RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer Signs Bills to Ensure Michigan Children have Access to a Dental Check-Up Before Kindergarten

LANSING, Mich.—Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to establish a dental oral assessment program. The governor also signed legislation to protect seniors from financial abuse, add to Michigan’s all-hands-on-deck response to the opioid epidemic, protect dogs and cats used in testing facilities, and more.

“These bills will prioritize the health and safety of our children by testing dental health at a young age,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office, we have expanded access and lowered the cost of health care. Let’s keep working together to make sure every child is safe, healthy and can build a bright future in Michigan.”

Senate Bill 280, sponsored by state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), requires dental oral assessments for children who are registering for the first time in kindergarten or the first grade in a Michigan school. The program will serve 112,000 kindergarteners in Michigan through the work of the State of Michigan and Delta Dental.

“Dental health is often overlooked when we talk about the health and development of our kids. All families need access to care to ensure their children stay healthy and can be successful,” said state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing). “Today, I'm pleased to see Senate Bill 280, requiring a dental check for kids entering kindergarten or first grade, has been signed into law by the Governor. It's a sensible step toward ensuring our children's well-being as they take their first steps into their educational journey.”

“Requiring dental assessments for kindergartners will help tens of thousands of children across Michigan and increase access to dental health care,” said Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF). “This important law will help improve kids’ health and set them up for success in school and beyond.”

“Along with all the members of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition, we are excited that our local public health departments will continue to provide this valuable screening to our incoming kindergarteners across Michigan,” said Amy Zaagman, Executive Director, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health. “Oral health is critically important to overall wellbeing and the ability to learn, grow and thrive. Screening is the first step towards connecting families to oral health care providers in their area anxious to help meet the needs of children.”

“Older Michiganders dedicated their lives to hard work and community contributions,” said state Representative Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township). “As they age, it becomes our responsibility to safeguard them from scams and abuse. With this bill signed into law, we can help stop financial exploitation at the source and make sure the elderly keep the money they earned and deserve.”

"Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse in the U.S. with the average victim losing $120,000," said AARP Michigan State Director Paula D. Cunningham. "AARP welcomes this new law and applauds the Michigan legislature and governor for taking this critical step in adding another layer of protection for older Michiganders."

Senate Bill 133, sponsored by state Senator Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), creates overdose fatality review act, which would allow a county or counties to establish an overdose fatality review team. These teams would examine the causes of drug overdoses in the area and recommend policies to prevent overdoses.

“Overdose Fatality Review Teams (OFRT) will provide a new tool for Michigan to help fight the opioid epidemic,” said state Senator Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo). “I am grateful to my legislative colleagues and Governor Whitmer for enacting the bipartisan legislation. This law will permit a county or group of counties to coordinate community experts — such as first responders, medical professionals, members of law enforcement, substance use disorder professionals and others — who will look at trends and local risk factors involving opioid fatalities, and then make recommendations to better curb overdose fatalities in the future. The law also provides necessary confidentiality protections similar to elder and child fatality review teams.”

Senate Bill 149, sponsored by state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-Saint Clair Shores), requires certain research facilities to offer certain laboratory animals for adoption before euthanization.

“Our animal friends provide so much love and comfort to us in our daily lives that they deserve to have a long, happy life full of treats, green grass to run on and toys to catch,” said state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). “After I met Teddy — a beagle who was rescued from euthanasia at a Michigan laboratory in 2018 — I introduced a bill known as Teddy’s Law. This compassionate and bipartisan legislation will create a pathway for countless dogs and cats in Michigan to find loving forever homes.”

“Teddy’s Law” is the most significant animal welfare law the Michigan legislature has passed in decades—and it’s long overdue,” said state Senator Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia). “Now, instead of dogs and cats being automatically euthanized after their time in a lab, those that are adoptable will go to loving homes via humane societies. I am absolutely thrilled that Governor Whitmer is signing this bill into law. Hundreds of dogs’ and cats’ lives will be saved each year because of it.”

“For dogs and cats who are used as test subjects in laboratories across Michigan, the very least they deserve is to spend the rest of their lives in loving homes. With Teddy’s Law in place, now, laboratories will have to do the right thing and allow these loving animals to be adopted,” said Blake Goodman, Michigan State Director for Humane Society of the United States. “Put simply, Teddy’s Law will save the lives of hundreds of dogs and cats every year, and the HSUS is grateful to Sens. Hertel and Polehanki for their tireless, yearslong support of this commonsense legislation, and to Governor Whitmer for signing it into law today.”

House Bill 4920, sponsored by John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), increases the number of judges in the 63rd District Court as called for by the Judicial Resources Recommendation report, to ensure judicial resources are effectively distributed.

“Michiganders deserve prompt judicial proceedings, and we’ve helped ensure that today,” said state Representative John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming). “This bill specifically, allowing for an additional judge in the 63rd District Court, will help Kent County residents receive the justice they deserve in a timely manner.”

House Bill 4823, sponsored by Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township), increases the number of judges in the Macomb County probate court as called for by the Judicial Resources Recommendation report, to ensure judicial resources are effectively distributed.

“The Probate Court looks out for people in crisis situations, where time is of the essence,” said state Representative Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township). “These cases don’t usually involve people who can wait weeks or sometimes even days for a hearing. We’re talking about orphaned children with nowhere to go, mentally ill and developmentally disabled loved ones, and folks looking for the authority to make medical decisions for incapacitated family members, and myriad other circumstances where timely, thoughtful decisions need to be made. Macomb County needs this additional judicial position to ensure our vulnerable family, friends and neighbors are properly served.”

"HB 4850 recognizes and honors the sacrifice and service of our armed forces members and their families by granting them an automatic exemption from jury duty during active-duty times, if they so choose," said state Representative Carol Glanville (D-Walker). "This bill not only respects our commitment to our veterans but also acknowledges the unique challenges and responsibilities they face, ensuring they can fulfill their duties to our country without additional burdens."

Senate Bill 464, sponsored by state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and issue three legacy registration plates.

“For countless residents, these retro license plates evoke nostalgic memories about their childhoods and the cars they grew up with,” said state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak). “Bringing back these vintage looks for modern plates will allow drivers to pay homage to our automotive history while creating a fun way to contribute to improving our roads.”

House Bill 5074, sponsored by state Representative Will Snyder (D-Muskegon), helps to grow the economy and ensures that the Muskegon SmartZone continues to operate.

"House Bill 5074 amends the Tax Increment Finance Act in regard to SmartZones,” said state Representative Will Snyder (D-Muskegon). “This bill remedies an administrative error and will allow for the continued redevelopment of the lakefront Harbor 31 site in downtown Muskegon.”

"This bill represents a step towards the development of Muskegon County’s South Campus on Apple Ave. by removing deed restrictions on the property,” said state Representative Will Snyder (D-Muskegon). “This will allow for the sale of one of the buildings to Kids’ Food Basket, who serves nearly 2,000 meals every weekday to school children in Muskegon County.”

House Bill 4337, sponsored by Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township), designates a portion of M-50 in Eaton County as the “Ensign Francis Flaherty Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Highway”.

“The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration an American service member can receive, awarded to those who risk their lives by going above and beyond the call of duty, said state Representative Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township). “Ens. Flaherty did exactly that, giving up his own life to save the lives of his fellow sailors. By adding this recognition to the highway named for him, we honor the service and sacrifice of a true local hero.”