, Bunker Hill Township, Delhi Charter Township, Ingham Township, Leslie, Leslie Township, Mason, Onondaga Township, and Vevay Township.
Committees: She serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
We asked Senator Anthony a few questions to learn more about her:
What’s your favorite travel destination outside of Michigan?
A – Chicago
What’s your favorite hobby other than politics?
A – Cooking
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A – A Jedi
What’s your favorite game to play or sport to watch and/or play?
A – Detroit Basketball!
Next Week: The House and Senate are scheduled to hold their typical Tuesday – Thursday session schedule. Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her eighth and final State of the State Address on Wednesday, February 25.
Congratulations to MLC’s information management associate, Peyton Wyatt, on his first anniversary with the firm!