Legislative Update 4-4-25

April 4, 2025Blog, Blog Dynamic, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

Legislative Conference begins Monday in Lansing

More than 300 county and business leaders will gather in Lansing April 7-9 to hear from state leaders and policymakers at the 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference, co-hosted by MAC and the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council.

Board President Melissa Daub of Wayne County will formally open proceedings on Tuesday, April 8 at the DoubleTree Hotel for a wide-ranging series of policy “pods” on such issues as road funding, the ongoing threat posed by ransomware attacks on public websites and data systems and the flurry of changes in federal policy in Washington, D.C.

On the morning of April 9, MAC members will honor the association’s 2025 County Advocate Award winners, Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) and Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Oakland), for their stalwart efforts to create a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, one of MAC’s legislative priorities in 2025.

Elected county commissioners from 45 of Michigan’s 83 counties are registered to attend.

Governor to share remarks via video

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is unable to attend this year’s Legislative Conference, but she will share remarks with attendees via a video message on the morning of Tuesday, April 8.

MAC will post that video, along with other conference materials, on the MAC website at the conclusion of the conference.

Legislative panel set

MAC has selected four legislators to participate in a wide-ranging discussion on what 2025 will bring in Lansing for county governments and the public servants who lead them:

Sarah Anthony (D-Ingham) is chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a former Ingham County commissioner.
Aric Nesbitt (R-Van Buren) is Senate minority leader.
Joseph Aragona (R- Macomb) is chair of the House Regulatory Reform Committee.
Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) is a former chair of the House Health Policy Committee. A former Kalamazoo County commissioner, Rogers received a MAC County Advocate Award in 2023 for her work during the 2022 legislative year.

MAC thanks Kyle Melinn of the MIRS News Service for volunteering to again moderate the panel.

Click here for bios of legislative panelists.

Presentations, videos, photo galleries and other conference materials will be posted to the MAC website in the days and weeks following the conference.

MAC chosen for national role on opioid solutions

MAC has been chosen as one of 10 state associations to participate in the National Association of Counties’ Opioid Solutions Leadership Network. The newly created “Ambassador,” or state association-focused, cohort is focused on the critical role that state associations of counties play in scaling the impact of resources, navigating state-specific terms and conditions on the opioid settlements and fostering timely, responsive solutions for counties across the nation.

Over the next eight months, the new cohort will support state association staff to:

Identify ways to adapt national resources to the specific needs of counties in their home state;
Serve as hubs for collaboration and innovation within and across their states;
Provide direct, localized support to counties in their home state as they look to implement settlement-funded initiatives; and
Help counties measure and monitor the impacts of their settlement funds spending plans.

The other associations participating are Hawaii State Association of Counties; Alaska Municipal League; Utah Association of Counties; Association of Minnesota Counties; Kentucky Association of Counties; Tennessee County Services Association; County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania; Florida Association of Counties; and North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

Later this month, Amy Dolinky, technical adviser, opioid settlement funds, will represent MAC at an in-person convening of the group in Washington, D.C.

For more information on opioid settlements, or for no-cost technical assistance, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

Northern Michigan counties work to clear ice storm damage

Northern Michigan was coated in ice from a storm in late March, prompting emergency declarations. (Photo credit: WZZM)

On March 31, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for the counties of Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac and Alpena to help with response and recovery efforts to the communities affected by the ice storms that caused thousands of residents to be without power and basic necessities.

The declaration of a local state of emergency activates local emergency response and recovery plans. By requesting a governor’s declaration, these counties have determined local resources are insufficient to address the situation, and state assistance is required to protect the health, safety, and property to lessen or avert the threat of a crisis.

By declaring a state of emergency, Gov. Whitmer has made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated areas. The declaration provides that the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) will coordinate state efforts.

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit Michigan.gov/miready.

“Any counties that are interested in helping, I would encourage them to work with their emergency management coordinator to see what resources are needed that their county could assist with and coordinate through the state going forward,” said Jennifer Boyer, president of Midland County, president of the Michigan Emergency Management Association. “There is a statewide mutual aid compact that allows for such resources to be deployed.”

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks announced this week that individuals and businesses in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties can request additional time to file state tax returns and pay state tax bills, with penalties and interest waived.

The tax relief is not automatic. Taxpayers must contact Treasury either by eService, U.S. Postal Service or phone to request relief.

Learn more at the Treasury website.

Blue Cross to host cancer benefits class on April 10

The benefits employers offer can have a big effect on how someone facing a cancer diagnosis manages the disease and other aspects of his or her life. With benefits that support their employees from prevention through treatment, employers can ensure employees feel valued and cared for, while still mitigating the costs associated with cancer care.

Join Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s upcoming Master Class webinar, “How Cancer Care Benefits Can Support Better Outcomes and Avoid Costly Complications,” on Thursday, April 10 from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern time for:

The latest news about cancer prevalence and trends in the U.S.
How employer benefits can encourage preventive screenings and support employees who receive a cancer diagnosis
Strategies for mitigating the financial burden of cancer care for both employers and employees
Tools and resources employers can use to support their employees

Register here for the upcoming Master Class and read the MI Blue Daily article “BCBSM’s New Cancer Support Program Instantly Connects Eligible Members with Personalized, 24/7 Support” for information about Blue Cross’ Cancer Support program.

April 22 webinar details new benefit option for county employees: Savi

As a county leader, you know all too well the challenge now in recruiting and retaining talented employees within the fiscal constraints of a county budget. MAC recently partnered with the firm Savi to provide our members the opportunity to add a potent benefit for employees.

On April 22, Savi’s Tony Raffa will walk you and other county leaders through Savi’s work to help county employees save thousands of dollars in student loan costs ― and keeping any cumbersome administrative burdens off county management.

Learn why counties such as Oakland, Genesee and Kent are using or preparing to use Savi’s expertise and skills to aid their employees.

Average Savi users save more than $2,000 per year on their student loan payments and $40,000 in projected loan forgiveness. Savi’s free assessment tool and digital application simplify work for members, while partners track impact and engagement data on a custom dashboard.

To register for the webinar (April 22, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.), just click here.

And for any questions you may have about Savi and how it can aid your county, just contact Tony Raffa at tony@bysavi.com.

NACo program helps you invest in your county workforce

As a county leader, you and your team deserve top-tier training and a strong return on your investment in professional development. The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy delivers both!

Don’t miss your final opportunity to enroll in the April cohorts starting April 28. Join over 11,000 county leaders who have benefited from this program, experiencing outstanding results and feedback.

Retail cost is $2,995, but county enrollment starts at $1,995. Click HERE to learn more or email Luke Afeman at lukea@pdaleadership.com.

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is a fully facilitated online 12-week program that helps existing leaders get better and emerging leaders get ready to address our challenges in county government.