Dear Friend,

Last night, I delivered my 2024 State of the State address. And let me tell you, my fellow Michiganders, the state of our state is ready to rock!

During my address, I laid out my vision to build a brighter future for Michigan by lowering costs, improving education, and taking action to ensure anyone can ?make it in Michigan.'?

Together, we have built a heck of a record. In 2023, the Michigan Legislature, led by a historic Democratic majority, rolled back the retirement tax, quintupled the Working Families Tax Credit, paid down billions in debt, protected people?s fundamental freedoms, expanded health care, and enacted a game-changing clean energy package.

As we step into 2024, we?re ready to rock! This year let?s continue to focus on the issues that make a real difference in people?s lives and build a brighter future for Michigan.

Let?s dig into my plan to: 1) Lower Costs, 2) Invest in Education, 3) Help Anyone ?Make it in Michigan.??

Lowering Costs

One of the biggest challenges Michiganders face today is costs. It?s hard to buy a house, afford a car, or save for retirement while keeping up with bills. This year, we will continue our work to lower costs on the biggest items in your budget.

• MI Vehicle Rebate: To lower the cost of buying a car, we?ll offer a $1,000 rebate for cars and $2,000 for electric vehicles. If assembled by a union, customers get an extra $500?a total of up to $2,500 off at the point-of-sale.
• Housing: In 2024, we?re making the largest investment to build housing in state history, totaling almost $1.4 billion to build or rehabilitate nearly 10,000 homes. By building more of every kind of housing?single-family homes, apartments, and mixed-use buildings?we can expand supply and lower costs. Our strategy this year is simple: build, baby, build!
• Caring for MI Family Tax Credit: To lower the cost of caregiving, I proposed the Caring for MI Family Tax Credit, which could save thousands of Michigan families up to $5,000 on their taxes. By allowing people to write off expenses including counseling, transportation, and nursing or respite services, they can save money while caring for parents or children with long-term care needs.

Education

In Michigan, we want student outcomes to exceed expectations. We know that 4-year-olds who go to pre-K arrive at kindergarten better prepared to learn. They are more likely to graduate, go to college, and earn more. And we know higher education or skills training leads to higher incomes. Let?s provide opportunities for Michiganders to start learning earlier and earn a degree or skills certificate later.?

• Pre-K for All: Last year, I proposed Pre-K for All by the end of 2026, to save families $10,000 a year and give every child a solid academic foundation. This year, my budget proposal will include free pre-K for every single 4-year-old in Michigan ? 2 years ahead of schedule.
• Community College for All: In my next budget, I will propose making the first two years of community college in Michigan tuition-free, saving Michiganders an average of $4,000 on tuition as they get their associate?s degree or skills certificate at a community college.

Making It in Michigan

Over the last few years, we have seen a manufacturing resurgence with companies in Michigan in a big way. To build on this momentum, we?ll upgrade Michigan?s bipartisan economic development toolkit to keep bringing supply chains and jobs home to Michigan.

• Upgrade Economic Development Toolkit:?
  • R&D Tax Credit: With this credit, we can spur innovation while lowering costs for businesses.
  • HIRE Michigan: Let?s lower overall payroll taxes for small and second-stage businesses?the more you hire here, the more you should save here.
  • Renaissance Zones: We can drive investment to areas that have too often been left out or left behind by lowering the cost of doing business.
  • Innovation Fund: Let?s invest in high-growth startups and help launch hundreds of new Michigan-based companies, creating thousands of jobs.
• Infrastructure: As we win these projects, Michigan?s infrastructure has to keep up. In 2020, I rolled out the Rebuilding Michigan Plan, a $3.5 billion investment to fix our most economically critical roads and bridges, supporting over 45,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. This year, I will call on the Michigan Department of Transportation to authorize the final $700 million of the Rebuilding Michigan Plan.

Every Michigander deserves a chance to work hard, follow their dreams, and build a great life. Together we will fight to lower costs on the biggest items in your budget, improve education so your kids can thrive, and ensure you can ?make it? no matter who you are or what you?ve been through.?

This year, let?s keep rocking so everyone can have their own classic Michigan story. Let?s deliver real change for people right now and for Michiganders generations from now.?

Sincerely,

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor

To watch Governor Whitmer's 2024 State of the State Address online, click below.

To read the Governor Whitmer's 2024 State of the State Address as delivered in English, Spanish, Arabic, or Chinese, click here.?